INTERVIEW - Ultrasound-based purification: Could sound solve the world's water woes?
Ultrasound-based water purification could serve as an alternative, eco-friendly way to treat water without using chemicals
Small boats lay on the shore of Liptovska Mara freshwater reservoir that is currently at 40 percent of it's normal capacity due to winter droughts, near Liptovsky Mikulas, in Slovakia on February 18, 2025.
- Ultrasound-based water purification could serve as an alternative, eco-friendly way to treat water without using chemicals
- 'We have millions of people dying from contaminated water in catastrophic areas around the world,' says Niels Nussler, manager of the project that developed an ultrasound water purification reactor
- Capable of purifying up to 250,000 liters of contaminated water per hour, the Hedgehog can be used to 'help a city or a group of people who are suffering' in crisis zones, Nussler tells Anadolu
ISTANBUL
“If humanity goes thirsty, fundamental issues like education, health, and sustainable development will be overshadowed by the daily struggle for water.”
This stark warning opens the United Nations' 2024 World Water Development Report, highlighting the severe global water crisis that continues to worsen.
The contradiction is clear: while flooding and submersion risks are rising, half of the global population faces severe water shortages.
The report reveals that 2.2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water, while 3.5 billion remain without proper sanitation services.
As climate change intensifies, ensuring sustainable water management has never been more crucial.
One key solution to mitigating water scarcity is purifying contaminated wastewater, reducing reliance on limited freshwater sources.
Traditional purification methods include chlorination, filtration, reverse osmosis, and UV disinfection. However, researchers and innovators are increasingly exploring alternative, eco-friendly technologies.
Among them is ultrasound-based water purification, a promising approach that uses high-frequency sound waves to eliminate contaminants without chemicals.
💧Ultrasound-based purification: Could sound solve the world's water woes?
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 20, 2025
🗣️ 'We have millions of people dying from contaminated water in catastrophic areas around the world,' Niels Nussler, project manager of the ultrasound water purification reactor, tells Anadolu
The… pic.twitter.com/R9aRB9Y6bt
Using sound to purify water
Ultrasound purification relies on a process known as cavitation. When high-frequency sound waves pass through water, they create microscopic bubbles that rapidly collapse, generating intense pressure and heat. This disrupts contaminants, including bacteria, microplastics, algae, antibiotics, and other pollutants, effectively purifying the water.
"We have millions of people dying from contaminated water in catastrophic areas around the world," says Niels Nussler, who leads a project that uses "the Hedgehog," an ultrasonic reactor capable of removing multiple contaminants from water.
In an interview with Anadolu, Nussler described how the project originated from a need to find an environmentally friendly way to clean water wells. “Nowadays, you put acid into the well, and this is very bad for the environment and it's very expensive. But with ultrasound, we can do the same just much cheaper,” he explained.
During testing, his team discovered that the water pumped out after ultrasonic treatment was not only free from contaminants but also sterile.
Further collaboration with universities confirmed that the sound waves were powerful enough to break apart bacteria, paving the way for the development of their new product, which they hope can play a role in the achieving sustainable water management.
Noting that the idea of using high-frequency ultrasound to purify water has existed for a long time, Nussler said existing techniques were limited in the amount of water they could treat.
Bringing clean water to crisis zones
The Hedgehog, meanwhile, can be used to “help a city or a group of people who are suffering,” he said, explaining that one of the biggest advantages of ultrasonic water purification is its portability.
LifeTech Water Solutions has developed trailer-mounted mobile units, designed for rapid deployment in disaster areas, capable of purifying more than 1,500 liters of contaminated water per hour with the smallest module, and a maximum of 250,000.
The company says their ultrasonic reactor can be used in disaster zones, flood-hit regions, and war zones, as it can purify large amounts of contaminated water with low energy consumption.
“For example, if there is flooding that contaminates wells, we could work with NGOs or other organizations on the ground to send a mobile unit, and the region could get clean drinking water,” he said.
Access to clean water remains a major challenge in Africa, where contamination and scarcity threaten millions. LifeTech Water Solutions is now in discussions with well-drilling companies operating on the continent to explore solutions for regions where traditional wells are not viable due to poor water quality.
“In these cases, we can drill, extract the water, clean it, and make it safe for use,” said Nussler.
Until now, LifeTech Water Solutions has focused on industrial applications, such as cleaning wells and treating wastewater from factories. However, Nussler emphasized that the company’s next goal is to collaborate with nonprofit organizations in their effort to bring clean water to vulnerable communities.
