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• A solar disinfection device with Sludge Volume Index sensor and indicator when water is safe to drink.

• To replace the usage of plastic PET bottle as it is unhealthy to drink water in those bottles for longer duration.

• Optimization of design and material selection to concentrate more solar energy thereby faster and efficient solar disinfection.

• Prototype of cost-effective solar disinfection device to reach every household.

Solar water disinfection ('SoDis') is a type of portable water purification that uses solar energy to make biologically contaminated (e.g. bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and worms) water safe to drink. The ‘SoDis’ method uses a combination of UV light and increased temperature (solar thermal) for disinfecting water using only sunlight and PET plastic bottles. SODIS is a free and effective method for decentralized water treatment, usually applied at the household level, and is recommended by the World Health Organization as a viable method for household water treatment and safe storage. Although washing and refilling these PET bottles seems like a smart choice, they are not durable enough to withstand multiple uses and often end up leaching unwanted chemicals into the water. Plastic water bottles are made of PET or PETE which are though moderate hazards but breakdown after multiple uses. These plastics have been shown to leech endocrine-disrupting chemicals overtime. Thus the project proposal is to replace the existing PET water bottle with reusable and indicative solar disinfection device with suitable/potential material.

TRL 3

By addressing these goals, the project contributes to sustainable development by improving water quality, utilizing renewable energy, and supporting health and environmental sustainability.