Agriculture
January 2, 2024
CTI Water Chlorinator
Read SolutionImplemented by
Bountifield
Product Description
The Water Pasteurization Indicator (WAPI) is an open-source hand-made thermometer that indicates when water has reached pasteurization temperature and is safe to drink. Rather than waiting for water to boil (which occurs at 100 °C and is far beyond the required temperature for destroying microorganisms), a WAPI uses a melting wax to indicate that water has reached 65 °C. This saves fuel by eliminating the need to boil water to ensure that the pasteurization temperature has been reached.
Target SDGs
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
Market Suggested Retail Price
$10.00
Target Users (Target Impact Group)
Household
Distributors / Implementing Organizations
Many organizations have made and distributed WAPIs including Agua Pura Para el Pueblo and Rotary International Clubs (such as Buford/North Gwinnett, Calabasas, and Monterey Sunrise).
Manufacturing/Building Method
WAPIs are built using openly available instructions that require the following materials: Polycarbonate tubing (3/8” OD, 1/4” ID), wax (Myverol 18-06), a washer (18-8ss, 1” OD, 3/8” ID), 2 single barrel compression sleeves, and a wire “S” hook.
Intellectural Property Type
Open-source
User Provision Model
Construction manuals and instructional videos for building WAPI’s are openly available online. Links can be also be found in Research & standards section.
Distributions to Date Status
Unknown
Deactivation mechanism
Pasteurization
Energy source
None
Manufacturer-specified water treatment rate (L/hr)
Not applicable
Bacteria reduction
6 log
Virus reduction
4 log
Protozoa reduction
Unknown
Heavy metals and/or arsenic reduction
Unknown
Maximum recommended influent turbidity level (NTU)
Not applicable
Effluent turbidity levels (NTU)
Does not reduce turbidity
Safe water storage capacity (L)
None
Design Specifications
A WAPI consists of Myverol 18-06 soy wax that is housed inside a sealed clear tube. When submerged in water with wire and washers, the wax will melt from one end of the clear tube to the other at 65 °C. WAPI’s are symmetrical and thus can be repeatedly used by simply flipping them over.
Product Schematics
Technical Support
None available
Replacement Components
Components must be locally purchased
Lifecycle
Unknown
Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters
Wax must melt at 65 °C.
Vetted Performance Status
Water pasteurization is well known to be effective against microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and protozoa). Specifically, the WAPI has been used by academic organizations to test water pasteurization in low-resource situations.
Safety
Treated water should be stored in a clean container to avoid recontamination. Pasteurization does not treat water contaminated with salt or other chemicals.
Complementary Technical Systems
Solar or biomass-powered pasteurization.
Academic Research and References
Rolla, T.C., Sun and water: an overview of solar water treatment devices, Journal of Environmental Health, 1998, 60(10).
Metcalf, Robert, “The microbiology of solar water pasteurization, with application in East Africa” a report by WAPI designer.
Safapour, N., Metcalf, R.H., Enhancement of solar water pasteurization with reflectors, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 1999, 65(2), 859-861. (this study uses the WAPI as an indicator for pasteurization)
Solar Pasteurization, A chapter in Drinking Water Treatment by Ed Pejack (pages 37-54)
Kang, G., Roy, S., Balraj, V., Appropriate technology for rural India – solar decontamination of water for emergency settings and small communities, Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2006, 100(9), 863-866.
N. Safapour and R. H. Metcalf, “Enhancement of solar water pasteurization with reflectors,” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., vol. 65, no. 2, pp. 859–861, 1999.
T. C. Rolla, “Sun and water: an overview of solar water treatment devices,” J. Environ. Health, vol. 60, p. 30+, 1998.
“WAPI Flyer,” Monterey Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club. Available: http://www.montereysunriserotary.org/wapi-flyer.html
“Agua Pura para el Pueblo,” Aguapuraparaelpueblo.org. Available: https://www.aguapuraparaelpueblo.org/
“Water Projects,” FFYIA. Available: https://www.florenceforyouthinaction.org/waterprojects
“Water Pasteurization Indicator (WAPI),” Engineering For Change. Available: http://old.engineeringforchange.org/solutions/product/water-pasteurization-indicator-wapi/
“Multi-Fuel Water Pasteurization Indicator (WAPI),” Sun Oven The Original Solar Oven and Solar Cooker, 29-Apr-2020. Available: https://www.sunoven.com/product/water-pasteurization-indicator-wapi/
“Goal 6,” Sdgs.un.org. Available: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6
“Agua Pura para el Pueblo,” Aguapuraparaelpueblo.org. Available: https://www.aguapuraparaelpueblo.org/?p=663
“Water Pasteurization Indicator,” Solar Cooking. Available: https://solarcooking.fandom.com/wiki/Water_Pasteurization_Indicator
“What is a Wapi or Water Pasteurization Indicator?,” Write Studio, 08-Oct-2012. Available: https://www.writestudio.com/304/water-pasteurization-indicator
“The microbiology of solar water pasteurization, with applications in east Africa,” Nocookie.net. Available: https://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20101207224924/solarcooking/images/a/a0/Granada06_robert_metcalf.pdf
Compliance with regulations
Pasteurizing water can reduce microorganism concentration to levels recommended by the WHO.
Evaluation methods
WAPIs have been evaluated and shown to reduce microorganism concentrations when the wax melts at 65 °C. Additional field tests and user reports have shown their durability and usability.
Other Information
None
Explore similar solutions
Agriculture
December 29, 2023
LifeWell Water Filter
Read SolutionImplemented by
RealRelief
Agriculture
January 4, 2024
Tunsai (Rabbit) Ceramic Water Purifier
Read SolutionImplemented by
iDE
Agriculture
January 10, 2024
Pura Water Bucket
Read SolutionImplemented by
NRSRelief
Agriculture
January 24, 2024
AidGear Oasis-3 Water Purification System
Read SolutionImplemented by
AidGear
Agriculture
January 3, 2024
PurAll Water Purification
Read SolutionImplemented by
Easol Pvt Ldt
Agriculture
January 17, 2024
Hach Drinking Water Test Kit
Read SolutionImplemented by
HACH
Agriculture
January 25, 2024
Pure Water Phone Box
Read SolutionImplemented by
Waterologies
Agriculture
January 2, 2024
UZ-XL Large Capacity Water Filter
Read SolutionImplemented by
Uzima
Agriculture
January 2, 2024
UZ-1 Household Water Filter
Read SolutionImplemented by
Uzima
Get more information about Solutions Library and its features.
Learn MoreHave thoughts on how we can improve?
Give Us Feedback
It’s unclear to me how this product is intended to be used. Is it intended to be a stationary or mobile device? If it is a stationary device, what is the advantage of the GPS? This is probably a cool design feature but the value of it is not described anywhere. Is this cooler intended to be plugged into the wall the majority of the time with a battery backup? Is it powered by a solar panel? Is it completely passive where the ice packs are removed and frozen in an external freezer?
•Rebranded to Safe Water Book
•Also filtration? What is the primary mechanism – filtration or disinfection?
•How do you have a “user provision model” already if it’s still a prototype?
•Price not $0, not being sold yet
•Any information on flow rate through the book’s page?
Agree about confusion between filtration and disinfection as the method of treatment. It’s a little misleading to have this listed alongside disinfection products.