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Black and Hispanic Americans are less likely to trust their tap water — and they have reason not to

Black and Hispanic Americans are less likely to trust their tap water — and they have reason not to

Black and Hispanic Americans are drinking more bottled water during the coronavirus pandemic, and it’s not because of marketing. A new survey found that these communities are less confident in the quality and safety of their tap water than white Americans.

More than a third of Black Americans and Hispanic Americans are concerned about contamination and think access to clean water is a problem in the United States, according to a new survey commissioned by SOURCE Global, a hydropanel company, compared to 28 percent of white Americans.

“Lack of trust leads to lack of security and a lack of access,” said SOURCE CEO Cody Friesen.

So how do you fix that?

“We unwind or correct what is otherwise a massive gap starting with trust issues to infrastructure issues and leapfrog to technology providing a solution.”

Their mistrust is grounded in the experiences of the more than 30 million people in the United States who lived in areas where water violated safety rules in early 2019. Data from the Environmental Protection Agency between 2010-16 shows that drinking water systems that constantly violate the law are 40 percent more likely to serve people of color — and take longer to become compliant.

“It’s clear that our nation’s water issues pose an immediate and quickly worsening health risk, and that’s especially true for BIPOC communities, who are also dealing with an outsized impact from COVID-19,” said Neil Grimmer, brand president of SOURCE Global, in a release.

SOURCE wants to do for drinking water what solar did for electricity, taking “the brain trust” from the renewable energy industry and applying it not only to infrastructure but also social equity. The company is partnering with local community leaders, such as Reverend Leo Woodberry in Florence, S.C., to address environmental racism. There and in other parts of the United States, where poor, nonwhite Americans suffer from a lack of clean drinking water, the company’s solar powered hydropanels allow communities more control over their water quality.

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Hydropanel General Installation Requirements:

  • Roof mounted hydropanels must be at least 3 feet (1 meter) away from the edge of any structure.
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  • Adequate structural integrity of the roof is required. Do not install on a roof that is damaged or otherwise insufficient to hold the weight and wind loads of the hydropanel.
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  • Consider whether there is space for a crane to set up and lift the hydropanels to their mounting location.
  • Ground locations should be firm, level, and evenly composed. The hydropanel can be placed on blocks, concrete, or mounted to lumber to provide a stable base to sit on.
  •  
  • Consider factors like soil composition, and how to manage erosion or plant growth over time.
  •  
  • Avoid installing the hydropanel where they may be wetted from irrigation sprinklers.
  •  
  • Ensure the hydropanel is raised above the specified flood plain.
  •  
  • Hydropanel should be anchored to the ground or sufficiently ballasted to prevent movement or damage from high winds.

Hydropanel General Installation Requirements:

  • Sunny mounting location – The SOURCE Hydropanel works best in full sun. Unobstructed sunlight required at least 5 hours per day. Avoid placing under shading objects such as trees, buildings, etc.
  • 4 x 6 foot (1.2 x 1.8 meters) mounting area per Hydropanel.
  • Minimum clearance of 1ft (30cm) in front of and behind the panels to allow access for service.
  • Minimum 3 inches (8 cm) between hydropanels from side to side within an array.
  • SOURCE Hydropanels must be installed at least 15 feet (5 meters) away from windows and should be positioned considering hydropanel sound with respect to living spaces.
  • SOURCE Hydropanels must be level from side-to-side with a maximum deviation of 20mm.
  • Hydropanel must be South Facing (180°) for locations in the Northern Hemisphere, or North facing (0°) for locations in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • The installation surface must be level. For example, a flat roof, or level ground.

Roof Mount Requirements:

  • Roof mounted hydropanels must be at least 3 feet (1 meter) away from the edge of any structure.
  • Adequate structural integrity of the roof is required. Do not install on a roof that is damaged or otherwise insufficient to hold the weight and wind loads of the hydropanel.
  • Consider whether there is space for a crane to set up and lift the hydropanels to their mounting location.

Ground Mount Requirements:

  • Ground locations should be firm, level, and evenly composed. The hydropanel can be placed on blocks, concrete, or mounted to lumber to provide a stable base to sit on.
  • Consider factors like soil composition, and how to manage erosion or plant growth over time.
  • Avoid installing the hydropanel where they may be wetted from irrigation sprinklers.
  • Ensure the hydropanel is raised above the specified flood plain.
  • Hydropanel should be anchored to the ground or sufficiently ballasted to prevent movement or damage from high winds.

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The amount of water you consume will determine how many panels you’ll need and the size of tanks we recommend. Use our calculator below for our panel and tank recommendation.

Each panel produces on average 180 bottles per month (16.9 oz bottles). For a more accurate estimation based on your location use this tool.

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