SOLVATTEN makes unsafe water drinkable by using solar energy. The portable 10 liter container is a patented and scientifically-proven Swedish invention. Put SOLVATTEN in a sunny place, give it 3-4 hours and the water will be safe to drink! An indicator shows when it is safe to drink!
SOLVATTEN combines water pasteurization with SODIS. We have seen from our research that the synergetic effect of direct solar radiation and heat has a great impact on the purification results of the water. To allow the short wavelength of UV come through into the Solvatten container to work on the DNA in the cells as well as to be used as heat. The exposure time at for 3 hours is important. When we compared the same water heated in the laboratory(no sun light) during a long time the purifying effect was reached as you mention at temperatures over 60°C but the same water was tested parallel in the Solvatten and the effect of the UV light together with heat was obvious. The same water was also exposed in PET bottles but the temperature never reached the same level as in the Solvatten and the water was not safe after the same time of exposure
News and recent developments
- October 2010: A sustainable solution with winners all round Solvatten AB has teamed up with Tricorona, a leading company in the global climate economy, to offer CDM* projects under the UN's Kyoto Protocol. The first project is now starting in the Western Province of Kenya As well as UNFCCC registration, Solvatten projects are expected to be certified 'Gold Standard'- a certification reserved for high quality carbon offsets and approved by all the major environmental organizations. Swedish company Middagsfrid was one of the first to embrace this scheme. They have set a target of offsetting a whole year's carbon emissions by distributing Solvatten units to families. These families would otherwise be collecting and burning wood to heat and treat their water. The result - everyone wins. More Information...
- October 2010: Solvatten distributor in Haiti Bosoley, a US-based solar lighting solution provider, and Solvatten have signed an agreement to assist the people of Haiti. The two companies share the vision of improving the living conditions of people across the globe. In this venture, Bosoley will act as the exclusive agent of Solvatten in Haiti, the Bahamas and Turk and Caicos. Bosoley operates on the principle that there is no better way of lighting the world than harnessing energy from the sun itself. The company offers an array of solar lighting options including portable lighting kits, weatherproof floodlights and vandal proof street lights. More Information...
- October 2010: 'Run for Water' and WSP support to Bungoma project A big THANK YOU to all who took part on 18th April. Over two thousand people joined Sweden's sports minister Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth and former World champion high jumper Kajsa Bergqvist to run, jog or walk 6 km in the first Stockholm Run for Water. Over 120,000 SEK (19,000 USD) was raised for three nominated water projects in Africa. One of the nominated water projects was Solvatten in Kenya and the money has been used to scale-up the Vi Agroforestry project in Bungoma, Kenya. 600 people now benefit from safe and warm water on a daily basis. WSP, the global engineering and management consultancy, has also contributed, adding to the number of Solvatten units being used in Bungoma. Thanks to all the staff that engaged in this fundraising effort. Watch for future information here
- October 2010: Significant life changes in Mutomo Together with ROTARY and RINCOD, Solvatten AB has conducted another user acceptance study, this time in Mutomo, Kenya. The study has further strengthened confidence in the Solvatten technology and substantially helped the young mothers involved. Solvatten units were distributed to 37 mothers with children under five and the use of the units was monitored for three months. The average number of water treatments per day was 2.3, that is 23 litres of safe and warm water every day. In an area where the average income is very low, it is difficult for families to purchase household items, but there are ways to support each other as a group. During the latter part of the project 90 new members registered with the locally managed community savings group. They are now saving for their future purchases of Solvatten. More Information...
- October 2010: Spirit of innovation Solvatten is currently on display at the Swedish pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai, having been chosen as one of Sweden's best innovations. This is a clear endorsement of Solvatten, which is on view amongst iconic objects like the shiftwrench, the Celsius thermometer and the zip lock. Expo 2010 opened on 1st May and will continue until the end of October. 70 million people are expected to have visited - giving Solvatten AB a fantastic opportunity to promote the technology to businesses and organisations throughout China. More Information
- April 18, 2010: (Stockholm) Stockholm Run for Water. The run will raise awareness of the problems faced by many in getting safe water, and it will raise money for three water projects. The length of the race, six kilometers, is the average distance travelled by many women and children in Africa each day to gain access to water. Support will benefit the distribution of Solvatten solar safe water systems.More Information about Solvatten and race
- December 2009: Solar safe water study: Convincing results from Solvatten Study in Kenya
- December 2009 WWF chooses Solvatten solar-powered water purifier as a climate solver
- October 2009: For October 2009 newsletter...
- May 2009: 50 sample SOLVATTENs have arrived in Nepal for an implementation study in conjunction with UN-Habitat and ENPHO. The units will be distributed to households, schools and community health centres and the users will be trained by community mobilisers. Interviews with users will inform future distribution of SOLVATTEN in developing countries.
Audio and video
A brief introduction to the Solvatten
See also
External links
Contact
Petra Wadström
Managing Director
Solvatten AB
Breda Gatan 3
115 32 Stockholm
Sweden