Sub-mission:

Improve resilient access to safe water for communities, households, and emergency responders through compact, electrified treatment concepts that minimize consumables and maximize reliability.

Status:

Research-only — prototype systems under development; not certified for drinking-water use.

Active Research Areas

Portable HCP Concepts
Exploratory prototypes for humanitarian response, disaster recovery, and expeditionary missions where safe water access is limited or disrupted.

Point-of-Entry Concepts
Household- and small-system units designed for local water resilience, especially in communities facing boil-water notices, seasonal contaminants, or infrastructure limitations.

Hybrid Treatment Trains
Studies combining HCP with UV disinfection and advanced filtration to assess complementarity, efficiency, and energy trade-offs for multi-barrier protection.

Research Plan

Ongoing and planned studies include:

Pathogen Surrogates – Controlled lab testing against microbial indicators to validate disinfection performance.

Taste & Odor Compounds – Investigating treatment impacts on aesthetic qualities important for community acceptance.

Accidental Contaminants – Studying treatment efficacy against unexpected chemical intrusions or spills.

Interlocks & Safety Features – Ensuring protective controls for end users.

Duty Cycles & Reliability – Measuring real-world run-times, maintenance needs, and performance over extended operation.

Field-Readiness Considerations – Evaluating portability, ruggedness, and ease of deployment in humanitarian and emergency contexts.

Why This Matters

Billions worldwide still lack reliable access to safe drinking water, while even developed regions face challenges from aging infrastructure, boil notices, and chemical contamination events. Compact, electrified treatment systems offer the potential to:

Strengthen community resilience.

Reduce reliance on bottled water and chemical consumables.

Provide deployable solutions for disaster response and expeditionary needs.

Expand access to safe water in both developed and underserved regions.

Broader Vision

This research explores how next-generation water treatment technologies can safeguard human health in both routine and crisis conditions. By integrating electrified plasma concepts with proven treatment tools, we aim to build solutions that are:

Resilient in emergencies.

Adaptable for households and small systems.

Scalable across humanitarian, municipal, and field applications.