Blog Action Day 2010

Right now, almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water. That’s one in eight of us who are subject to preventable disease and even death because of something that many of us take for granted.

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Access to clean water is not just a human rights issue. It’s an environmental issue. An animal welfare issue. A sustainability issue. Water is a global issue, and it affects all of us.

I've described the efforts of masonry design here, here, here, here, here and here.

To see my completed prototype, please look here.

This system can have a real, significant impact on providing fresh water to humans globally.

Desalination: an Idea Validated

A few entries ago, I wrote about the possibility of using a concrete sphere for desalination: or removing salt from salt water to produce fresh, potable water. I had written that a pressure of around 1,000 psi is required for forcing salt water through a semi-permeable membrane to create freshwater; furthermore, that a concrete sphere with a compressive strength of around 8,000 psi seemed like an adequate safety factor for this application; and that concrete block can be consistently, reliably and inexpensively produced with this level of strength.


If a sphere made from block with a compressive strength of 8,000 psi were sunk to a depth of 2,225 feet, the head pressure, or water pressure, at that depth would be around 1,000 psi; enough to force salt water through a semi-permeable membrane, and enough to perform reverse osmosis necessary for desalination.

Currently, desalination through reverse osmosis is problematic because of the high energy requirements necessary to force salt water through a membrane. The practice of desalination through reverse osmosis is growing rapidly around the globe, as the need for potable water increases while its availability decreases. If we can provide fresh water from salt water while avoiding the high energy requirements, this would be a giant leap forward in dealing with the problem of providing fresh, potable water. Currently, the energy needed for desalination is typically provided by burning fossil fuels to generate electricity. This is inherently problematic and ultimately not sustainable.  It also creates salt-rich effluent, which is problematic in its disposal.  Below is a picture of a desalination plant.

The key to my approach is to sink the hollow concrete sphere to the proper depth, let the “free” pressure fill a sphere with fresh water, and then to allow an inflatable bladder to float the sphere (filled with fresh water) to the surface, so no energy is required to pump fresh water up 2,225 feet. At the surface, the fresh water would be harvested and the process repeated. This would be done a large scale (with hundreds or thousands of spheres) to gain the economy of design and produce a substantial supply of fresh water.

I did some additional research to investigate whether or not my idea was valid, or would hold water, if you’ll pardon the pun. I came across an old paper titled “Laminated Concrete For Deep Ocean Construction” (authors: M.H. Karsteter, Florida State U.; W.R. Karsteter, Environmental Concrete Design Inc.; and M.E. Roms, Consultant) published for Offshore Technology Conference, 2-5 May 1988, Houston, Texas.

Here is the Abstract from this paper: “The U. S. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory has developed formulas to predict the collapse of hollow concrete spheres or cylinders and has shown that they can remain watertight under the pressure of chemically active deep ocean seawater. This paper tabulates wall thickness, volume of concrete, weight of displaced water, and gives a concrete cost factor for several interior dimensions of one-atmosphere habitats or valve chambers for oil and gas wells, and describes a low-cost method for building submersible concrete structures by shotcrete laminating in floating formwork.”

Here is Background from this paper: “In order to determine the long-term durability of concrete in the deep ocean, the U. S. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory immersed 18 concrete spheres in the Pacific Ocean at depths ranging from 1800 to 5000 ft. Each sphere was 66 inches in diameter with 4-inch thick walls and was designed for a working depth of about 3000 feet at 1300 psi.

The design strength of the concrete was 8000 psi but after 5 years, tests showed a 15 percent increase. This remained the same after 10 years. No visible deterioration of the concrete was observed in any of the spheres and leakage varied from 0 to only 14 gallons after 10 years.

Spheres immersed beyond the designed depth collapsed and a formula was developed to predict the wall thickness needed for concrete spheres and cylinders of various outside diameters to survive at various depths (3). The authors contemplated that in the future, methods may be developed to build massive structures on the seafloor at which time it would be desirable to have designs for negative buoyancy and deeper depths.”

