Watch a YouTube Video, Help Water Hogs Win EPA Contest

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Members of the Water Hogs team. Front row, left to right: Christa Hestekin, Cayla Tichy, Lauren Cole. Back row: Shumon Hasan, Florencio Serrano Castillo, Omar Qasem, D.J. Lee, Keiron Durant.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A team of chemical engineering, communications and Honors College students at the University of Arkansas – collectively known as the Water Hogs -- have created a sustainable clean water system for developing countries and entered it in an Environmental Protection Agency competition. You can support them by watching their YouTube video and helping them win a $500 prize for their project.

The student’s system, which uses human power and scrap materials and produces water that meets World Health Organization drinking water standards, is easy and affordable to build.

“Unfortunately, 780 million people around the world … don’t have access to clean or safe drinking water. That’s where we come in,” Lauren Cole explains in the team’s video.

The students have entered their system in the EPA’s People, Prosperity and the Planet Student Design Competition, or P3. It takes place April 24-28 in Washington, D.C., and recognizes innovative solutions to environmental problems. As part of the competition, the students have created an “elevator pitch” video that can be viewed on YouTube. The team that collects the most views between April 16 and 9 p.m. EDT April 24 will win the People’s Choice award in the competition, and a $500 prize.

“I’m so proud of these students,” said John English, dean of the College of Engineering. “This project is an example of what engineers do best — finding creative ways to make the world a better place. I know our campus and community will support their efforts and take this opportunity to learn more about their amazing project.”

The Water Hogs’ system uses a filter and bleach to clean water. Using a treadle pump that can be operated by one person, the system pumps water from a well through a filter made of sand, coarse gravel and cloth. After that, bleach is added to the water to remove harmful bacteria. An electrolysis unit, which converts salt water into bleach, is powered by a bicycle, which is connected to a motor that is connected to a 12-volt car battery. “As long as the bicycle is being pedaled faster than the motor will turn the bicycle wheel, the battery will be charged,” the team explains on its Facebook page.

 The Water Hogs team members are Florencio Serrano Castillo, Lauren Cole, Keiron Durant, Jordan Gross, Shumon Hasan, D.J. Lee, Omar Qasem and Cayla Tichy. Tichy, Durant, Cole and Lee have received Honors College travel grants to support their participation in the P3 competition. The team’s mentors are Christa Hestekin, associate professor and holder of the Ansel and Virginia Condray Endowed Professorship in Chemical Engineering; Roy Penney, professor of chemical engineering; and Stephanie Schulte, assistant professor of communication.