Researchers at the University of Waterloo have designed an energy-efficient device that produces drinking water from seawater using an evaporation process driven largely by the sun.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have designed an energy-efficient device that produces drinking water from seawater using an evaporation process driven largely by the sun.
Desalination is critical for many coastal and island nations to provide access to fresh water, given water scarcity concerns due to rapid population growth and increasing global water consumption. Roughly 2.2 billion people worldwide have no access to clean water, emphasizing the urgent need for new technologies to generate fresh water, according to the UN World Water Development Report 2024.
Current desalination systems pump seawater through membranes to separate salt from water, but this process is energy-intensive, and salt often accumulates on the device’s surface, obstructing water flow and reducing efficiency. As a result, these systems require frequent maintenance and cannot operate continuously.
To solve this problem, Waterloo researchers drew inspiration from the natural water cycle to create a device that mirrors how trees transport water from roots to leaves. The new technology can continuously desalinate water without the need for major maintenance.
Read more at University of Waterloo
Image: Mock-up of solar evaporation system (left), connected to temperature and humidity detection system (center), with a brine water injection system (right) and a purified water collection system. (Credit: University of Waterloo)
