Search for clean water leads to tech innovations
Monday, 24 March 2008, 18:25 IST
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New York: As growing demand for clean water stretches the resources of even the developed world, scientists and engineers are turning to new technology and novel ideas to find solutions. The emphasis is now on environment-friendly tools for killing microbes, membrane bioreactors, nanoscale filtration and a host of other advanced technologies, according to a paper published in the latest issue of the journal Nature. These new technologies and systems can be used for disinfection, decontamination, re-use and reclamation, and desalination of water supplies across the globe, says the paper by Mark Shannon of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "As dire as the growing problems are with a lack of enough clean water in the world, I have a great deal of hope that many of these problems can be solved by increasing research into the science and technology of water purification," said Shannon. "Clearly, a coordinated, multi-faceted approach is needed to deal with complex water issues," Geoffrey Prentice of the US National Science Foundation said in a press release. "Working with the US Mission to UNESCO, we are highlighting the international dimensions of inadequate water supplies, which lead to millions of deaths each year, primarily in the developing world," Prentice added. Experts, including Shannon and Prentice, are slated to attend the International Water Forum in Washington in June. This will be preceded by the Congress for Water Purification Science and Technologies in the 21st Century in New Orleans April 6.
Source: IANS
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