blue plastic tanks filled with water
Sean Cate
Sean Cate
September 15, 2024 ·  3 min read

Engineer Harnesses Sunlight To Make Saltwater Drinkable In Gaza

In the war-torn region of Gaza, where water is scarce and infrastructure severely damaged, 50-year-old agricultural engineer Inas al-Ghul has developed a makeshift solar-powered water filtration system. This innovation has become a lifeline for Palestinians enduring bombardment and scorching heat. Using salvaged materials like wood from aid pallets and abandoned window panes, Ghul built a glass-covered trough that harnesses the greenhouse effect to evaporate saltwater, making it drinkable.1

The Greenhouse Effect at Work

Palestinian Engineer Inas al-Ghul
Credit: S2J News

The process is simple yet effective: the glass panels trap sunlight, heating the water inside the trough and causing it to evaporate. The water vapor then condenses, leaving behind the salt. The purified vapor travels through a long black hose into other containers filled with activated charcoal to further filter out impurities. Ghul emphasizes, “It is a very simple device, it’s very simple to use and to build”.2

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No Electricity Needed

Palestinian women wash their clothes using sea water due to the lack of fresh water and electricity
Credit: Mahmud Hams

One of the most remarkable aspects of Ghul’s system is that it doesn’t require electricity, solar panels, or advanced filters to function. It relies solely on the sun, a resource Gaza has in abundance with 14 hours of sunlight in summer and eight hours in winter. This feature has proven crucial at a time when Gaza’s power plant is offline, and electricity from Israel has been cut off for months.

The Need for Water in Gaza

People line up to fill containers with water at a makeshift camp for displaced Palestinians in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip
Credit: Eyad Baba

Access to clean water in Gaza was already limited before the conflict, with most of the population relying on an increasingly polluted aquifer. Today, available water averages just 4.74 liters per day—less than a third of the recommended minimum for emergencies. Oxfam reports that this is equivalent to “less than a single toilet flush” and warns of a looming health catastrophe.

A Timely Invention

Scenes of dire water shortages in Gaza
Credit: SJ2 News

For displaced Palestinians like Mohammad Abu Daoud, Ghul’s invention couldn’t have come at a better time. “For about two months, we have relied on it entirely,” he says, referring to the solar-powered filter. At a school-turned-shelter near Ghul’s home, several families have come to depend on the device to fill their water bottles. The 250-liter tank storing the clean water empties quickly.

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Water as a Weapon of War

The available water for Gazans currently averages 4.74 litres per day, 'under a third of the recommended minimum in emergencies', or the equivalent of 'less than a single toilet flush', Oxfam reported in July
Credit: Omar Al-Qattaa

According to Oxfam, the Israeli military has targeted water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza, with an estimated five sites damaged or destroyed every three days since the conflict began. The organization accuses Israel of “weaponizing water as a tool of war,” exacerbating the already dire situation for the 2.4 million residents of Gaza.

Health Crisis Looming

50-year-old agricultural engineer Inas al-Ghul
Credit: SJ2 News

The lack of clean water has led to a public health crisis. Oxfam reports that 26% of Gaza’s population has become severely ill from preventable diseases due to the water shortage. Ghul’s device provides a glimmer of hope in the face of this catastrophe, but it is not enough to meet the needs of the entire population.

The Courage of a Community

Water is divvied out to the communities in Gaza
Credit: SJ2 News

Despite the constant threat of airstrikes and the overwhelming challenges, Ghul continues to monitor her invention from her terrace, opening and closing the taps to manage the precious water supply. Her ingenuity and resilience reflect the broader spirit of Gaza’s population, who have turned hardship into an opportunity for creativity and hope.

Innovation Amid Adversity

Ghul works to make sure everything is done correctly for her water filtration system to work
Credit: SJ2 News

In a region where destruction and displacement have become the norm, Ghul’s invention serves as a powerful symbol of human resilience. Her solar-powered filter is a simple yet essential innovation, offering a way to harness the sun’s energy to solve a critical problem in a time of crisis.

The Future of Water in Gaza

potable water running from taps
Credit: Pixabay

As the conflict drags on, the need for solutions like Ghul’s will only grow. While her device has already made a difference for her community, larger efforts will be required to address the long-term water crisis in Gaza. In the meantime, the courage and ingenuity of individuals like Inas al-Ghul offer hope amid the devastation.

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Sources

  1. Gaza engineer harnesses sunlight to make saltwater drinkable.” France 24. August 20, 2024.
  2. Genius Gaza Engineer harnesses Sunlight to make Saltwater Drinkable.” S2J News. Ayesha Malik. August 21, 2024.