Oregon State students create devices to purify water in Katrina-like situations

Mechanical engineering students at Oregon State University have been working to find ways to get potable water in emergencies such as Hurricane Katrina, when human power may be the only resource available to residents.

So, they have been pedaling bicycles and turning hand cranks to power water purification devices created for a design course.

Hundreds gathered in the Kelley Engineering Center atrium to watch 24 teams unveil prototypes and compete to see whose design could produce the largest volume of potable water.

Using only human mechanical power, students had to bring the water to a boil and then condense the steam into purified water, or -- create a still.

from Water News