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The activity has helped to build the resilience of communities in Jamaica by using a reverse osmosis
technology, which provides approximately 1000 gallons of potable water daily for students and staff.
This includes a rainwater harvesting system that includes catchment and storage.
The system is powered by small integrated wind/solar energy facility that will provide the required
electricity needed to purify the water. Simple slow speed wind generators that produce 1 to 2 KW of
power will be used to run the reverse-osmosis (RO) system that will be used to convert sea water to
fresh water. The wind generator uses locally obtained materials, some of which are recycled.
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The system is designed to produce fresh water from normally unused sources of water for potable
supply to 1000 people daily. Rainwater, brackish water and sea water is treated and purified onsite
to minimize distribution losses and increase the efficiency of the water resource system.
Education activities to promote the use of renewable energy are a distinct part of the activity. It
helps to build the capacities of the community and particularly engineering students who are trained
as they work on the manufacturing of components and measure wind velocity and direction for sighting
of the unit. The system is intended to be scalable for easy replication in other schools, households
and communities.
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The activity aims to initiate a system for the replication of this low-cost technology, by building
capacity and empowering communities in the manufacture, sales and maintenance of the unit. The
activity has influenced policy in that the technology has been incorporated into national energy
policy.
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