FAQ

1. What kind of weather conditions can the Sun4Water Systems stand?

The Sun4Water Systems are built to operate under harsh climate conditions. We have more than 50 units in operation in over 20 countries and they all operate under different conditions; for example in the desert (high air temperature and dust) as well as in the jungle (high humidity). It is important to communicate the conditions under which the unit will be deployed so that the power system can be tailored to the local climatic requirements. If there is a risk of sub-zero temperatures, please contact your Myriado representative; a special insulation has to be added to the unit and the intake hose.

2. How much water do human need for day?

In order to ensure our basic needs, every individual needs approx. 2 – 5 litres for drinking and food and 20 litres for hygiene – clean water, free from harmful contaminants each and every day.

3. What affects the amount of water produced?

The amount of water which can be treated depends mainly on the following issues:
Pump: the units are limited by the feed pump; the best performance is achieved without feed pump if the unit can be connected to a pressurized water source or a high tank.
Available power: the amount of power produced in the solar-panel(s) depends on the insolation, which is the intensity and duration of sunlight. When ordering a Sun4Water plant, you should communicate the location where it will be deployed so that additional solar panels can be added should the local conditions require this. In any event, bad weather periods of more than just a few days cannot be bridged with solar power stored in batteries; an alternative power source has to be used. Other than connecting to an existing power grid, a diesel generator or wind power can be considered.

4. What is the pressure of the product water?

The drinking water pump produces a maximum pressure of 4 bar. Note however that this pressure is not available at the nominal flow. A detailed pressure-flow curve can be provided.

5. Is there any pressure measuring within the unit?

There is no pressure monitoring device included in the standard system. If required, a device can be added.

6. Is there any flow measuring system included in the unit?

There is no flow monitoring device included in the standard system. If required, a device can be added.

7. What kind of chemicals can the Sun4Water Systems remove?

The Myriado Sun4Water water treatment plant uses an activated carbon filter to remove 99.9% of pesticides and hydro-carbons (including petrol based). Customized solutions can be designed upon request.

8. Can the Sun4Water System remove Arsenic (As) and Fluoride (F)?

In the standard configuration, the Sun4Unit does not remove Arsenic or Fluoride. A special Arsenic/Fluoride filter can be fitted to the system should the raw-water analysis show the presence of these elements.

9. Can the Sun4Water System treat brackish water?

Brackish water is either slightly salty or contaminated with dissolved solids and therefore not drinkable for human. Brackish water is graded with a TDS level which ranges from over 1’000 – approx. 15’000 TDS. The Myriado Sun4Water system cannot be used to treat brackish water with salinity over 800mg/l Myriado provides products for solar desalination and to treat brackish and sea water. Please contact your local Myriado dealer for an alternative solution.

10. What is the maximum admissible turbidity level of the raw-water?

Essentially, there is no limit to the admissible turbidity of raw-water. However, excessive turbidity causes the filter to cloak faster than usually. This problem can easily be solved through a proper design (i.e. larger pre-filter or settlement tanks) of the raw-water intake. Contact your local Myriado representative for advice.

11. Can Sun4Water Systems treat grey water?

Any water that has been used in the home, except water from toilets, is called grey water. Dish, shower, sink, and laundry water comprise 50-80% of residential “waste” water. This may be reused for other purposes. The Sun4Water systems is not designed for the treatment of grey water.

Myriado provides products for grey water reuse. Please contact your Myriado dealer for an inquiry.

12. What is an activated carbon filter?

In combination with our filtration system, the activated carbon filter removes smell and odor from the water. The filter should be removed on a regular basis, approx. every 2 – 3 month

13. What is TDS?

TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS: dissolved solids, inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter present in solution in water. The principal constituents are usually calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium cations and carbonate, hydrogen carbonate, chloride, sulphate, and nitrate anions. TDS in water may affect its taste. The palatability of drinking water has been rated in relation to its TDS level as follows: excellent (less than 300 mg/litre), good (between 300 and 600 mg/litre), fair (between 600 and 900 mg/litre), poor (between 900 and 1200 mg/litre), and unacceptable greater than 1200 mg/litre.

14. What if the weather conditions do not allow operation of the unit by renewable energy?

We recommend installing back-up batteries to support operation during short-term bad weather conditions. For prolonged bad weather spells, solar power is not suitable. Alternatively, a wind or a water turbine can be used or the power can be drawn from an outside source (generator, grid …)

15. How many hours of sun are necessary to operate the Sun4Water Systems with solar power?

The radiation and strength of the sun is different at each location. The energy provided by the sun is referred to as insolation and the value can be determined from a table for most locations. As a rule of thumb, approximately 5 hours of direct sunshine are required to operate the units for 8 – 10 hours a day.

16. What is the advantage of powering a water treatment unit by solar energy?

There are many advantages to operate the Sun4water Water Systems by solar power:

  • The main benefit is the independent operation of the unit in areas without an existing infrastructure or with many breakdowns of the power supply.
  • No maintenance required.
  • Solar panels which are long lasting goods that have been field proven.
  • Using environmentally friendly solar power is an active approach towards climate protection
  • The use of solar power is often supported by government and financial benefits are granted in many countries.
17. Is it possible to run the Sun4water Water Systems with grid power or a generator?

The standard configuration of Sun4Water cannot be operated with grid power. The plant can however be customized to the clients need to run on 110V or 220V AC power.

18. What is the maximum depth for water pumping?

The standard raw water pump can draw water from a depth of 1.8m meters. In case of deeper wells or boreholes, other pumping equipment is available. Please ask Myriado Cleantech GmbH for more detailed information.

19. What are the WHO guidelines for drinking water?

The primary purpose of the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality is the protection of public health. The Guidelines are intended to support the development and implementation of risk management strategies that will ensure the safety of drinking-water supplies through the control of hazardous constituents of water. These strategies may include national or regional standards developed from the scientific basis provided in the guidelines.

The Guidelines describe reasonable minimum requirements of safe practice to protect the health of consumers and/or derive numerical “guideline values” for constituents of water or indicators of water quality In order to define mandatory limits, it is preferable to consider the guidelines in the context of local or national environmental, social, economic and cultural conditions. The Guidelines are applicable to large metropolitan and small community piped drinking-water systems and to non-piped drinking-water systems in communities and in individual dwellings.

20. Will the system work reliably with air trapped in the filters?

For optimal performance, all air should be removed from the filters. Open the pressure release valve at the top of the filter housing with a screwdriver and bleed the system until all bubbles have cleared.