History

History

As early as the 1980s, Lebanese scientists found out that sunlight can disinfect water. However, this revolutionary discovery did not receive the attention it deserved. Systematic scientific studies or adaptations to the users needs were lacking. So, in the 1990s the water research institute Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Sciences and Technology, decided to investigate the idea and create a safe, simple method that can be used in developing countries.

An interdisciplinary research team consisting of microbiologists, virologists, engineers and drinking water specialists then worked out a method that only needs PET bottles and sunlight: the SODIS method. To see how effective and how applicable this method was, Eawag ran tests in the laboratory and under field conditions in developing countries. In these tests, the SODIS method was shown to be effective and user-friendly, and also cost-effective.

Famous research establishments such as the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, or the University of Uppsala, Sweden, also studied the SODIS method. Their studies confirmed that the method does kill germs and has a positive effect on people's health.

Eawag set up projects in developing countries to make sure that the method was made available to the people who needed it most urgently. At the moment we are working in 24 countries. Eawag is also carrying out research projects that deal with microbiology, examine health aspects and education strategies and look into questions about PET bottles.

Since running the SODIS projects is not the core business of Eawag - it mainly does research - we have to rely on donations in order to spread the SODIS method.