Patent Publication Number: US-9422068-B2

Title: Drinking water delivery system and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/445,492 filed Feb. 22, 2011, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to the field of providing drinking water. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The extraction of water from bodies of water has been known for as long as the historic record allows. Some of these methods involve the extraction of water through conduits and filtration. U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,638 issued to Wong, et al. is an illustration of this sort of method. These kinds of prior art processes involve the use of a conduit which has one end inserted into the body of water, and another end used to receive the water into some form of containment for use. Also, there is normally a filtration or other purification subsystem located between the orifice in the body of water, and the end-use by the consumer. Some alternative methods of extraction use instead a vessel which is dipped into or submerged in the body of water and then is used to extract the water for use. One example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,806 issued to Gallant, discloses a hybrid of the two already discussed methods. 
     It is also known to treat water removed from such a body in order to purify it or to remove harmful components adapting the water for a particular use. Also widely known, is that water can be bottled and marketed to consumers. Some versions of this market the water as being substantially pure, whereas in other products the water is presented as including minerals and other components. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosed embodiments include a method for supplying water where a body of water is selected. The body of water, in embodiments, has an oxic to anoxic transition level at a depth of about 150 meters. Further, the body of water has substantially homogeneous temperatures below the transition level, and these homogeneous temperatures are between a range of about 23° to about 24° Celsius, and more specifically, within the range of 23.3° to 23.5° Celsius in some embodiments. 
     In some embodiments, a conduit having a length greater than 150 meters is lowered down to a depth below the oxic to anoxic transition level, and is used to draw anoxic water to an above surface location. More specifically, the extraction point can be at just below the transition level. The water is then bottled, and in embodiments, indicia relating to the body of water is included on the bottle before delivering the water to market. In embodiments, the anoxic water is oxygenated before it is bottled. In further embodiments, the water is filtered before bottling. 
     In yet further embodiments, the anoxic water removed has Chloride levels at about 25.7 mg/L, Fluoride at about 0.934 mg/L, Sulfate at about 3.43 mg/L, and Arsenic, Lead, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nitrate as N, and Nitrite as N all at non-detectable levels. In some embodiments the total hardness for the anoxic water is about 201 mg/L expressed as equivalent of calcium carbonate. In some embodiments, the water has a PH level of about 8.3. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a body of water selected and a water extraction which could be used in one embodiment; and 
         FIG. 2  shows a process flow diagram for an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and a method for extracting fossil water from a body of water, treating the water, including the water in a container, including indicia relating to the body of water on the container, and then distributing the water-filled container to a consumer. 
       FIG. 1  shows a body of water  100  which might be selected, and the systems  102  used for water extraction. As can be seen in the figure, a body of water  102  is surrounded by terrestrial areas  104 . The body of water includes a surface  106 . The processes disclosed herein involve, in embodiments, the selection of a particular body of water  100 . In the preferred embodiment, the body of water will be a freshwater source having depth and other properties which result in the existence of an oxic to anoxic transition level  108 . In more specific embodiments, this transition level might exist at about 150 meters (e.g., at some locations in Lake Tanganyika), which is only a fraction of the total depth of the lake. For example, in one embodiment, the body of water  100  has a maximum depth (at a level  114 ) of about 1500 meters (Lake Tanganyika), and may also possess a geothermal floor which influences water temperatures such that a very sizeable pocket  115  of substantially homogeneous temperatures is provided. 
     The step  202  of first selecting a body of water as a water source can be seen as part of the overall process  200  in  FIG. 2 . In this step, the lake selected should (i) have an oxic/anoxic transition line, e.g., line  108  in  FIG. 1 , and (ii) the transition line should not be so deep that it is difficult to reach. Also, the substantially homogeneous temperatures existing in the lake water at its depths below the transition line have created an abundance of what is commonly referred to as “fossil water.” Fossil water does not ordinarily exist in abundance in the typical lake. This is because temperatures differentials between deep and more shallow levels in the lake will cause the upwelling of the deeper waters. These swells cause the lake waters to turn over. This eliminates the possibility of the lake maintaining densely packed fossil water. 
