Sujol
In December 2010 a consortium composed of the Ecological Management Foundation (EMF), the Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), Voltea - a company of Unilever Ventures, the Proportion Foundation, Micro Water Facility and Akvo, was awarded a substantial grant to launch an ambitious project designed to provide safe drinking water in areas of Bangladesh affected by serious arsenic contamination and salinity problems.
The initiative to purge the water of arsenic and saltiness was launched in 2009 by the Clean Water Foundation, founded by Allerd Stikker (EMF) and Iqbal Quadir (Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship).
Field tests
After completion of the exploratory stage of analysis and feasibilities studies, in June 2010 EMF took over the project and started testing a technology developed by Voltea in Leiden that purifies groundwater contaminated with arsenic and turns it into safe drinking water while ridding it of its salty taste.
Pilot launched
The pilot to test the purification technology in the field in Bangladesh was officially launched by Allerd Stikkker launched at an opening bell ceremony of Amsterdam's stock exchange on 15 december 2010.
Upscaling
If successful, the project also aims to set up small-scale water purification factories which will eventually be taken over by local entrepreneurs.
Blog
Aqua-Aero Water Systems BV and PT Ruhaak Phala Industries combine forces to build water kiosks providing drinking water and energy to poor people in Indonesia. Micro Water Facility, part of the Aidenvironment incubator, provides business development support and attracts financial means.
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