Green Talk®

Whole Body, Healthy Home, and Sustainable Garden Inspiration

  • About
    • Press
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • New Here?
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Hire Me
  • 5 Reasons to Subscribe!
  • Build Green
  • Gardening
  • Green Business
  • Green Living
  • Green Home
  • Recycling
  • Tech

Creating Cleaner, Accessible Water for the World Through Aqua EWP

July 6, 2011 By: Anna2 Comments

Aqua EWP's technology for Water Purification

Aqua EWP's technology for Water Purification

Aqua EPW is a compact water purification system that removes contaminates from drinking water through capacitance based de-ionizer .  The application for this product is for both the residential and commercial markets.  The product along with removing contaminates also removes scale from pipes and boilers, which in turns increases energy efficiency.  However, it’s ideal use is for areas of the world where clean water is not available.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Bob Atlas, the CEO of Agua EWP and video-taped his PowerPoint presentation.  Listed below is a summary about the technology and the benefits of using the EWP. However, to really understand the EWP, I urge you to view either the video presentation or listen to the podcast.

[podcast]http://www.green-talk.com/podcasts/aquaEWP.mp3[/podcast]

 

How Does this Product Work?

The Company explains

“[e]lectrodes used are made from activated carbon and other materials. These electrodes are layered into a cell casing. A DC power supply is applied across the electrodes. The individual electrodes are charged with different polarities. The minerals in the water are attracted to the opposite polarity of the electrode, These minerals are electrochemically absorbed on the surface of the electrode creating the purified water.  When sufficient minerals are deposited on the electrodes, the minerals are released during a regeneration step.  The contaminants fall off the electrode after a flush valve opens discharging the contaminants removed.”

Removing the contaminants (or total dissolved solids) reduces deposits.

The Benefits:

Contaminate Removal

Contaminates Removed

Contaminates Removed

The Company touts that the purifier removes such contaminants as fluoride, arsenic, chrome, lead, nitrates, iron as well as hardness.  Not many purifiers remove fluoride except reverse osmosis, activated alumina deflouridation filters, or distillation.

Scale Reducer, Increase Energy Efficiency

In addition, EWP removes scale from pipes and boilers.  Scale increases maintenance and reduces energy efficiency. USDOE Office of Industrial Technologies states

“Even thin layers of scale serve as an effective insulator and retard heat transfer. The result is overheating of boiler tube metal, tube failures, and loss of energy efficiency. Fuel waste due to boiler scale may be 2% for water-tube boilers and up to 5% in fire-tube boilers.”

The USDOE provides the following example which explains how scale impacts energy usage costs.

“A boiler annually uses 450,000 million Btu (MMBtu) of fuel while operating for 8,000 hours at its rated capacity of 45,000 pounds per hour (lb/hr) of 150-pounds- per-square-inch-gauge (psig) steam. If scale 1/32nd of an inch thick is allowed to form on the boiler tubes, and the scale is of “normal” composition, the table indicates a fuel loss of 2%. The increase in operating costs, assuming energy is priced at $8.00 per million Btu ($8.00/MMBtu), is:

Annual Operating Cost Increase = 450,000 MMBtu/yr x $8.00/MMBtu x 0.02= $72,000″

For further information about how scale increases the cost of your energy use, see here.

Areas that Need Clean Water

According to Bob Atlas, CEO of Agua EWP, this product’s ideal use is for areas of the world where clean water is not available. The product is also sold with a solar panel for those wishing a renewable energy option or where electricity is not available.

“EWP at 2.5 gallons per minute. This 3,600 gallons per day—essentially enough water, according to WHO standards for 400 people or a village of 100 families.”

Other Benefits

Listed below are additional benefits of using the EWP:

  • Simple Operation & Low Operating Costs
  • Available with a biofilter which can be washed in the dishwasher.
  • Salt-less system.  (Reducing salt cost and improving taste of water.)
  • Reduces lime deposits from hard water deposits.
  • No chemicals and no frequent replacement parts.  Easy cleaning with a citric cleaner.
  • No pretreatment needed like membranes and media
  • 80% to 95%+ Total Dissolved Solid or contaminate reduction
  • 75% recovery (25% waste water)
  • Removes more contaminants than any single other technology
  • Compact Size.  The whole house system is 150 gallon tank and is 18″ deep by 12″ wide by 30 inches high.  See here for further specifications. Available as an under the counter option, portable water dispenser, whole house or commercial building unit
  • Solar Panel option for those wishing a renewable energy option or where electricity is not available.

