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Disaster preparedness
JUNE 30, 2018
www.stluciastar.com
Karlis Noel responds to community concerns with innovation!
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By Keryn Nelson, STAR Businessweek Correspondent
completed. When finished it will be tested for a few weeks before being shipped to Nauru.
ystems Engineer Karlis Noel has been making waves as of recent with his revolutionary eco-friendly equipment. Noel successfully developed a mobile desalination system with Zero Brine discharge—a first-of-its-kind invention with the ability to turn seawater into potable water. Noel is bringing his vision to the world through his company, KC Safaris. Luckily, we were able to catch up with the Systems Engineer for this special issue of The STAR Businessweek.
DO you see your product changing ATTITUDES on energy and sufficiency?
Noel: Well, I hope that people will see alternative energy sources as viable and efficient methods for carrying out tasks that would normally consume large amounts of conventional energy. That would certainly help. Also, with the current desalination technology developed, I hope to alleviate the stress of worrying about finding a source of potable water in the event of a disaster. Instead of having tons of water shipped, we will actually be able to produce it ourselves.
What inspired you to create this WATER system?
Noel: Growing up in Laborie, we would always have the water cut during rainy days. Things like bathing, flushing the toilet and doing the laundry became difficult. Now if a little rainy day could cause so much trouble, imagine what a hurricane could do to us. The most logical remedy to our water dilemma was to find a way to take advantage of the large body of water right in front of us, the sea, through desalination. Post-disaster, there is always no water.
Noel’s invention could prove particularly valuable in the aftermath of hurricanes and other natural disasters
They’re full of questions and eager to taste the water produced!
did you feel discouraged At any point? What impact have you Noel: Initially, when I raised the topic of noticed In communitieS wHERE KC Safaris operates? desalination. people showed little to no interest. Noel: There has been great interest, particularly from educational institutions. Teachers and students have all come to witness the process of desalination and solar power.
Certain people thought it was highly impractical and others were concerned about the brine produced by desalination. This ultimately led to the invention of a desalinator that produces no
brine. It is in my nature to always go against the wind.
HOW HAS THIS PROJECT AFFECTED YOU PERSONALLY? Noel: Being an entrepreneur has really broadened my skill set. I had to go from just being able to build cool-looking machines to being able to explain my ideas to others and to handle other tasks related to the project.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PRODUCT BEING ADOPTED ON THE What ADVICE WOULD PACIFIC ISLAND OF NAURU. YOU GIVE TO OTHER Noel: The Nauru project came about because INVENTORS? the island’s groundwater has been saturated with seawater. They contacted me through GEF [Global Environment Facility]. The unit is being built in my workshop in Laborie: its 90%
Noel: If you have an idea that you feel would benefit others, or even the whole world, then do all that is in your power to make it real because, believe me, the world needs ideas like those!
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