Water supply issues are a chronic problem for Monterrey, which have been exacerbated by several periods of drought, as well as double-digit population growth. After years of drastically declining water supply capacity in its reservoirs, the local utility has resorted to emergency source management practices, such as water rationing with access to water only six hours a day. In many subdivisions, residents have reported receiving water only three hours a day and at very low pressure, which creates additional concerns for water quality.
Hauled water has become an essential means for meeting daily needs, and residents who can afford it have purchased on-site private storage tanks. However, for many schools hauled water has not been an option for various reasons, including the cost of transporting and storing water, difficulties in accessing school sites and security issues for the water haulers. Due to the lack of water, many local schools have been forced to close periodically or modify their schedules to avoid health risks for students, such as dehydration. The five schools selected for this project were closed for nearly eight months, from February to September 2022.
Since the ongoing water shortages in Monterrey cannot be resolved in the short term, innovative methods are required to supply drinking water to meet current needs, such as the hydropanel technology proposed for this project. This technology extracts water from ambient humidity to produce potable water and has been in use since 2016 in various locations in Mexico. The project will be implemented on a pilot basis to evaluate the viability and performance of the panels as a drinking water supply system for areas with similar conditions or remote areas where access is difficult.
The water harvesting system will consist of up to 108 hydropanels, plumbing, and dispensers. Each panel is equipped with a system to condense water from the air. Photovoltaic cells and batteries allow each panel to be a stand-alone unit. Individual panels include a reservoir to collect water, which is ozonated for sterilization and mineralized with magnesium and calcium ions to improve its taste and fitness for human consumption. The panels will be installed in vacant areas on school property and will be connected to distribution systems in the schools, allowing students to access water from a water fountain or dispenser.
The water generated by the hydropanels will be used only for human consumption and not for other water needs, such as cleaning and sanitary uses, which will have to be met by water supplied through the local distribution system.
The five schools selected for this project were identified through hundreds of requests submitted to the Municipality’s Water for Monterrey initiative and prioritized for selection because the sites have adequate space for panel installation and local parent groups at the schools committed to participating, as needed, to protect and use the hydropanels once installed. The contract will include training for school and SEDUSO staff in maintaining the system and preparing quarterly reports to document performance.
The Project is expected to provide a reliable supply of drinking water for the five schools, minimizing school closures and contributing to a healthy learning environment for students.
| Total Project Cost | US 0.5M |
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