Georgia Tech grads look to make water readily accessible worldwide

Atlanta startup TOHL, which has developed methods to quickly install water transport infrastructure for humanitarian applications, recently placed 1 kilometer of pipeline in mountainous terrain in Chile and has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $30,000 for its next phase of development.

While pipelines are traditionally installed in short segments, a process that requires large amounts of time, money and labor, TOHL – which stands for Tubing Operations for Humanitarian Logistics – has created a technique to install long segments of water pipeline quickly via a helicopter.

In Chile, the pipeline was installed in nine minutes. TOHL aims to use the method to install water pipeline in disaster-stricken, impoverished and hard-to-reach areas around the globe.

TOHL was started by four Georgia Tech graduates as the entrepreneurial engineers are creating practical solutions for society's grand challenges. Bringing complementary backgrounds the skills to the business, the foursome have been working together to bring water to all.

"Every day, Atlanta companies are fostering innovation that impacts the world around us," said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed in a news release. "TOHL is following in this tradition, and the groundbreaking technology that has been developed is truly pioneering."

Added Brian P. McGowan, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta: “TOHL’s location in here is another demonstration that Atlanta is a placethat inspires creative people and innovative companies who are developing technology that is changing the world.

"In particular TOHL’s technology is addressing a key issue in developing countries around the world – the delivery of clean water in a cost effective and sustainable way. We are proud of the work they are doing.”

To learn more about TOHL’s crowdfunding campaign, visit kickstarter.com.

- Invest Atlanta contributed to this story