TWM Group brings premium drinking water made from sunlight and air to remote worksites

TWM Group brings premium drinking water produced from sunlight and air to Papua New Guinea’s remote worksites and communities

Technology developed by SOURCE Global, PBC sustainably creates endlessly renewable, premium drinking water from the sky

ROKU, Central Province, PAPUA NEW GUINEA and SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. – November 30, 2021 – TWM Group, a Papua New Guinea-owned and operated business working to shape a positive future for the country’s people and the environment, today unveiled its installation of new technology that can sustainably produce high-quality drinking water for remote worksites and communities.

The company has installed this technology, called the SOURCE® Hydropanel, at its worksite in Roku, Central Province where conditions are arid and drinking water is scarce. The project – the first phase of TMW Group’s larger drinking water initiative — is expected to cut the company’s drinking water costs by 25 percent and offset up to 90 percent single-use plastic bottles. This pilot project will later aim to extend to the nearby Roku village where over 2,500+ indigenous villagers live.

Developed by U.S.-based company SOURCE Global, PBC, this patented technology uses only the power of the sun to produce water from the surrounding environment. By tapping an endless, renewable supply of pure water vapor present in the air and transforming it into premium-quality drinking water, SOURCE makes what was once scarce, abundant — effectively anywhere the company’s Hydropanels are placed. SOURCE Hydropanels are climate resilient, work entirely off the grid and can produce water even in the most remote locations.

“Sustainability is the heart of our business, but with minimal safe and reliable sources of drinking water in the area, we were reliant on buying plastic bottled water and transporting it to Roku, at great expense to our business and the environment,” said Kori Chan, Managing Director, TWM Group. “In SOURCE, we finally found a solution. This technology meets our sustainability goals and drivers, it is user friendly and easily deployed, provides a healthy cost saving and can literally create drinking water where none exists.”

Nearly 40 percent of Papua New Guinea’s 8.5 million people have minimal access to clean water, and the country is one of 129 nations not on track to achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 6: By 2030, Ensure Availability and Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation for All.

The majority of the country’s rural population drinks from unsafe sources like surface running water and piped and well water is exposed to contaminants, forcing remote businesses and families to buy water from distributors, usually in single-use plastic bottles and always at a premium price. The average cost of water from a delivery service accounts for at least half the daily salary of the average resident.

“We believe businesses must lead the way to increasing our progress toward SDG 6, but with such widespread, complex water challenges, we need sustainable, distributed, and highly cost-effective technologies like SOURCE,” Chan said.

TWM Group plans to roll out SOURCE® Hydropanels to its clients, many of whom also operate in remote, waterscarce locations and are looking for cost-effective solutions. As part of its well-established community development program, the company will also bring this clean water technology to vulnerable communities across the country.

“For far too long, bottled and trucked drinking water have been the only real option for remote businesses and communities, but it’s an expensive solution that leaves a trail of plastic waste and a large carbon footprint behind,” said Rob Bartrop, Chief Revenue Officer, SOURCE Global. “We applaud TWM’s leadership and commitment to using new and innovative technology to solve the challenges faced by companies that operate in remote areas.”

About TWM Group

TWM Group is a leading Papua New Guinean based and owned integrated solutions service provider of Essential Services. The company’s vision and purpose are focused on creating a better reality for PNG’s people, environment and culture and to showcase PNG as a leader in providing essential services including waste and water, manpower and skills development. TWM’s head quarters is located at Portion 2703 Napa Napa Road, Roku in Central Province, PNG. Our website is www.twm.com.pg.

About SOURCE Global, PBC

A Public Benefit Corporation, SOURCE Global, PBC’s mission is to make drinking water an unlimited resource. The company’s SOURCE® Hydropanels create drinking water using sunlight and air as the only inputs, and can put the power of safe, sustainable drinking water in the hands of every person in nearly every climate and corner of the world., SOURCE is on Fast Company’s 2020 list of most innovative social good companies. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, the company is, and operates in 54 countries and on six continents. SOURCE is a registered trademark of SOURCE Global, PBC.