     In the execution of step  202 , a special type of lake should be selected. Unlike the more typical lake where fossil water is not found, the lake selected in step  202  should include an abundance of fossil water. In one embodiment the lake selected is LakeTanganyika, which is the largest of the East African Rift Valley lakes. Lake Tanganyika has some unique properties which make it ideal for executing the methods of the present invention. For example, at levels below 150 feet the water temperatures remain within a very tight range—regardless of depth—of between 23° to 24° Celsius. More specifically, within a rather large pocket (which includes almost all of the lake below transition line  108 ) the temperatures are all substantially homogenous and stable, falling within a tighter range of between 23.3° to 23.5° Celsius. These highly homogeneous and stable temperatures eliminate the upwelling (discussed above) that exists in most other lakes. It is believed that the reason for these unusually homogeneous and stable temperatures is the existence of a geothermal floor  112  which exists underneath Lake Tanganyika. Although the precise reason for the unusually homogeneous temperatures is not known for certain, the precise temperature ranges discussed above have been measured. 
     Those familiar with the properties of lake Tanganyika will recognize that as one moves from zero depth at the surface  106 , downward towards the oxic to anoxic transition line  108 , the oxygen level in the water will become less and less because of the increase in water density. Then, at any depth below transition line  108 , the water is completely anoxic. 
     Also, in the particular body of water selected, e.g., Lake Tanganyika, hydrogen sulfide levels in the water will be zero at all depths above transition line  108 . But it has been recognized that the hydrogen sulfide levels gradually increase the deeper you go below the transition line until reaching a hydrogen sulfide saturation plateau depth  109 . At all levels below plateau depth  109 , the hydrogen sulfide levels remain constant all the way to the lowest point  111  in the lake. For example, a few meters below line  108  the hydrogen sulfide levels are relatively low, but at the plateau depth  109 , the hydrogen sulfide levels are considerably higher—not dangerous in terms of a drinking water impurity—but could be detrimental to taste and smell in any drinking water product intended. The plateau depth  109  is about 300 meters in some embodiments (e.g., some locations in Lake Tanganyika). 
     Because the hydrogen sulfide levels increase downward from plateau depth  109 , the systems used in some embodiments involve the extraction of water from just below the oxic/anoxic transition depth  108  in order to minimize the raw H 2 S content that need be removed. Also, less mechanical energy will be required to pump the anoxic water up to surface at the fossil water depth that is nearest the surface  106 . 
     The systems  102  used for extraction can also be seen in  FIG. 1 . These systems may include some sort of floating or submerged or otherwise supported platform  120  or pier on the surface  106  of the water. Alternatively, a boat could be used. The platform  120  may or may not be fluidly connected via a pipe  122  to a refining/containment facility  124  (e.g., where the water will be put in containers). In some embodiments, a pump (not shown) on the platform is useful for drawing water from the depths. Extending down from the platform  120  is a first conduit  126 . The top end of conduit  126 , in embodiments, may be physically connected with a pump (not shown) on the platform which uses mechanical energy to withdraw water from the depths. At a lower end of first conduit  126  is an induction port  128  located just below the transition line  108 . Alternatively, a siphon system can be used to draw the water up through conduit  126 . In this arrangement, a bend at the upper end of conduit  126  would be created such that the exit mouth of the conduit releases the water into a containment vessel made to be lower than the bend. The containment vessel could be located on a barge (not shown) or some other separate vessel (e.g., boat) on the lake which would later transmit the contained water to shore. 
     This conduit  126 , in a step  204  (see  FIG. 2 ), can be lowered down into position in any number of known ways. As discussed in the last paragraph, this location (of port  128 ), in some embodiments, is an advantageous location to draw water from because although the water is completely anoxic fossil water, it also has relatively low hydrogen sulfide levels. This is because H 2 S gas reacts with dissolved oxygen found in the upper oxic region of the water forming non-toxic and odorless sulfates. This also makes the water intake location proximate the oxic/anoxic transition depth  108  desirable. A filtered sample composition extracted from point  128  in the lake (below the transition line  108 ) had the following components in the following amounts: Chloride 25.7 mg/L; Fluoride 0.934 mg/L; Sulfate 3.43 mg/L. Also in this sample, Arsenic, Lead, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nitrate as N, and Nitrite as N were not detected (not present). Total Dissolved Solids in the sample comprised 374 mg/L. Total permanent water hardness was measured at 201 mg/L expressed as equivalent of calcium carbonate (11.7 grains/US gallon). This total hardness value would be classify the water product as very hard, which is true for permanent hardness values over 180 mg/L of relative hardness. 
     In terms of acidity, the water extracted from point  128  has been found to have relatively high PH values. For example, the PH level for the sample discussed above had a value of about 8.3, which is significantly higher than most drinking water products being marketed. It has been determined that higher drinking water pH levels may be beneficial to human health, e.g., offsetting the acids from foods, mitigating potentially harmful stress-induced acidity in the stomach, and other benefits. And the basic water, in combination with the Calcium component, also help with bone development and maintenance. 
