Al Ain - Their startup project is currently being incubated at UAEU's Science and Innovation Park
Published: Fri 8 Sep 2017, 11:02 PM
Updated: Sat 9 Sep 2017, 1:06 AM
Students at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in Al Ain are developing a "natural technology process that can create ultra-clean water" that will help solve the problem of potable water around the world.
Their startup project called Zeopi is currently being incubated at UAEU's . The students were inspired by a natural stone in a fishpond and this discovery they say "can help millions of people who do not have access to clean water."
Explaining their project, 20-year-old UAEU physics student and Zeopi team leader Baraa Ahmed says: "We came up with this idea by accident - one of our team members noticed that when a particular stone was placed in a fish pool, the waste and dirt in that pool disappeared after some time and the water became crystal clear."
"We did a lot of research on this stone and how it affects the water in terms of minerals, toxins, metals and other aspects, and now we are testing the concept with the goal of producing drinkable water of a very high standard," she adds.
Noting that around six to eight million people are estimated to die every year because of water-related diseases, Baraa underlines: "The water we want to provide through Zeopi is intended to be full of minerals, of high-quality, eco-friendly, and extremely healthy, capable of addressing kidney issues and other diseases that can result from the water many people drink. It contains the most important minerals that the human body needs."
The Zeopi team, which also includes UAEU urban planning student Asma Abdulla, 21, and Bulgarian entrepreneur and investor Iskren Krusteff, hopes that their product will have a positive impact on social awareness and behaviour.
"Our aim is to help in providing clean, drinkable water. We believe our product will benefit everyone who decides to buy it. It will not only provide them their daily need, but also the opportunity to change - and even save - the lives of millions of people around the world," Abdulla says.
"We hope to provide the best water for our country and give something back in return for everything we've received. At a global level, we want to help change the world, prevent people from having to drink poor quality water, and give them the chance to live the best and healthiest life," she said.
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