by Chris Templeman

Templeman Automation is a Somerville based product design firm. We are committed to using our product development experience to develop technology that is beneficial to society.

Currently, we have an entry in the Create the Future Design Contest called SOLution, a device meant to improve SODIS low-cost water disinfection.

Everyday over 4500 children die due to a lack of clean drinking water. Solar Disinfection (SODIS) is an inexpensive and effective method of water disinfection. Exposing clear plastic bottles filled with contaminated water to a sufficient amount of sunlight disinfects the water, making it safe to drink. Ultra-violet (UV) light and heat from sunlight kill bacteria, viruses and parasites. Studies have shown that SODIS requires 6 hours of sunlight, but cloud cover, location and seasonal changes cause the time required to vary. Real-world implementations of SODIS have been limited by the lack of a mechanism to determine and display when water has been disinfected.

SOLution is a solar-powered device that accurately measures sunlight and clearly displays when water is safe to drink. SOLution displays a universally recognized “happy face” or “sad face” to indicate water safety.

SOLution is rugged, reliable and reusable. Constructed of parts typically found in a solar-powered calculator, SOLution is inexpensive (estimated < $5 USD), lasts for years and can be reused thousands of times and requires no maintenance (< $0.003 USD per use).

Templeman Automation is actively seeking partners to collaborate on real-world testing and community distribution of SOLution. For more information go to templemanautomation.com.