ABOUT THE PROJECT
Kiru is a small farming community in Papua New Guinea, 140 km from Port Moresby. The agricultural community draws its water supply from a small well which is microbiologically contaminated. In 2023, in partnership with Mercy Reach and Healing the Land Foundation, Moerk Water designed and constructed a solar powered containerised filtration UV system. The system consisted of a well pump, 2 x UV-LEDs, 2 x 4,500 L poly tanks, advanced filtration media and a pressure pump set to allow for distribution of the filtered and sterilised water.
There are three outlets from the water treatment system – an unpressurised tap stand fed by gravity and two pressurised treated water outlets, one for irrigation and one for potable water. The unit comes equipped with container roof mounted solar panels, inverter and battery which ensures the unit runs 6-10 hours a day (depending on solar irradiation). At an average production time of 8 hours a day, the system will produce around 10,000 L/day.
Project Outcomes:
- Kiru farming community now has safe water for irrigation and drinking
- Unit is completely containerised with the controls, power system and treatment unit all housed within or on top of the shipping container.
- Unit produces approximately 10,000 L of filtered and sterilised water each day
- Project was funded by community donations and supported by local Moerk Water trained technicians
