Using Water to Clean Water
Experimenting with water treatment and clean energy
The Problem
I am currently writing this article on a computer and — unless Medium started a paper route — you are currently reading on a laptop, phone, tablet or some other electronic device.
No matter what you are using, or where you are reading, most readers in developed countries are accustomed to a kind of reliability. If your device runs out of power, there’s always an outlet nearby whether you’re at home, work, a library, coffee shop or elsewhere. Outlets are almost always functional and once plugged in, you typically don’t have to worry about a shaky connection. This reliability is provided by the grid.
The grid is a collection of power plants, solar/wind farms, transmission lines, transformers and outlets (among many other elements). The work done by technicians, mechanics, engineers, and many other professionals ensure that no matter where you are, or what you’re using, electricity can be generated, transmitted, and distributed in a given area.
Our access to numerous electronic devices, along with what seems to be a never ending supply of power, is an incredible privilege and not one afforded to millions of others around the world who do not have access to a centralized grid. The International Energy Agency states that this…