New Technology Uses Solar UV Light to Disinfect Drinking Water A
team of Purdue University researchers has invented a prototype
water-disinfection system that could help the world's 800
million people who lack safe drinking water. The system uses the
sun's ultraviolet radiation to inactivate waterborne pathogens.
Sunlight is captured by a parabolic reflector and focused onto a
UV-transparent pipe though which water flows continuously.
"We've been working on UV disinfection for about 20 years," said
Ernest "Chip" R. Blatchley III, a professor of civil
engineering. "All of our work up until a couple years ago dealt
with UV systems based on an artificial UV source. What we are
working on more recently is using ultraviolet radiation from the
sun." Motivating the research is the need to develop practical,
inexpensive water-treatment technologies for a large segment of
the world's population in developing nations. "More than 800
million people lack access to what we consider to be 'improved'
water," Blatchley said.