Inhabitat reported that in the Gaza region, decades of Palestinian-Israeli conflict have resulted in a severe drinking water shortage, as some 90% of the water supply is not fit for human consumption. One Gaza man has created a solar-powered desalination device that converts undrinkable water into healthy and fresh water. Fayez al-Hindi’s do-it-yourself distillation setup could help save Gaza, as residents are at high risk of running out of water in just months.
The inventor stated that sunshine is readily available in the country and in an attempt to solve the water shortage with a sustainable solution, al-Hindi built a simple concrete distillation tank that splits clean water from pollutants and salt. The system produces about 2.6 gallons of water daily, which is just enough for his family’s basic cooking and drinking needs.
Many people were concerned about how safe al-Hindi’s water distiller could be, so the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility tested the water and found that the process is working well. Laboratory technician Mohamed Abu Shamaleh called the results fascinating and congratulated the inventor for finding a solution to use an old water treatment method and make it new by using solar power.
At present, al-Hindi is working to help other Gaza residents build their own water distillation systems so that more people can have easy access to safe and potable water. It will take years or even decades before the region’s infrastructure is repaired, thus homemade water purification systems like this one may become essential for the people of Gaza.
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Featured Image Credit: Ineke Huizing
Solar Trust Centre Team
