Frequently Asked Questions

How do you learn how to use the water purifier?

The purifier is shipped with an assembly and operations manual and DVD. In addition, users are always welcomed to visit New Life International’s facilities in Underwood, Indiana for hands-on training .

How long will the battery last?

The answer depends on the type of battery, its size and how it is operated. We recommend using a 12 volt “deep cycle” battery that is rated for at least 100 amp-hours. If a battery is kept charged with a battery charger or solar panel, it can potentially live through hundreds of charge/discharge cycles and treat thousands of gallons of water over its life. On the other hand, if the battery is allowed to completely discharge before it is recharged, it will have a much lower life.

What is a “deep cycle” battery and how is this different from a normal battery in a vehicle?

Deep Cycle batteries tend to have much heavier internal plates. They are a more rugged battery that can take a much higher degree of abuse and vibration compared to normal starter batteries.

Deep cycle batteries are rated in amp-hours, whereas regular starter batteries tend to be rated in terms of Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) which does not reliably relate to amp-hours.

Neither type of battery should ever be fully discharged. Doing so will shorten the battery’s life. Discharging a starter type battery to near dead conditions can lead to permanent battery failure in less than 30 cycles.

How many gallons of water can be purified by a pound of salt?

The amount of water that can be purified by a pound of salt depends upon the turbidity, or “cloudiness” of the water. The more dirt and other particles in the water, the more chlorine is needed to make the water safe. With water that does not have a lot of particles in it, a pound of salt can potentially disinfect between 10,000 to 70,000 gallons of water.

How do you get the water purifiers into the country?

Many people traveling to a foreign country will take the water purifier with them as checked baggage. The water purifier ships in a 24×16×12.5 inch (61×40.6×31.8cm) container that weighs ~20 lbs. We will also ship the containers via UPS or FedEx into the country of destination.

Do you have to pay customs on the water purifier?

Depends on the country. Generally, if you bring the water purifier with you as checked baggage, you will not have to pay customs if you explain that the water purifier is for humanitarian purposes.

What other supplies do I need to operate the water purifier?

The other supplies needed may be purchased in-country (cheapest option). These supplies include: 12 volt battery, battery charger (note: an optional solar panel can be obtained from New Life International), table salt, water storage and treatment tanks and any locally obtained pump upgrades or replacement parts.

Are there any cultural considerations that need to be pondered before installing a water purifier?

It is our experience that understanding and overcoming the local cultural issues is the largest challenge to implementing a successful water purification program.

What size battery do I need?

We recommend a 12 volt, deep cycle, marine battery.

Do I need to chlorinate all the water in the tank?

Approximately 10% of the water must be run through the purifier in order to chlorinate the entire tank of water. For example, if you have a 500 gallon tank, you will only need to pump approximately 50 gallons through the water purifier. There will be enough chlorine in those 50 gallons to disinfect the remaining 450 gallons. Please review and read the operating instructions for more information.

Can I contribute funds without purchasing a complete water purifier?

New Life International is a donor support, non-profit 501(c)3 organization. All contributions are tax deductible and will go to supporting the operation of New Life International and water purification.

If I donate money for a water purifier, will the water purifier go to a community in need?

Yes. Every week, New Life International receives multiple requests for a water purifier. Donations go to help fund water purifiers as they are requested.

My church, service organization, or family would like to go to a foreign country and set up a water purifier. Can you help recommend a location where we can take a water purifier?

Yes! We are in contact with several organizations around the world who are working with the water purifier. We will be glad to help you make contact with an area that has a need for a water purifier.

Why can’t I just put bleach in the water to make it safe?

Bleach often contains other chemicals such as fragrances.

Bleach loses its effectiveness the longer it sits in its container

Bleach dissolves substances out of its plastic container and reacts with them to produce potentially hazardous materials that in turn contaminate the water to be treated.

Bleach is often made with mercury anodes whose residue contaminates the bleach.

Does the purifier have to operate on a battery?

No, but it does have to operate on DC current from sources like a battery charger or transformer arrangement with diodes.

We have AC power available, can we just plug the purifier directly into the wall?

No, not directly. The current needs to be turned into 12V DC.

Are there any hazardous materials in the water purifier?

The byproducts in the purifier are not hazardous, but they do need to be appropriately handled similar to any household cleanser. The sodium hydroxide on the negative side of the purifier and the partially converted salt on the positive side (a substance rich in the sodium hypochlorite intermediary between salt and the chlorine disinfectant) should be handled safely to ensure that it does not get into anyone’s eyes, on their skin, or consumed. Please read the system manual for safe handling or contact us with questions.

