Carmarthenshire-based Greentech Firm Commissioned to Help Ecuador Water Crisis

Welsh cleantech firm Hydro Industries has been commissioned to provide innovative water cleaning technology to deliver emergency humanitarian relief after devastating mudslides in the capital.

400,000 residents of Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, have been struck by the worst water shortage in 25 years after a mudslide damaged the main water pipeline supplying southern parts of the city. Water is currently being shipped in with tankers from other cities.

Ecuadorian authorities have now commissioned Llangennech headquartered Hydro Industries to deploy its patented technology to urgently provide safe drinking water to the population. Hydro uses electrocoagulation guided by proprietary software to purify contaminated water while minimising the use of unnatural chemicals and unnecessary energy.

The firm is already helping the Mayor of Quito to clean up industrial wastewater from a landfill site that was threatening to poison the El Inga River running through the capital and various major World Heritage Sites.

 
A number of Hydro 100s – self-contained water purification units – are already on the ground in Ecuador. More are being packed at the company’s operational base in Llangennech to be flown to Quito as soon as possible.

Wayne Preece, CEO of Hydro Industries, said:

“Our hearts go out to our friends in Ecuador, and having worked closely with the Mayor of Quito over the last year, we are delighted to be able to help in this devastating humanitarian emergency. Safe drinking water is absolutely fundamental to life and after a freak accident of nature we are pleased that our technology can provide the relief needed. We are working flat out to resolve this dangerous situation as soon as possible.”

In a letter to Hydro, President Daniel Noboa thanked the company for showing “solidarity” at this “critical time”, adding:

“I extend our heartfelt thanks for the altruistic commitment to immediately provide the technical, human and logistical support of Hydro Industries to aid in the emergency caused by the shortage of potable water in southern Quito. This act of responsible corporate cooperation strengthens the government’s response and reminds us that joint efforts between sectors are essential to face major challenges.”