World Hope International | SPECTRA Aquifer 360 AFD Watermaker provides clean water after hurricane in Colombia

World Hope International provided humanitarian aid and trained local technicians to use Spectra Aquifer 360 water generators in the aftermath of Hurricane Yota.

project:	Aquifer 360 Watermakers in Colombia
customer:	World Hope International
product:	Aquifer 360 AFD Watermaker
area:	Santa Catalina Island, Colombia

Overview

In the aftermath of Hurricane Yota, World Hope International provided humanitarian assistance and trained local technicians to use Spectra Aquifer 360 water machines. The Aquifer 360 water generators will remain on the island and continue to produce fresh water until the stationary Spectra land-based large-scale water generator solution can be installed.

Project details

In late 2020, Hurricane Jota affected much of the Caribbean and Central America, making landfall as a Category 5 storm on November 16, 2020. The small Colombian island of Santa Catalina was severely affected by Hurricane Jota. 98% of the infrastructure was destroyed and most buildings were razed to the ground. World Hope International responded quickly to provide aid to this water-stressed community and train them to operate life-saving desalination equipment autonomously.

Project details

The Colombian military assisted in transporting the equipment to Santa Catalina Island, transporting it via aircraft and small watercraft. Because Aquifer contains no volatile fuel tanks, its portability and air travel safety make delivery to this remote region easier. However, in this deployment, Aquifer's ease of operation was also a big plus. Local technicians were trained to use the water-generating equipment, which will remain on Santa Catalina Island until the larger Spectra onshore desalination system can be installed. The Santa Catalina water point set up by World Hope provides fresh water directly to residents to help them rebuild and recover from hurricane damage. Aquifer's solar panels allow the system to produce water without the need for an external power source, a key advantage given the current lack of infrastructure on the island.

The fixed recovery ratio of the Spectra energy recovery system is also very important because the system is self-regulating and operators cannot damage the water-making equipment due to operating errors. With only minimal training required, a local operations team can be established to continue operating World Hope's Aquifer over the coming months. Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez, along with his Minister of Water and Housing, visited the water point and tasted the clean water produced by Aquifer. He praised the project and expressed support for future use of Spectra's technology to help solve Colombia's water problems.

About water making equipment

The SPECTRA land-based portable watermaker Aquifer 360 AFD Watermaker uses reverse osmosis technology that has been used for decades to provide fresh water to mariners with limited power at sea. The rugged simplicity of the Aquifer system means it can be easily operated by volunteers or local operators with limited technical training. Unlike traditional reverse osmosis systems, Aquifer's self-regulating energy recovery system does not require constant monitoring, avoiding the risk of overpressure and membrane damage during unsupervised operation.

About World Hope International

World Hope International (WHI) is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to working with disadvantaged communities to alleviate poverty and suffering. Focused on clean water and energy, global health, conservation and social causes, through market-led and community-driven solutions, WHI empowers, protects and builds resilience through innovation, environmental awareness and transformative projects.

About Katadyn Group

Katadyn Group is a global conglomerate focused on self-sufficient nutrition and drinking water supply. Its brands include Katadyn, Trek'n Eat, AlpineAire Foods, Optimus, Pharmavoyage, Micropur, Certisil, Steripen and Spectra Watermakers. With this rich portfolio of brands, the Group provides products and solutions for the outdoor and marine industries as well as industrial and municipal needs. Its diverse product portfolio ranges from freeze-dried specialty meals and outdoor cookers to mobile and land-based desalination systems, as well as industrial-specific disinfection systems. In fact, humanitarian aid organizations and the military have been regular visitors to the Swiss conglomerate for years. The Katadyn Group is headquartered in Kemptthal and has approximately 200 employees at subsidiaries in Europe, Asia and the United States.