EVSU engineers develop desalination technology for island communities

TACLOBAN CITY — The Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) has developed a new technology that will help address the need for freshwater in island communities.

A prototype of the desalination and filtration plant powered by solar energy was assembled in Kalanggaman Island, a small island tourist destination in Palompon, Leyte.

The alternative water treatment solution for geographically isolated communities with limited access to freshwater resources, was based on three studies namely “Development of Filtration System for Desalination Plant” by Engr. Edrinal Estobañes; “Development of a Desalination Machine for Remote Islands” by Engr. Julius Codilla; and “Development of a Solar Power System for Desalination Plant in Kalanggaman Island” by Engr. Jomar Navarro.

There are three integrated technologies that complement each other in producing potabl water: the desalination machine processes seawater to reduce its salt content, the filtration system provides an additional treatment stage, and the solar power system harnesses renewable energy to operate the facility.

EVSU said the developed desalination machine is already operational and can produce approximately one gallon of freshwater per hour — a limited capacity due to limited budget but the working prototype already provides a foundation for further improvements in production capacity and system efficiency.

During the final defense of the studies, the candidates demonstrated and tested their prototypes, allowing the EVSU panel to assess their functionality and identify areas for further development.