A revolutionary technology converting sunlight into drinking water is being enjoyed by the children and staff at Cobargo Public School.
The school has been outfitted with 10 "Hydropanels", donated by Canva following the Black Summer bushfires.
Although they look like solar panels, instead of producing electricity, they use only sunlight and the surrounding air to produce clean and cool drinking water.
The children have been making good use of the technology, refilling their drink bottles throughout the day from the water created by the panels.
Representatives from Source Global, the company that invented the technology, recently visited Cobargo Public School to demonsrate the "first-of-its-kind" system as well as speak to the children about the global water crisis and sustainable solutions.
Alex Polson, director of market development for Source, showed the pupils how the company's patented technology uses the energy of the sun to draw water from the abundant supply of water vapour in the air, with no electricity or piped water infrastructure.
Mr Polson said the hydropanels could produce large volumes of water - even in dry climates like Australia - and can be scaled to any size to serve a single home or an entire community.
"Over its lifetime, a single panel can offset more than 57,000 single-use plastic water bottles," he explained.
During his visit, Mr Polson discussed the world's water challenges, how global leaders are working with companies like Source to find sustainable solutions and what students can do to help.
He also met with teachers and school staff to better understand how the hydropanels are supporting them and their students.
"Cobargo school students lived through the drought, bushfires and they are now seeing how increased storms and flooding can threaten the drinking water supply, so they weren't surprised to learn that by 2050, six billion people will suffer from clean water scarcity due to climate change," Mr Polson said.
"Innovations like Source are vital to solving the problem, but to truly achieve climate resilience, we will need the commitment and ingenuity of our young people. That's why days like this one are so important."
Ben Smyth
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
