(Deming) – A New Mexico State University student majoring in chemical engineering is helping improve the drinking water in Palomas, Mexico.
Palomas is located just south of Columbus, and water supplies in both Palomas and Columbus are drawn from the same arsenic- and fluoride-contaminated aquifer.
While Columbus has installed a reverse osmosis system to provide all residents clean water, Palomas’ water supply is only disinfected with chlorine.
An NMSU news release said the level of arsenic and fluoride contaminating the water supply is toxic to the people who drink the water over a long period of time.
And, while there are water purifiers available to city residents, they only purify the water by the gallon.
But, with the direction of an NMSU chemical engineering professor, sophomore Joshua Gomez developed a combination of activated alumina and activated carbon to create a filter that reduces the amount of arsenic and fluoride levels in the water.
Gomez said that the activated alumina and carbon also serve to improve the water’s taste.
Gomez said he has traveled to Mexico multiple times during the spring semester and taught members of Border Partners, a nonprofit in the area, how to build and install the under-the-sink filters in households and schools.
Gomez hopes up to 100 more filters can be installed in the area.
Several workshops have been held in Palomas to educate residents and officials about water quality, health risks and how the filters will improve the water.
Palomas is located just south of Columbus, and water supplies in both Palomas and Columbus are drawn from the same arsenic- and fluoride-contaminated aquifer.
While Columbus has installed a reverse osmosis system to provide all residents clean water, Palomas’ water supply is only disinfected with chlorine.
An NMSU news release said the level of arsenic and fluoride contaminating the water supply is toxic to the people who drink the water over a long period of time.
And, while there are water purifiers available to city residents, they only purify the water by the gallon.
But, with the direction of an NMSU chemical engineering professor, sophomore Joshua Gomez developed a combination of activated alumina and activated carbon to create a filter that reduces the amount of arsenic and fluoride levels in the water.
Gomez said that the activated alumina and carbon also serve to improve the water’s taste.
Gomez said he has traveled to Mexico multiple times during the spring semester and taught members of Border Partners, a nonprofit in the area, how to build and install the under-the-sink filters in households and schools.
Gomez hopes up to 100 more filters can be installed in the area.
Several workshops have been held in Palomas to educate residents and officials about water quality, health risks and how the filters will improve the water.
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