03 Mar 2025
Did you know solar disinfection can turn contaminated water into safe drinking water using just sunlight and clear bottles?
Darryl Gillespie from The Water Gift joined our students to deliver an insightful presentation on Solar Disinfection of Water (SODIS) and the Safe Sticker—a simple yet powerful innovation that helps communities access clean drinking water.
SODIS uses sunlight to kill harmful pathogens in water. Darryl explained how SODIS is a cost-effective, science-backed method that transforms contaminated water into safe drinking water using sunlight and recycled plastic bottles. However, ensuring the water has received enough UV exposure to be safe can be tricky, and that’s where the Safe Sticker comes in.
The Safe Sticker ensures water is properly disinfected by changing colour when it's safe to drink, helping to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases. This low-cost, easy-to-use solution provides a reliable visual cue based on UV exposure, offering a simple yet effective way to deliver clean water, especially in remote communities with limited access to clean drinking water. Darryl demonstrated how the Safe Sticker works and outlined the simple steps to implement SODIS using recycled bottles, emphasising its critical role in these communities.
Our students were fascinated by the power of innovation in addressing critical challenges and improving lives. They gained valuable insights into real-world science applications and global sustainability efforts.
We sincerely thank Darryl Gillespie and The Water Gift for sharing his expertise and inspiring the next generation of changemakers.