What should we do with the sodium hydroxide?

The sodium hydroxide can be used to treat pit latrines or it can be used to make soap.

Can the purifier be used with existing plumbing systems?

The water purifier is designed to be flexible to use with almost any water source or system that is being used in-country. With a little creativity, innovation or plumbing skills, the water purifier can be integrated into existing systems.

What countries have you worked in?

The purifiers have been sent to 80 different countries including: USA, Mexico, Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama Venezuela, Chile, Colombia, Dominica, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Israel, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Congo, Angola, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Timor, Philippines, Cambodia, Nepal .

What kind of maintenance is required?

The water purifier requires minimal maintenance. After each use, the water purifier should be rinsed with clear water to remove the salt in the tubes. Other maintenance include keeping the contact points on the lead wires to the batteries clean from corrosion.

Where do I get replacement parts?

Under normal use, you should not need any replacement parts for the water purifier. As a convenience, we include spare parts with the water purifier. Additional spare parts may be purchased in a plumbing or hardware store or can be ordered from New Life International. We advise not opening the “hub” of the water purifier, where the electrolysis occurs, without getting proper instruction and the necessary replacement parts to repair.

How long does it take to learn to use the water purifier?

The water purifier is simple to operate. A detailed instruction manual is included with the water purifier. Users are always welcomed to visit New Life International’s facilities for hands-on training. From our experience, most people are comfortable with setting up and operating the water purifier after a few hours of training.

Does the water purifier run all the time?

In most situations, the water purifier only operates for a short period of time each day. The submersible pump included with the water purifier will pump about 5 gallons per minute through the system.

How many gallons per day can the purifier treat?

The purifier can produce enough chlorine to potentially disinfect roughly 3000 gallons of water per hour, depending on water quality, using 0.25 kwh of 12 VDC. It is important to test the chlorine level and make sure it reaches the recommended 5 parts per million and is still at least 2 parts per million after an hour.

The amount of water you can purify also depends on how large your holding tank is and the rate at which you can pump water through the water purifier. You only need to run approximately 10% of the water through the water purifier. There will be enough chlorine in that 10% to chlorinate the remaining 90% (follow the instructions in the operations manual on testing the water). Other factors such as the level of contaminants in the water and water availability will impact the rate of production.

Why is the water purifier better than other methods such as SODIS?

Chlorination is the only disinfection technology that effectively disinfects from the point of introduction, through the piping system, to the tap and into storage containers. With other methods, including SODIS, the water bottles used to store the water can become contaminated prior to consumption.

But isn’t SODIS less expensive and more sustainable because it uses locally available materials?

SODIS water storage costs 4 to 10 times more than permanent water storage that is available locally.

In the developing world the poor are a majority, and SODIS makes them dependent on rich man’s trash in order to be sustainable if they do not purchase their own bottles.

Why do I have to wait an hour and retest before I drink the water?

There are two primary reasons why we wait an hour before retesting the water and drinking it. The first reason is that we only send about 10% of the water from the tank through the water purifier. This 10% of the water has enough chlorine in it to disinfect the remaining 90%—but it takes time for the chlorine to mix with all of the water. The second reason is that we want to give the chlorine enough time to kill all of the microbes in the water.

How long will the purifier last?

New Life International has been supplying various versions of the water purifier since 1998. While we don’t make any specific performance claims or warranties because of the harsh and varied environments, we do know of water purifiers that have been in operation for over five years. However, careless handling, inappropriate operation, allowing the purifier to run dry (i.e. inadequate water in the chambers) and not keeping the system clean will significantly impact the performance and life expectancy of the water purifier.

What is hypochlorous?

Hypochlorous, the gold standard of disinfection, is a weak acid that is made by human white blood cells as part of the immune system. This substance made by the human body is familiar, helpful, and – most importantly – very deadly to bacteria and viruses. Hypochlorous can be used in wound healing, sanitation, and disinfection applications. It is essentially a water molecule that has one of its hydrogen atoms removed and replaced with a chlorine atom. Medical-grade hypochlorous has a very short shelf-life and is largely unaffordable for the most vulnerable communities in the developing world. The NLI Water Purification System has the ability to produce hypochlorous in those communities and deliver life-saving disinfectant to aid in surface sanitation and wound care.