Page 103 - International Space Station Benefits for Humanity, 3rd edition.

and has enhanced and adapted it for affordable and
easy-to-use water purification products. The company
has installed systems around the world, including home
water purifiers in India; village processing systems in
remote areas of Mexico, Central, and South America;
water bottle filling stations in Pakistan; and even a
survival bag designed as a first response device for
natural disasters, refugee camps, civil emergencies
and remote locations.
These kinds of joint collaborations show how effectively
space research can adapt to contribute answers to
global problems.

Space Station-Inspired mWater App
Identifies Healthy Water Sources
What if that clear, sparkling stream of water coming
from the ground or a faucet were teeming with
contaminants? How would you know? Whether you live
in some remote region of Africa, a high-rise in New York
City or onboard an orbiting laboratory in space, you
need reliable drinking water to survive. Now, you can
check the cleanliness of your water using a phone app.
This handy tool, based in part on ISS technology,
provides a global resource that is available for free
download as an app or usable via the Web browser
version on most smartphones. Governments, health
workers and the public can make use of the mWater
app (http://www.mwater.co/) to record and share
water test results. During the first year of beta release,
more than 1,000 users downloaded mWater and
Filtration system providing clean, safe water mapped several thousand water sources. Currently,
installed at a school in Chiapas, Mexico. mWater is used by more than 25,000 government,
Image credit: Sinergia Systemas non-profit and academic institutions in 147 countries.
John Feighery, mWater co-founder and former lead
engineer for air and water monitoring with NASA, was
the water. When added to the diet, iodine promotes inspired by his work for the space station. There, he
proper brain function and helps maintain levels of and his team created efficient, mobile and ambient
hormones that regulate cell development and growth. testing techniques to test for contamination in drinking
Children born in iodine-deficient areas are at risk of water sources without the need for costly lab
neurological disorders and mental retardation.
With the help of U.S. Army Civil Affairs and
Psychological Operations Command (Airborne)
personnel, a 2,000-liter water tank and fresh water Whether you live in some remote
were delivered to the village in Iraq. Workers ensured region of Africa, a high-rise in New
that the water was clean and iodinated to prevent
bacteria and virus contamination. York City or onboard an orbiting
Since that initial effort, the commercialization of this laboratory in space, you need
NASA technology has provided aid and disaster relief reliable drinking water to survive.
for communities worldwide. WSC owns the rights to
NASA’s iodinated resin water purification technology

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