Months ago, Bill Gates took a drink of water that was made out of feces. If you think that's eww, this is Bill Gates we are talking about. His vision is to provide water and reduce diseases in poor countries. And because he is Bill Gates, he has the technology that can exactly do that, as reported in Fortune.
Meet Janicki Omni Processor or JOP. It is now in Dakar being tested. JOP is able to turn human waste into reusable byproducts like drinking water, electricity and ash. Dakar is in West Africa with a population of 3.4 million. About 30% of these people do not have access to proper sewer system. Their waste goes into pits or septic tanks. Since it is a bit expensive to hire trucks for waste removal, the contents of the pits or septic tanks are then removed by hand. You can just imagine the possible contamination that can happen. A person's health can be at risk. The water system of the community can be at risk.
The vision of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is to 'dramatically improve sanitation for all the cities in poor countries', explains Bill in his blog, when talking about the JOP project.
The JOP is a safe repository for waste, because it burns the waste. There is no foul smell, either. This system has met the standards of the government regarding emissions. Trucks collecting waste do not have to dump it in treatment facilities or worst, the river or ocean, where it can find its way to the water system.
Aside from water, another byproduct of JOP is ash. This can be used to make bricks for business and for the construction or housing industry.Then there is electricity through steam engines. The electricity it generates burns waste, and creates electricity.
The next goal is to make a machine that will make waste management more affordable and safer. It intends to revolutionize the garbage removal system by using magnets, instead of hand, to remove waste. This method will not require having to segregate wet waste from dry waste.
If waste is left uncollected or improperly stored, it will contaminate the water system, which is currently a problem for millions of people. Diseases from problematic sanitation kills 700,000 people a year, mostly children. It can also hamper their mental and physical growth.