First Water Systems – based in Marietta, Georgia – makes AC/Solar systems for pumping, water purification and re-use. Some are designed for fixed installation, others for mobile use by disaster responders. The FW-300-M, which can easily be carried in a pickup truck or trailer, is solar-powered, and can process 5 gallon per minute – 300 gallons per hour. Assuming only 8 hours of daylight – 2,400 gallons. It’s safe to assume one gallon per person per day will be adequate – so even only powered in daylight, this unit can purify water for over 2,000 people. The smaller, more portable FW-60-M(S) produces 1 gallon per minute and has been specifically designed for first responders. (We caution that it should also be assumed that the water to be purified has already been pumped level to the purifier).

This would also, of course, require about 100 55 gallon barrels and sufficient personnel and equipment (e.g. handtrucks) to transport the purified water. So planning around using this system will require a bit of planning and expense in addition to acquisition of the unit. This is just one of a number of units in First Water Systems’ product line; we hope to have more information about this unit – including cost – and other units – in the near future.