Pharr man uses the solution he created in the 7th grade to help others globally

PHARR — Little did Ramiro Rosas know that when he created a formula using household items in the seventh grade, his invention would go on to help his community and possibly the world.

Rosas, 48, who has lived in Pharr for the past five years, said he developed his solution by accident while he was building a model volcano for a science project and later learned that the solution breaks down harmful bacteria. He won’t reveal its ingredients, but he said the solution is made out of all natural products, including orange juice.

“The dirtier the stuff is the more (the solution’s ingredients) like it,” said Rosas, who attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic school in Mission when he developed the formula.

Rosas spent years spreading the word about his solution. Local people would have him pour the solution in their septic tanks. He also developed air filters using lava rocks soaked in the solution and installed those in some homes, including his own.

He also created a system using the solution-soaked lava that helps remove the stench from wastewater treatment plants. The rocks are placed in poly vinyl chloride pipe and the pipe is lowered into the water.

The cities of Pharr and Rancho Viejo, which Rosas approached with the solution, have used it for some of their wastewater lift stations.

David Garza, utility director for Pharr, said he used to receive complaints from residents living near the city’s main wastewater lift station about the smell. Complaints dwindled after the city began using Rosas’ solution; Garza said he hasn’t received a complaint in a few months.

“It’s working,” Garza said.

Garza said he believed Rosas’ solution was safe when he saw Rosas drink some of it.

Rosas now plans to take his invention international.

He’s traveling to Botswana this summer to promote his product. Rosas, who had been selling his product locally by word of mouth, met the president of MCX Environmental Energy Corp. — a renewable energy company based in Atlanta — two years ago while the company was working on projects in the area. The two realized that their products would work well together.

Rosas, who started his local company Revelaciones Technologies about 10 years ago, has teamed up MCX Environmental Energy Corp. for the venture. He hopes his product can be used to fix water troubles affecting the African nation.

Sharrieff Mustakeem, president of MCX Environmental Energy Corp., the company that is marketing Rosas’ product, said the company plans to incorporate Rosas’ system in infrastructure products in several African countries where the company is doing work. Some projects include reducing odor in water and making contaminated water potable, Mustakeem said.

Mustakeem said what he likes about Rosas’ product is that it is all natural. He said much of what causes bad odor in water is bacteria. Using a natural substance to eliminate the bacteria is better and more effective than using chemicals, he said.

“It’s in harmony with the environment,” Mustakeem said about Rosas’ product.

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Jennifer L. Berghom covers health, environment and science issues and general assignments at The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.