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BOONE, N.C. — In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, with roads blocked and power lines down for weeks, many Western North Carolina residents lacked a reliable, readily available source of clean drinking water. App State graduate students Bradley Del Vecchio ’25 and Duncan Burns ’23 ’25 and their mentor, Dr. Sohad Abu-elzait, assistant professor in the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, witnessed that impact on regional infrastructure and looked for ways residents could prepare for the next time a major storm strikes.

Their solution: A portable, solar-powered filtration system capable of producing up to 100 gallons of pure drinking water a day — enough to make a difference for an entire community.

“My goal is to see the system in the hands of relief organizations and local communities, ready for deployment,” said Del Vecchio, who is completing a master’s degree in renewable energy technology and earned his bachelor’s degree in sustainable technology (now known as the renewable energy technology program) from App State in 2025.

Using a framework established by Abu-elzait, the team devised and built the system using low-cost items and other materials bound for the recycling heap — with an emphasis on low ingenuity, scrappiness and reasonable cost. Initially gravity-fed through a filter and series of tanks, the system uses a battery-powered pump charged by its own solar array to push the water through final treatment phases, removing 99% of contaminants to produce a product in line with state and federal quality standards for drinking water. The project was funded by Abu-elzait’s receipt of the 2024 Junior Faculty Innovation Award from the College of Fine and Applied Arts.

Key components include sand and biochar filtration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet light and a turbidity display. Easily disassembled and reassembled without tools, the system is housed in a wheeled cart that can be carried in the back of a pickup truck and deployed within minutes.

Schools, commons areas and churches would make logical homes for the filtration system and others like it, said Del Vecchio.

“This isn’t about just one hurricane; it’s a global crisis,” he said. “Today, 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. Floods, storms and infrastructure failure are becoming more frequent with climate change, and clean water is the first thing to go.”

The project won App State’s 2025 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, and Del Vecchio represented App State at the regional 3MT Competition in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in February. He is on course to graduate in May and has a signed employment contract to work on utility-scale solar projects starting in June.

Raised in Charlotte, Del Vecchio said he chose App State for the strength of its renewable energy technology program, where experiential learning and problem-solving focus on photovoltaics, energy grids and microgrids, energy storage, wind and hydrological sources, bioenergy, electric transportation and other sustainable energy solutions.

“App State is really one of the only universities in the state with such a strong program in renewable energy systems and technology and where there is hands-on learning as well as book knowledge,” Del Vecchio said. “That was a big draw, and it’s definitely been a good decision for me.”

Fortified with clean water — plus, ideally, self-sustaining food-growing systems and independent microgrids powered by renewable sources — Western North Carolina could be better prepared for the next set of storm impacts, Del Vecchio said.

“When disaster strikes, the question shouldn’t be, who will bring us water?” he said. “It should be, where’s the sun? Let’s get to work.”

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Dr. Sohad Abu-elzait’s Graduate Student Bradley DelVecchio Wins App State’s 3MT Competition with Solar-Powered Water Purification Project

Dec. 8, 2025

Bradley DelVecchio, a graduate research assistant under Dr. Sohad Abu-elzait in the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment (STBE), has won the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition at Appalachian State University. His winning presentation, titled “Solar-Powered Water Purification for Disaster Relief,” addresses a critical need for clean drinking water in the aftermath of natural disasters.

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Technology: Master of Science (MS)

Sustainability, energy efficiency and low-carbon practices continue to gain importance in businesses, industry, government, nonprofits and in the public consciousness. As a result, the need to equip students with the knowledge, skills and perspectives to make contributions to sustainability initiatives in these areas has never been greater. The Master of Science in Technology program at App State enables you to pursue in-demand career opportunities in renewable energy and sustainability.

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About the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment at Appalachian State University features an integrated array of programs spanning the fields of sustainable design and technology. Its mission is to foster a strong and vibrant culture of inquiry, discovery and innovation that integrates theory with application, problem seeking with problem-solving, local issues with global perspectives and technological progress with environmental stewardship. It offers bachelor’s degrees in sustainable technology and building science, and a master’s degree in technology. Learn more at https://stbe.appstate.edu.

About the College of Fine and Applied Arts

Appalachian State University’s College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance. Learn more at https://cfaa.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.