Water
Clara provides an affordable, solar-powered water disinfection system that continuously chlorinates piped water using only kitchen salt, ensuring safe drinking water in rural communities for about $0.10 per person per year. The system includes remote monitoring capabilities, allowing NGOs and water facilities to plan maintenance and report performance metrics to donors. Clara operates independently of the electricity grid and can be powered by a small solar panel, with an internal battery to prevent disinfection interruptions during power cuts.
- Clean Technology
- Energy
- Hardware
- Internet of Things
- Utilities
Funding
Founders
Product
Problem
In 2020, 70% of Sub-Saharan Africa's population lacked access to safely managed drinking water. In rural areas, 70-80% of fecal contamination occurs during water transport and storage in dirty jerry-cans, resulting in a lack of safe, clean drinking water at the household level.
Solution
Clara solves the problem of water recontamination by continuously chlorinating water flowing through a pipe using only kitchen salt and solar energy. The system produces sodium hypochlorite directly inside the Clara box, eliminating the need for chlorine supply logistics. Clara operates independently of grid power, powered by a small solar panel, with an internal battery ensuring disinfection continues during electricity cuts. A remote monitoring system enables NGOs, humanitarian aid agencies, and water facilities to plan maintenance and report KPIs and achievements to donors, ensuring sustainable long-term operation even after development projects or humanitarian actions conclude.
Target Audience
Primary customers are NGOs, humanitarian aid agencies, and water facilities operating in rural Sub-Saharan Africa and other regions where safe drinking water must be provided at the point of consumption.
Features
- Continuous chlorination of piped water using only kitchen salt and solar energy, eliminating chlorine supply chain logistics
- On-site sodium hypochlorite production inside the Clara box, requiring no external chemical inputs
- Grid-independent operation with small solar panel power and internal battery backup for uninterrupted disinfection during power outages
- Remote monitoring system for continuous status tracking, enabling proactive maintenance planning from field offices or headquarters
- KPI reporting and donor achievement tracking capabilities for NGOs and humanitarian agencies
- Suitable for rural areas, health care facilities, and protracted humanitarian aid situations requiring safe water until the point of consumption