Solar-powered water purifier promises safe and clean water

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Ganesh and Nadira show the difference once water has gone through the portable military grade solar-powered water purification unit. — Photo by Chimon Upon

Ganesh and Nadira show the difference once water has gone through the portable military grade solar-powered water purification unit. — Photo by Chimon Upon

KUCHING: A solar-powered water purification system, manufactured locally in Serian, promises to help change the lives of rural and remote communities by providing safe and clean water using renewable and sustainable energy.

According to Soara Industries founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Ganesh Muren, the system could provide solutions for a number of specific problems faced in rural and remote areas of Sarawak.

“It is more than a water filter system. There are seven filters to also purify the water from harmful contaminants like pesticides, bacteria, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants,” he explained during a presentation and demonstration for State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani and Ministry of Finance secretary-general of Treasury Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, who was here on a working visit, and other senior officials yesterday.

“In addition, it is also connected to a solar panel which is installed on the roof to power the battery that supplies electricity for lighting and other purposes for the home.”

He said the military grade system could filter and purify up to seven litres per minute of raw water from any source of water including rain and river.

Business development director Nadira Yusoff pointed out that the system provided a cost-effective and sustainable solution for homes especially longhouses and villages.

“We have another system that turns air into water through vapourisation, which is perfect for areas lacking clean water sources as well as during the drought season,” she said.

The RM60,000 portable military grade unit shown during the presentation does not require installation and comes with a solar panel, a battery, four LED lamps, two USB ports and installation service. The home unit for a family of four costs about RM12,000 and can produce up to 30,000 litres of clean water before new filters are required.

“We also have bigger heavy duty units which can produce up to 2.5 million litres of clean water before filter change is needed at a cost of RM3,000,” Ganesh said, adding that cartridges need to be replaced once every five years at a cost of about RM500 for the home unit.

So far, 450 homes in Batang Sadong have benefited from the system and the company is working closely with the government and relevant departments to bring the technology across Sarawak.

“Next week, we will be installing a few units under corporate social responsibility in Batang Maru,” said Nadira.

Soara Industries was established through the Malaysia Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC), which was founded and headed by Irwan.