The all-in-one system harvests, stores and then dispenses water. Custom built water dispensers – or water ‘ATMs’ – will allow communities to pay only for as much water as they need.
After meeting at a hackathon, Koigi and team mates decided to focus on the water needs of rural communities in Kenya who live in arid and semi-arid areas. Experimenting with different ways to absorb and then release water, the team is doing extensive research at several sites in Nairobi, while also installing their first commercial units in South Africa. A successful pilot run in collaboration with a children’s home in an informal Nairobi settlement will continue to be adapted and tested in an area where the need is greatest.
Water ATMs are already prominent in Kenya, typically supplied by costly reverse osmosis devices. The Majik Water team hopes to supplement this technology with something more affordable.
