Machakos WaterKiosk
About
Overview
Location
Machakos County, Kenya
Type
Solar-PV powered desalination
Capacity
5,300 GPD
Product quality
Potable
Distribution
Local
Technology type
Reverse osmosis
Land footprint:
Output:
Solar energy and fresh water
Facilities
3
Project description
Machakos, also known as Masaku is a town in Kenya, 63 km (39 mi) southeast of Nairobi which is surrounded by hills. Most of the water used in the town comes from boreholes and springs. Residents have been forced to walk long distances in search of water. Because of water scarcity, residents in Machakos have turned to rivers, shallow wells or other sources which are contaminated with pollutants.
How we reuse water
Groundwater wells located near the ocean often encounter saltwater intrusion as they pump more and more water. As a result, water that was once fresh can become salty and undrinkable over time and require treatment. Because desalination requires significant electricity to run high pressure pumps, solar energy is an ideal way to generate ‘off-grid’ energy that is both reliable and cost effective for desalination. This allows groundwater that would otherwise be unuseable to become a reliable source of additional water.