We recently deployed our system on Tierra Bomba, a small island community off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, to test how it performs where it matters most – in the field.
This deployment was first covered by Amigos Del Mar, our on-the-ground partner, and reflects a shared effort to understand how decentralized water systems operate under real conditions.
Working alongside their team, we ran a multi-day demonstration using only surrounding seawater – no backup infrastructure, no controlled environments. The system was installed and operated on-site with community members present throughout, observing and interacting as it produced drinking water directly from the ocean.
Around 40 families connected to the Amigos Del Mar community centre engaged with the deployment. Tierra Bomba relies heavily on water delivered by boat – a system that is expensive, inconsistent, and often unreliable. During rough conditions or peak demand, access becomes even more limited. That context shaped how we approached this test.
The focus was simple – understand performance, usability, and reliability in a live environment.
Feedback from the ground was immediate. The system’s simplicity, ease of use, and ability to desalinate seawater without complex setup stood out. Local leaders identified clear potential to reduce dependency on delivered water and improve consistency for the community. For us, this is the work.
Getting out of controlled environments and into real conditions is how we learn. Each deployment gives us the data and context needed to refine both the system and how it integrates into daily life. This wasn’t a showcase. It was a step forward.
The Tierra Bomba deployment provided valuable insight into how decentralized water systems perform beyond the lab – across installation, operation, and community interaction. It reinforces what we are building toward: resilient, accessible water systems that operate independently of traditional infrastructure.
We will keep testing, learning, and improving.
You can read the original article here and watch the full deployment video here.
