Solvatten: Purifying Water with Sunlight

A Swedish portable household water purifier makes unsafe water drinkable using solar energy. Solvatten can produce 22-33 liters of clean, drinkable water when exposed to two to six hours of sunlight. This specially designed container uses heat, UV light, and a built in filter to clean contaminated water. 

Developed by Swedish microbiologist and artist Petra Wadström, the unit inactivates microorganisms that cause diarrhoea and disease. It’s also environmentally friendly by enabling people to reduce the use of fuels commonly used in developing countries to boil water like firewood, charcoal, and kerosene. As of 2012, Solvatten has been used in 20 countries around the world. Learn more in this Earth Focus report from Stockholm.