Water treatment company GAST Clearwater has developed a water treatment system to improve water quality globally without the use of obnoxious chemicals, biological components or membranes.

The Advanced Low Tension Electroporation Process (ALTEP) system aims to do for the water sector what solar did for electricity, says water treatment expert and GAST Clearwater CEO Kevin Gast.

“This system represents a highly affordable and low maintenance option for countries around the world. The system is a next- generation water treatment solution without the use of chemicals, biological or membrane technology and is considerably less expensive than conventional methods.”

He points out that electroporation itself is not a new concept, having been widely used in the biomedical and medical science fields, and many organisations have been working on methods to apply the concept to water purification.

“The difficulty has always been making it work using a low-energy input while keeping it commercially viable. But four years ago, GAST Clearwater cracked that code,” he says.

He explains that the company’s ALTEP treatment system breaks down the outer protective cell membranes of bacteria, protozoa and viruses, exposing their cytoplasm to manipulation by the ALTEP system.

“The now inert particles and carcasses are then removed, resulting in clean and safe drinking water. Unlike chlorine and conventional water treatment systems, this system is able to neutralise a large number of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which include antibiotics, steroids, psychotropic drugs and certain chemicals used in manufacturing.

“It is also able to break down a host of pathogens, biomass, pesticides and endocrine disruptors, enhancing water purity,” Gast points out.

There are weaknesses inherent in traditional water treatment systems, he says.

The challenges include high input and maintenance costs; ineffectiveness against certain chemicals; and the frequent use of chemicals, which have serious negative long-term consequences for the human body and disintegrates water systems, pipes and machinery.

“South Africa’s water treatment system is in dire straits. As the country undertakes rehabilitative action, government and municipalities need to consider alternative methods that will prove to be less expensive and healthier in the long run. Globally, the ALTEP system is a clear frontrunner in this space,” he says.

It is managed and controlled remotely, by expert operators, and uses some of the most highly advanced cybersecurity systems available to ensure infrastructure protection.

The ALTEP system, a modular automated system that can easily and inexpensively be added to existing water treatment systems or simply installed in a new facility from the onset, also results in a 15% to 25% savings on capital expenditure and operational expenditure.