Mtongwe WaterKiosk
About
Overview
Location
Mombasa 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
Mtongwe is a coastal town located in Mombasa County. Mtongwe is inhibited with a huge number of lower class people who mostly ply the ferry to and fro Mombasa Island in search of menial jobs. Water in that region is quite a challenge. Most of the water used comes from shallow wells, which are not only salty but also contaminated.
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.