H2GLO
Role
As the engineer of record, I designed the structure, mechanics, and power requirements of the personal, solar-powered water pack, H2GLO.
Duration
Spring 2020
Overview
H2GLO is a personal solar-powered water pack designed to provide the security of light and clean water in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster. Users can obtain their drinking water from any source, clearing it of sediment, chemical contamination, and disease-causing microorganisms without ever having to touch the infected water themselves. Light-weight and easy to transport, these packs would arrive in a disaster zone much faster than a slowmoving water truck or bottled water.
Team
Andrew Melissas, Maggie Johnston, Robby Stout
Tools
Fusion 360, KeyShot, Adobe Creative Suite
Scope
Research, Product Design, Branding
Meet H2GLO
H2GLO is a personal solar-powered water pack designed to provide the security of light and clean water in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster. Users can obtain their drinking water from any source, clearing it of sediment, chemical contamination, and disease-causing microorganisms without ever having to touch the infected water themselves. Light-weight and easy to transport, these packs would arrive in a disaster zone much faster than a slow-moving water truck or bottled water.
Water, Light & Disasters
Each year millions of people are displaced by natural disasters that cut off access to essential services like clean water and electricity. Approximately 100,000 people perish annually in these disasters.
While government and non-government organizations (NGOs) work diligently to provide aid, many disasters happen without warning, leaving these organizations days and weeks behind. This timeline is too long because humans can only survive three days without water. Because of the sanitary challenges involved with transferring water and damage to power grids, it is difficult to deliver these services to zones that have been affected by natural and human disasters.
After evacuees are allowed back in their homes, they continue to experience water and power outages as services are slowly restored. During this traumatic period, people must have access to clean drinking water and light as both a utility and a comfort.
785 million people worldwide do not have basic drinking water services.
25.3 million people are displaced each year by sudden-onset disasters.
1 out of 4 healthcare facilities worldwide lacks basic drinking water services.
Immediately following a disaster, both government and NGOs work together to assess victims’ needs, coordinate relief efforts, deploy aid, and rescue citizens. As we saw with Hurricane Katrina, this effort is complicated, and many people are left without clean water, power, and light for days and even weeks. H2GLO is designed to supplement relief efforts, deploy prior to a disaster, and work as a stop-gap until resources can be mobilized.
Relief Efforts
Immediately following a disaster, both government and NGOs work together to assess victims’ needs, coordinate relief efforts, deploy aid, and rescue citizens. As we saw with Hurricane Katrina, this effort is complicated, and many people are left without clean water, power, and light for days or weeks. H2GLO is designed to supplement relief efforts: deployed prior to a disaster, it works as a stop-gap until resources can be mobilized.
A natural disaster strikes!
Available water unsafe to drink.
While relief is being organized, residents are without water and power.
Authorities implement disaster recovery plan.
Disruption of basic utilities and services.
H2GLO is an illumination device and water sanitation system designed to supplement relief efforts in disaster zones. It can be quickly and easily shipped to affected areas while
residents wait for organized relief efforts to reach them.
Fresh water and relief aid arrive.
Field Research
Interview 1: Construction Corps Officer
"Drinking from the scooping container contaminates the system."
With a syringe to collect water, intake and output are separate processes.
"System needs an indicator to communicate its status."
Indicator lights track purification progress.
B
A
B
Interview 2: Haiti Relief Coordinator
"Don't touch the spout to avoid recontamination."
The knob is distanced from the spout.
"Unit must be durable and difficult to disassemble."
H2GLO’s durable plastic body is protected by its silicon cover.
C
D
A
B
C
D
Operation Guide
Features
Ceramic Filter
The low-cost, washable ceramic filter purges turbidity, sediment, bacteria, and metals.
Carbon Filter
The low-cost carbon filter purges 60+ chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, and lithium.
UV Light
UV lights embedded in the silicon layer surrounding the water reservoir kill disease-causing microorganisms.
Silicon Case
The silicon wrapping, designed to protect the unit, contains LED and UV lights to project calming shapes when illuminated.
A
B
C
Interface
The icon interface overcomes language barriers. During purification, indicator lights transition from red to green in increasing size.
Solar-powered
The solar panel makes H2GLO effective in areas without electricity. The panel can fully charge the battery in as little as 5 hours of direct sunlight.
A
Check Valve
B
The filter's check valve prevents backflow out the pack's top.
Battery
C
When fully charged, the 800 mAh battery can purify four loads of water or light the LEDs for 22 hours.