This paper was done largely for and by the deep oil drilling industry. There was no intent on using this research for desalination back in 1988. Nonetheless, the results are absolutely relevant to the problem I’ve been thinking about, and I feel as though my initial insight is completely valid and justified. The authors even speak of 8,000 psi concrete. They also note that strength of concrete spheres actually increases over the first five years.

This is a significant opportunity for a large market.  Fresh water provided sustainably.

Masonry to help Women and Girls around the Globe

I am applying for a grant through the State Department and the Rockefeller Foundation, in an effort to help women and girls in developing countries around the globe.  This effort is described at this link.

They are just asking for a short (5 page) summary of the idea; if it is deemed worthy, they will then ask for a full proposal.  Funding is available up to $500,000.

Here is my paper describing this effort:
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Potable Water and Sanitation System to Improve the Lives of Women and Girls on a Global Scale


-Concept Paper-

1. Primary Problems Addressed

Water Storage Women and girls in developing countries around the globe often face a daily struggle to procure, store and use safe drinking water for themselves and their families. Across different cultures, geographical boundaries, and religions, this critical responsibility typically falls on women and girls. The importance of access to potable water for the well being of humans cannot be overemphasized. A huge amount of time, energy and resources is consumed in the daily quest for potable water. This onerous burden prevents women and girls from using their time and resources for other critical aspects of living. This situation results in a continuous cycle of poverty, poor health, and lack of security for women, girls and their families. This problem is only expected to worsen as the effects of climate change continue to adversely affect the supply and access to clean water globally.

Sanitation The problem of safe, affordable, reliable access to potable water is compounded by unsanitary conditions and is often due to improper methods of disposal and treatment of human waste in close proximity to water sources. Contamination of water sources with microbes and parasites from human waste creates major public health problems on a global scale. The burden of dealing with dysentery, diarrhea, sickness, and death falls disproportionately on women and girls within the family unit.

Procuring Fresh Water Our changing climate is reducing the sources and availability of fresh, clean potable water across the globe. As glaciers melt, they have become less reliable as the traditional source of potable water for many areas dependent on this source of water. As sea levels rise from climate change, salt water and brackish water encroach on fresh water aquifers, further reducing the availability of fresh water for human consumption. The most vulnerable populations to the lack of fresh water are those already plagued by the deepest poverty, poor health and lack of fundamental security resulting from poor access to water and food. Women and girls feel the effects of diminishing sources of fresh water most acutely, since they are traditionally relied upon to provide their families with water.

2. Description of the Innovation

The innovation proposed to address these three problems (water storage, sanitation, and procuring fresh water) is an innovative masonry system comprised of triangular interlocking concrete blocks which assemble into a sphere. These masonry units are manufactured on a concrete block machine which produces high strength, low cost, consistently reliable masonry units. The concrete block industry has a strong presence around the globe, and has the resources and ability to produce these masonry units using existing methods and materials. All that is required is a set of molds for producing these innovative blocks.

Water Storage Storage of potable water is achieved through an underground spherical tank. This tank is assembled by hand, requiring no special equipment or skills. Blocks are to be provided by a block manufacturer. These triangular blocks are easy to assemble and create a very high strength concrete sphere which can be expected to last on the order of one hundred years or more. These tanks would be of a size that is obtainable by individual families and households.

Sanitation The problem of proper disposal of human waste is addressed by use of a septic tank system. The septic tank is also an underground sphere made of the same triangular block as required by the water storage tanks. This system isolates human waste from potable water, creates a much cleaner environment, and ultimately produces rich fertilizer for use in growing crops in an economical and sustainable fashion. The liability of human waste is converted into a valuable asset for producing food.