The commercial unit is a 2.5 to 100 GPM and can convert salt water into potable water.

Testing

Call me a cynic, but I always wonder does the technology truly work?  The EWP has been tested by Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas in their greenhouse for watering sensitive ornamental plants.  Listed below are the results of the deionized water:

Texas A&M Test Results of the Aqua EWP

Texas A&M Test Results of the Aqua EWP

See here for further independent tests results.

Cost

The units are installed in 1000 different locations which includes home in US, Europe, and Australia, commercial properties,  a school in Korea, and drinking systems in rural areas of Korea.  Atlas provided me with the following suggested retail pricing.  Note, the pricing does not include labor, excessive plumbing and electrical connections.  The units are distributed through independent dealers. Contact Atlas for your nearest distributor.

  • Water Genie       $350  with solar  $500
  • Whole House      $8,000 with tank and pump
  • Commercial system  4,000 GPD $8,000 with solar $10,000

Join the Conversation:

  • Thoughts about the technology?
  • Would you buy one of these units for your home or business?
  • Do you see using a unit like this in a rural area?
  • Would you use this in an area where accessing clean water is a problem?
  • How do you think this technology compares to other water purification products available.

Similar Posts:

  • Kevin Costner’s Oil Extractor takes on the BP Spill
  • USGBC’s Announces Top 10 Green Building Legislation
  • ElioSolar Integrates One Solution for Solar Window Shade and Hot Water
  • Fuel Efficient Trucks are Unveiled by Ford at Auto Show
  • Smart Window Film by Heliotrophe that Block Heat and Light

Grow From Seed Mini Course

Grow From Seed Mini Course

About Anna

Anna Hackman is the editor of Green Talk, and owner of The Naked Botanical and a avid (okay obsessed) gardener. She also loves video and podcasting and hosts Green Talk TV and Green Talk Radio. Her most important role is being a mother of four boys.

Chat with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest , and Google+.

Comments

  1. 1

    Kinnear says

    April 14, 2013 at 6:07 am

    There is something quite nice about “Areas that Need Clean Water”. I like the idea. I am impressed by the quality of information on this website. There are a lot of good resources here. I am sure I will visit this place again soon. Here is some information.

    Reply
  2. 2

    Trina says

    November 15, 2016 at 3:35 am

    Please anybody tell me What is meant by diffusion and facilitated diffusion?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Shop from Anna’s Farm– The Naked Botanical– Farm Fresh Teas, Salts & Body Products

The Naked Botanical Click HERE

Save Money By Growing Your Plants Indoors.

Three Must Have Equipment "

Grab My Free Mini Course

Connect with Me

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Popular Posts

  • Organic Color Systems: Wash those Grays Away with a Safer Hair Color

  • Coffee Grounds in the Garden: Friend or Foe?

  • Celery Leaves: Cook or Discard them?

  • Freeze Cucumbers & Learn How to Use Them.

  • Hydrogen Peroxide + Ears = Bye to Colds. A Remedy that Works

  • Orange Peel Vinegar Cleaner. Make Your Own Green Cleaner

  • 15 Ways to Recycle or Repurpose Your Underwear

Recent Posts

  • How to Grow Grains in a Small Garden
  • Proper Lighting to Grow Seeds Indoors.
  • Gone Vegan: And Loving My New Life
  • Sleep On Latex: A Healthier Mattress to Sleep Better
  • Eco-Friendly Multi-Use Yard Living. Eat and Enjoy.

Popular Posts

  • Organic Color Systems: Wash those Grays Away with a Safer Hair Color

  • Coffee Grounds in the Garden: Friend or Foe?

  • Celery Leaves: Cook or Discard them?

RSS Green Talk TV

  • Hibiscus in the high tunnel and some discoveries I found.
  • Turmeric indoor sowing time!
  • Short snippet of creating a rose hydrosol
  • Elderberry, more uses than just for health
  • The Naked Botanical's Gift Boxes

Copyright Green Talk © 2025 · Website Designed by Clever Kiwi