EcoGenesis

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  3d prototype

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  our system

Inspiration

The inspiration behind EcoGenesis came from the growing water scarcity issues in Tunisia, as well as around the world. With climate change and an increasing demand for water, the need to find sustainable water management solutions has never been more critical. We realized that wastewater, a resource often wasted, could be treated and reused to meet non-potable water needs, such as irrigation, laundry, and toilet flushing. This insight led to the creation of EcoGenesis, a solution that helps address water scarcity while promoting sustainability.

What it does

EcoGenesis is a water treatment system that treats both greywater (from showers, sinks, etc.) and blackwater (from toilets) to a high standard. The system purifies the wastewater, making it safe for non-potable uses. By doing so, EcoGenesis helps conserve water by reusing treated water in everyday activities. The treated wastewater can be used for irrigation, toilet flushing, and even laundry. Additionally, the solids extracted from the wastewater are converted into bio compost, which can be used for agricultural purposes.

How we built it

We started by conducting surveys and engaging with potential clients, such as real estate developers, building owners, and industries, to understand their needs. Based on their feedback, we designed an innovative water treatment system that is scalable, adaptable, and cost-effective. The system uses a series of filtration and purification processes to ensure water quality. We worked together as a team, leveraging our diverse skills in business, engineering, and marketing to build the prototype and refine the solution.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was ensuring the technical feasibility of the water treatment system at a large scale while keeping the costs manageable. We also faced obstacles in understanding regulatory requirements for water treatment in Tunisia, which required us to adjust our approach to meet legal standards. Finally, convincing stakeholders and potential clients to adopt this relatively new technology required persistence and clear communication of its long-term benefits.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Securing 3rd place at the Hult Prize competition was a huge accomplishment for us. It validated our concept and demonstrated that our solution has real potential. We successfully built a working prototype of our water treatment system, which effectively purifies and reuses water for non-potable uses. The positive feedback from real estate developers and building owners showed that there is a market for sustainable water management solutions.

What we learned

We learned the importance of focusing on both the technical and business aspects of the project. While the technology was crucial, understanding the market and how to scale the solution was just as important. We also realized the power of teamwork. Each of us brought a unique skill set to the table, and our collaboration allowed us to solve complex problems and move the project forward efficiently. The value of persistence and adaptability became clear as we overcame challenges related to both technical feasibility and market acceptance.

What's next for EcoGenesis

Expanding Our Reach: Our immediate next steps involve working with real estate developers to implement the system in new buildings, starting with greywater systems and scaling up to blackwater systems.

Built With

• arduino
• autocad
• raspberry-pi