When tasked with creating a capstone class project, a group of SU students developed a product that is likely to not only be a profitable business, but could also change the quality of life in developing nations. Our Candace Hopkins has more on "Rainport."

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- During senior year every SU business student is required to complete a capstone project to graduate, an assignment that led these four students on a mission to help fight a growing problem.

“There's a dire need for drinking water, there's so many people on this planet, and it's exponentially growing,” said Victoria Di Napoli, RainPort Co-Developer.

And with that realization came the idea for "RainPort", a water filtration device the students say could be used in developing nations to provide clean drinking water.

Di Napoli, said, “It's a three step filtration system. First it's sediment taking out all the debris from the rain water, then it's carbon block, which removes all color, odor, and other heavy metals from the water if there are any, then that goes through and gets pumped through our UV filter, and the UV filter eliminates any remain micro organism or bacteria, and completely purifies the water.”

The product can be used in areas where resources can be hard to come by, with big results.

Chris Grant, RainPort Co-Developer said, “It's both independent from any foreign infrastructure or building, and it's completely self-sustained, and for every inch of rain water that falls over our expected 200 square foot capture area, we can turn rain water into 125 gallons of purified water".

While the class goal is to develop a product that would be profitable, the students say this project is worth so much more.

Bill Craine, RainPort Co-Developer said, “That was one of the main things we thought about is how many people this could help across the world, and like I said, it's not just a profitable idea, but it's also an idea that will help thousands of people".

And it's that motivation to help others, that has inspired these students to transform this class project, into a real world product.