Distilled water not available in rural Honduras

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by Stewie12

I very much doubt if there will be purified water available. These people have next to nothing.

so their govt allows em to suffer waterborne illnesses or does govt provide purification plants as some do down here..... just because there is nothing doesnot mean all are ill from waterborne illnesses.. remember the govts also offered a lovely rehoming package post caravan.

[PaulCrawhorn]

I love first world assumptions.

Most of the world has no potable drinking water available to them no how no way. More than 60 million Americans are exposed to unsafe tap water each year, and over 2 million live fulltime without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-23898-z

Point is, **of course** in poor countries' primitive rural locations, there are lots of water related illnesses, and no the government will likely not solve those problems.

I have spent decades living in communities where it is the youngest daughter's job to haul the household water in jugs every day from the village well, often miles away.

Even in the US, Greece and Australia I lived many years with plain untreated rain water or well water. Still drink straight from rivers and streams in places I know are OK.

Of course none of which I would use to top up FLAs

[Gadagirl]

Originally Posted by PaulCrawhorn

I love first world assumptions.

Most of the world has no potable drinking water available to them no how no way. More than 60 million Americans are exposed to unsafe tap water each year, and over 2 million live fulltime without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-23898-z

Point is, **of course** in poor countries' primitive rural locations, there are lots of water related illnesses, and no the government will likely not solve those problems.

I have spent decades living in communities where it is the youngest daughter's job to haul the household water in jugs every day from the village well, often miles away.

Even in the US, Greece and Australia I lived many years with plain untreated rain water or well water. Still drink straight from rivers and streams in places I know are OK.

Of course none of which I would use to top up FLAs

Well the USA is having a serious problem delivering safe potable water. While potable is abundant, it's safety is very questionable.

://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/03/us-tap-water-contaminants-discovery-radioactive-material-pesticides

[steve77]

Originally Posted by zeehag

what do the people drink..if they drink purified water, use that in your batteries..i used purified water here in mexico with no issue and batteries lasted me 7 yrs.

Most of the locals drink spring water. Several houses will join together to run a poly pipe up the hill to a spring and then plumb it to an area close to their house. Although certainly drinkable, it’s not what I want to have them use for their batteries.

There is no shortage of water in this area of Honduras.

Cheers!

Steve

[Mike Banks]

I used to have a twelve volt dehumidifier on my boat. It drew only a couple of amps while it was working--and it operated on the Peltier effect. That produced up to half a gallon of pure water a day, depending on the relative humidity. It should be more than enough for batteries.

I had this dehumidifier for ages--it has an electronically operated cold surface and a fan to move the humid air over it. Water condenses on to the plates and runs into a reservoir, but I had adapted mine so that it could overflow into a sink instead of shutting off the device when the reservoir was full, because I often left it unattended for days, even weeks, and it was then more than adequately powered by the batteries with day time solar charging..

[PaulCrawhorn]

Originally Posted by Mike Banks

I used to have a twelve volt dehumidifier on my boat.

Wow, very interested, got a link or search string?

Any idea what the ballpark Ah per 24hrs draw was?

[Mike Banks]

https://dehumidifierusa.com/12-volt-...fier-for-boat/

[CharlieJ]

All of the conversation has been regarding the supply side of the problem; how about reducing the need for water by using Hydro Caps (Hydrocap |). Here is the description from their website:

A HYDROCAP VENT replaces a battery's regular cell cap. When the cell is gassing, the hydrogen and oxygen gasses are vented into the HYDROCAP. Inside a HYDROCAP, hydrogen and oxygen gases are catalytically recombined into pure water which is returned to the cells virtually eliminating explosive hydrogen gas concentrations, and washing acid fumes and vapors back into the battery cell. This combination greatly reduces watering maintenance, makes metal corrosion virtually non-existent, and creates safer operating conditions. Electrolyte returned to the cell also increases the useful power available and lengthens battery life.

[Stewie12]

Thank you for the information on Hydrocap. What a fantastic idea for boat owners as well as those Hondurans.

[PaulCrawhorn]

Just know, they only reduce not eliminate the need for distilled water.

In a cramped boat with only awkward access to the cells, maybe worth the extra trouble and expense.

But since producing distilled water is still required, in this case

not a financial issue, just motivation time knowledge and diligence

the difference between more water and less water is basically cost-free

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Stewie12

Thank you for the information on Hydrocap. What a fantastic idea for boat owners as well as those Hondurans.

The RV and forklift reviews suggest they only last a few years and cost ~ $15 each. Not the miracle they suggest? Other experiences?


https://forum.solar-electric.com/dis...tery-vent-caps