Water & Wastewater Asia March/April 2024

FOCUS
Wateroam’s vision
to end prolonged thirst
By Lim Chong Tee, CMO and co-founder, Wateroam
water, especially with the current
drawbacks. This led to the development
of systems that draw water from surface
sources such as rivers, employing
advanced membrane technology to purify
and eradicate harmful parasites like
bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. New water
filtration systems are also lightweight and
able to serve communities of up to 200
people, making them portable and capable
of producing clean water at a rapid rate.
Refugees who fled to Turkey borders in the Syrian war (Image: iStock)
Attempting to address water-related
In order to alleviate the need for clean water
challenges in vulnerable communities comes supply, portable water filters fill the gap by
with cost due to the lack of both appropriate providing clean drinking water to internally
infrastructure and a user-friendly design. displaced persons (IDP) in off grid areas.
In conflict zones, traditional water supply Access to safe water not only reduces
infrastructure becomes impractical and waterborne diseases but also enhances
costly due to pipeline disruptions, road overall health and poverty alleviation.
damages, and logistical chain breakdowns.
By marrying innovation with a commitment ADDRESSING DRAWBACKS OF
to address the global water crisis, portable EXISTING SOLUTIONS
water filters offer a solution that improves While the provision of clean drinking water
lives. Water solution companies that is vital, existing solutions for providing clean
ensure the long-term provision of clean water to rural regions have drawbacks in
water emerge as a beacon of hope for their blueprints. This includes prohibitive
conflict-stricken communities.
costs, lack of necessary infrastructure,
and complexity of use. Unlike tap water
The World Health Organization (WHO) supply or expensive bottled water resupply,
estimated that globally, 663 million people portable filter solutions offer a swift and
still consume contaminated surface water sustainable solution especially during
directly, resulting in an annual economic loss disaster situations. That is, provided that
of US$260bn for developing countries due these tools are easy-to-use, portable, and
to waterborne diseases. While poor access able to quickly produce clean water.
to clean drinking water is complex, it is
crucial to find solutions to protect the lives of Wateroam’s journey began with an idea
an estimated 1.25 million people in low- and of creating a water filtration system that
middle-income countries yearly.
addresses the need for clean drinking
Furthermore, these new communal water
systems are designed to be easily operated
with an inbuilt hand pump. Disaster-hit
regions would thus be able to access water
without electricity. The filtration systems
are able to adapt to harsh environments as
they can be connected to alternative power
sources such as gravitational or electrical
power.
INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGICAL,
SOCIAL, AND BUSINESS ELEMENTS
By intertwining social needs, scientific
knowledge as well as the design of
the water filtration products, a more
sustainable solution to water-related issues
can be achieved. The ROAMfilter, which
emerged from over 20 iterative cycles,
ensures adaptability to rugged terrains
and turbid water conditions. The design
fosters user-friendly operation, resembling
a familiar tool in many communities.
The social aspect of Wateroam’s solution
extends to community engagement
initiatives, collaborating with grassroots
leaders and refugees. We implement
training initiatives, health awareness
campaigns, and workshops to nurture local
capacity. Wateroam also appoints hygiene
ambassadors to encourage ownership within
communities and cultivate knowledge for
long-term usage of the filtration systems.
34 Water & Wastewater Asia | March-April 2024