     The composition of the water extracted also has a sweet and otherwise satisfying taste lacking in alternatively produced water products. Additionally, other than simple filtration, the water extracted from point  128  is acceptable for drinking upon extraction. This greatly saves the treatment required upon extraction from other bodies of water, and extraction points. 
     In alternative processes, a deeper extraction point is enabled by the lowering (in step  204 ) of a longer conduit  130  which has an induction port  132  located in the depths of the lake. Water drawn from this point (in step  206 ) will be anoxic fossil water, and include relatively high levels of hydrogen sulfide. This may be advantageous for use in some non-drinking water applications. (Hydrogen sulfide is considered an undesirable component in drinking water or other consumables.) Also, ingredients in water extracted from port  132  might be higher in minerals or some other component desired from a drinking or industrial use standpoint. 
     It should be understood that although the extraction depths  128  and  132  are illustrated  FIG. 1  embodiment, and discussed in detail, it is still within the spirit and scope of this invention to extract from numerous other depths as well. Ordinarily, the depth selected will depend on the composition available at a particular depth, and the application the water is being sought for. Thus, the extraction made in step  206  (see  FIG. 2  process flow) can be made from a vast variety of depths below the oxic/anoxic transition level  108 . 
     After the extraction step  204 , the process splits into two simultaneously and/or separately executed refining steps. These steps ( 206  and  208 ) may be conducted at the platform immediately upon extraction. Alternatively, steps  206  and  208  may be preceded by the extracted water being delivered to land through pipe  122  to a refining/containment facility  124 . Regardless, in step  206 , the anoxic water is oxygenated. In another step  208 , the hydrogen sulfide is either completely removed from, or minimized in the water. One way in which steps  206  and  208  might occur concurrently is if the oxygenation (e.g., through aeration) is allowed to effervesce to the atmosphere. In such a case, the hydrogen sulfide will leave as a natural effluent. This is because when the unrefined water is drawn to the surface, the depth-created density that caused the H 2 S gas to remain in the fossil water no longer exists. As discussed above, it is known that H2S gas reacts with dissolved oxygen found in the upper oxic region of the water forming non-toxic and odorless sulfates. Thus, the H 2 S naturally leaves the water upon oxygen exposure. 
     Alternatively, for embodiments where the hydrogen sulfide is desirable for some reason, the water would have to be maintained under pressure, and the oxygenation process would be made by alternative means. 
     It is also possible that the hydrogen sulfide removal in step  210  would be accomplished using charcoal filtering. 
     It should be understood that both of steps  208  and  210  are, in some instances, optional, and that for many applications the water product can pass on to the rest of the  FIG. 2  steps (directly from step  206 ) without the step  208  oxygenation and the step  210  hydrogen-sulfide-removal refinements being made. 
     Further, steps  208  and  210  are not intended to be a complete list of all the processing steps engaged in. For example, it is also contemplated that steps be taken to manipulate and or adjust the PH levels in the water to make it more suitable for human consumption. And although many of the minerals contained in the water may be desirable depending on the particular application intended (e.g., drinking water, cosmetics ingredients), other minerals and raw components may have to be removed before bottling and/or marketing. Thus, the lack of description describing these additional steps should not be considered limiting. 
     In a next step  212 , which will likely be preceded by the extracted water being delivered to land through pipe  122  to containment facility  124 , the water (refined or unrefined) will be placed in a container of some sort. If the product is left unrefined, it might be included in relatively large containers (e.g., drums) and exported to a remote refining location. Alternatively, the product might be fully refined on site (in the refining/containing facility  124 ) and included in smaller containers intended for consumption by consumers either locally, or exported to other regions. 
     Regardless of the containment means selected, the container can also in step  212  be labeled with indicia relating to the particular body of water it was derived from. For example, some statement or trade reference could be made on the container regarding “Lake Tanganyika” or a variation of that name. It could also reference some other geographic reference to something close to or on the lake, e.g., “Tanzania” or even a sound-alike word or phrase that makes the geographic link, but is not an actual geographic reference, e.g., “Tanzamaji.” 
     In a next step  214 , the water product is marketed in its container. This marketing could take the form of distributing to wholesalers, retail outlets, or directly to consumers. In many instances, it will be desirable to include references to the water&#39;s origin (e.g., Lake Tanganyika) considering the desirable properties exhibited by the fossil water derived from the particular body of water. 
     The water product is useful as a nutrient rich drinking water, or could be included as an enhancing ingredient in other more complex products, e.g., isotonic drinks, various foods and beverages, cosmetics, and numerous other applications. 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.