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| Photo, courtesy CAWST |
Today is World Water Day and Calgary is part of the festivities. How, you ask?
Through CAWST, the locally based Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology, Calgary is making a difference by bringing a cheap, affordable filtration process to places that can't afford expensive sanitation projects, giving citizens access to something we take for granted: clean, potable water.
Not only is it an excellent example of the impact a social enterprise can have, it illustrates the fact innovation isn't always happening in the private sector, or in the context of Calgary, exclusively in the energy sector.
The CAWST technology - a simple filtration system developed by a former Norcen Energy engineer, Camille Dow-Baker, while she was studying for her Master's degree in engineering at the University of Calgary - has been installed in 63 countries, bringing clean water to more than 6 million people, at a cost of less than $2.50 per person. Less than the price of a tall Americano coffee from Starbucks, should anyone need a reference point.
It's not the fastest filtration system , but CAWST board member Evan Hazell points out that once filtering is put in place, it can provide water for two families in perpetuity.
Read more here
CAWST - the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology
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