Operation Desalination

For the last five years, deep sea diver and marine photographer Bob Evans and his wife, Susanne Chess, have been working on a paradigm busting project – a more sustainable means of converting saltwater into fresh water.

The project, C+E=DOW desalination, is a new way of looking at the process and is predicted to have 90 per cent less environmental impact than current state of the art programs.

“It offers a solution to a number of complex problems facing us today and threatening our future,” says Bob. “The new system will not entrap marine life, will not discharge high volumes of highly concentrated brine, and will require as much as forty per cent less energy to produce fresh water from salt than current state of the art desalination.”

The creative couple have filed for patent protection for their module and method of desalination, and now they are turning to the community of our Eden by the Beach, as well as raising funds for a pilot plant.

A February 11 deadline for filing national stage applications to protect the important new technology internationally rapidly approaches, but will cost $50,000.

“That is a big nut for us to crack,” says Bob. “To date, we have provided 100 per cent of the funding for this world-changing endeavor.

“The public’s contribution tells us and the world people support the development of technology that offers solutions to the most pressing issues we face today. That every one of us can take action.”

“It’s a validation of our unique approach to deep ocean water desalination based on existing reverse osmosis technology, which uses ocean pressure to offset energy requirements,” adds Susan.

The two entrepreneurs have a long-time involvement in ocean-based projects including Evans’ spearheading establishment of the California mussel harvesting industry and participating in a natural bio-fouling removal program for gas giant Chevron’s Platform Hilda.

His company, Bob Evans Designs Inc., manufactures proprietary Force Fins sold worldwide to military and sport scuba divers, swimmers, and fly fishermen. The Ops Force Fin made for oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau earned them the Time Magazine Innovation of the Year award in 2002.

The couple’s Go Fund Me campaign will help extend patent protection to other countries and continents, including Europe, Israel, the Gulf States, China, Australia, and Japan through the International Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

They are also looking for potential investors and partners, including Outer Continental Shelf Operators (OCS) and governments to work with them in developing and managing desalination projects.

The next phase of the project, expected to take 18 months, will be to build a pilot plant module with the help of Innovative Design Inc. based in Knoxville, Tennessee, a firm that specializes in reverse osmosis technology and has worked on multimillion dollar projects with Aqua-Chem Inc., one of the largest desalination companies in the world.

If you care to get involved in this groundbreaking technology, the twosome’s site is https://gofundme.com/f/chessevans

Stay tuned…