Sustainable Integration of Water Supply Projects with Renewable Energy

This paper describes a conceptual modular sustainable water supply (SWS). The system can be assembled at relatively low cost and shipped to remote locations, where it can be installed using mostly local labor in preexisting, or new groundwater wells. The system is powered by solar energy during the day and could be designed to accommodate a village of any size; the base case solution being presented here would be capable of supplying water to a population of 800 to 1,000 people. Furthermore, the system will store excess energy and will also produce additional energy during water consumption that can be used as additional power for a small but socially important electrical grid. The system incorporates a modular control unit that may include a UV water disinfection unit as needed. The introduction of a SWS system in an at-risk community would have several positive impacts. It would increase the water availability to the community with the consequent benefit of reducing the potential for disease and mortality, especially among children. It would provide electrical power for essential community needs, thus increasing the potential for educational activities. It would relieve the population from the need to collect and transport water and the wood or fuel necessary for cooking and other activities. Finally, it would require the participation of local labor, both at the production location and in the target community with the added benefit from training and skill development. Once in operation, the system should be able to be maintained by the community itself.