Procuring Fresh Water Fresh water is currently produced around the globe by desalination of salt water. Two basic methods are currently used for desalination: distillation and reverse osmosis filtration. Both of these methods require a significant amount of energy and are expensive. Distillation requires a lot of heat to boil or evaporate fresh water from salt water; reverse osmosis requires a lot of electrical energy to achieve the high pressures (~1,000 psi) necessary to force salt water through a semi-permeable membrane which removes the salt component. Spheres made from the masonry system described here have a very high compressive strength (~8,000 psi). These spheres can be outfitted with an inexpensive surrounding membrane and a portal which contains a reverse osmosis filter. If the sphere is sunk to a depth of 2,225 feet below sea level, the pressure exceeds 1,000 psi and salt water is forced through the membrane, filling the sphere with fresh water. The sphere is then floated to the surface using an inflatable bladder, so that no energy is required to pump fresh water to the surface. The fresh water is then harvested, the sphere is re-sunk and the process repeated. A large scale operation of this type (involving hundreds or thousands of spheres) would achieve an economy of scale, and does not require the high energy and cost of conventional desalination methods. The cost of these spheres would be relatively inexpensive.

The innovation proposed here could help solve the three critical problems of water storage, sanitation and procuring fresh water. This can be done inexpensively, at any location around the globe, using existing methods, materials and equipment currently in use by the concrete block industry. The effect of this innovation on women, girls and their families would be far-reaching, dramatic, sustainable, affordable and environmentally appropriate.

3. Stage of Development

This innovation has been in operation for over 5 years, although the application of this innovation for the purposes described here have been in operation for less than one year. This masonry system has been used for architectural applications, to build kilns and furnaces, and for landscaping applications. These innovative blocks have been successfully produced on commercial concrete block machines, and buildings have been constructed using this masonry system.

4. Specific Activities

This technology has been patented, manufactured and introduced to the concrete industry in the US. This innovation was identified as a “Cutting Edge Technology” by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) the trade group for the industry; which establishes building code and works to advance the state-of-the-art in concrete technology. Several buildings have been successfully constructed using this masonry system, and various landscaping features have been assembled and installed using this novel masonry system. This technology has also been used to build high efficiency kilns and furnaces under two grants awarded by the New York State Energy Resource & Development Authority (NYSERDA). Currently, a new business (Sure Well, LLC) is working to introduce this masonry system for water storage applications in the state of Utah. Utah State Bill 32 was recently signed into law, which allows citizens (for the first time) to store and use rainwater in Utah, in below ground tanks of up to 2,500 gallons. Sure Well, LLC is able to provide these tanks at a fraction of the cost of other below ground water storage tank companies. This company is expecting to expand its operations on a national level, providing this high performance, inexpensive water storage solution across the country through a number of concrete block manufacturers. Currently, the principals are working with Besser Block Company, a global leader in concrete block production, to make this masonry system available on a global basis. Besser has a strong presence in 115 countries around the globe and is a leading producer and provider to the concrete block industry on a global scale. This innovation has not yet been employed for the specific applications described here, thus no metric is currently available for improving the lives of women and girls for whom these applications are intended to benefit.

5. Sustaining the Innovation

To date, this innovation has been sustained through private investment, grants, collaboration of industry & trade organizations and a boot-strap effort.

6. Expected Results

The results of award funding are expected to be immediate and far-reaching. Molds for this masonry system will be purchased and distributed to those locations which have the greatest need. Block will be manufactured and an educational effort will be launched in conjunction with the manufacturers, government agencies, NGO’s, and other philanthropic organizations to help ensure the distribution, proper installation, assembly and use of this system for the three applications described here (water storage, sanitation and water procurement). Water storage and sanitation can be implemented immediately. Water procurement through desalination will require further testing, development and trials. Desalination is expected to be developed within three years; once developed it can be rapidly deployed to any number of locations. This system relies on the existing, developed and tried and true methods of the concrete block industry.

Measurement of project success will be readily obtained by simply counting the number of people and households directly benefitting from clean water storage systems, septic systems and access to clean potable water. A typical fully mechanized block machine is capable of producing over 3,000 blocks per hour. Each concrete sphere requires 180 blocks. A block machine in continuous operation is thus capable of producing enough blocks to make 400 spherical tanks per day. Molds can be re-fitted with new wear parts at a low cost, and used on another machine in a different location, dramatically maximizing the high-efficiency production of state-of-the-art concrete block production on a truly global basis. The ability to free women and girls from the onerous task of providing fresh water and sanitary conditions will have a huge and immediate benefit.

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I am sure we could help a lot of people with this project.  Let's hope others think so.