GCSP research stipend | Spring 2022

Financial, Logistical, and Environmental Analysis of Reusable Water Bottle Filling and Cleaning Device for the Homeless Population in Phoenix

The research project analyzed the financial viability of a proposed drinking water filling and bottle cleaning station. A mathematical model was developed to compare costs of the proposed solution under varying criteria to water bottle drives by organizations like Valley of the Sun United Way. The model also compared Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions using EPA life-cycle assessment guidelines and estimated water demand. The proposed machine outperforms water bottle drives financially while contributing to substantially fewer CO2 emissions than the manufacture of single-use water bottles that meet a similar drinking water demand.