Our team
The Clearflo team is made up of social entrepreneurs who are determined to bring sustainable, clean water systems to the communities that so desperately need them. We are a group of people that share the same intention: treating the global clean water crisis with a holistic approach and not simply 'selling a solution. Embracing those that have lived the experience and to aid in restoring identity, sovereignty and pride to indigenous people.
Kevin Haughton
Founder-Technologist As the founder of Clearflo Solutions Inc., Kevin first drew attention globally during his pursuit in developing innovative green sector technologies with the use of renewable energies to power water filtration systems. He has since cemented his position as a respected participant in the water treatment and renewable energy community. His years of travel across the globe into the most remote regions, combined with his visionary perspective, has helped cultivate and nurture his commitment to helping others less fortunate. |
John Derby
Strategic Advisor John Derby has more than twenty years experience in investment banking, venture capital, and entrepreneurialism. He has extensive experience in public companies, finance, media relationship strategies and project management. Currently Mr. Derby holds both management and executive roles in private entrepreneurial endeavors in Central and South America. These projects range from water purification to gold production. Previously Mr. Derby founded a successful investment firm in the Cayman Islands after his departure from the Canadian investment industry. |
John Pulos
Business Development For the past 30 years, John Pulos has been an avid investor in the real estate sector where he has focused on land development, investment and land entitlements in the United States and Canada. In addition to real estate Investing, Mr. Pulos has funded many early stage companies in the Biotech and Green Technology space and is deeply passionate about renewable tech and the problems it can solve. |
The Clearflo story…
The Clearflo story begins in the Jungles of South and Central America where Kevin Haughton, was working an unrelated project with the indigenous peoples in remote areas of the Ecuadorian Amazon; those that are seemingly long forgotten by most. Kevin started to see a very clear picture emerging as he witnessed a life marginally sustained from tainted water sources or a complete lack thereof. This was difficult to understand because in his own home Country of Canada, the First Nations communities were suffering from this crisis; for a long, long time. Canada, is one of the richest in finance and resource, and yet those underserved communities at home, were in no different a position than those in the remote jungles he was in. Kevin grew up on the ancestral territories of the K’òmoks First Nation, in what is called the Comox Valley.
His heart was pulled to the front of his chest witnessing this and he was simply awestruck by the strength and determination of these people that lacked the very basic necessities of life. He soon realized that wherever he travelled, the lack of safe, clean water was ever-present. Village after village, town after town and even in city centers; the problem existed. The magnitude of this issue really hit home when Kevin began to study the historical data regionally and that is when his interest expanded globally. The lack was everywhere and there were over 750 million people without safe, clean water. That number has grown each day since.
He witnessed many systems and studied many efforts - technologies that existed and many that purported to deal with the issues however, something was lacking and there was a common denominator. Most of the areas without safe, clean water, were remote. Due to their locations in the harshest of areas, they did not have grid power and therefore could not support most all conventional water treatment systems. This realization was not only frustrating to him, but it also fueled him, as he knew that the promises of health and a new sense of well-being in many communities depended on a technology that could operate in these conditions. It would require a green technology, an efficient technology and one that was autonomous. The only way this could work is if it were powered by renewable energy sources; solar, wind and water energy specifically. He also knew that if it was achievable here, it would be easier to adopt back home. Knowing that his own Government would not accept his model (he hadn't even designed yet), until it was proven. He was there in the Amazon and this place, he chose to be his design lab and testing ground, he got to work!
It began as sketches and technical specifications on a dirt-stained notebook alongside a stream in the jungle. Many of these filed notebooks later, the basis of design was formed. Then as chance would have it, Kevin's colleagues introduced him to an individual from the US that claimed to have the answer; a water treatment system that could operate in the remote areas. Kevin was excited as no matter what or who, we were all working toward the same goal of ending this global crisis. Kevin was cautiously optimistic about this technology given that no one had witnessed one in operation yet. Kevin and his group would be the first. They got to work preparing the remote village in the Ngäbe-Buglé, Comarca in Panama for the arrival. He had grown especially fond of this community and the absolute zest for life these people shared, despite not having the most basic needs of life, safe clean water. He realized those that had the least - appreciated the most. He was welcomed by them and shared in the love, laughter, and pain they felt as a marginalized people.
When the day came that the system and this man that developed it with it, the news rang loud across the jungle. Hope was present again. Then as the days went on and Kevin asked the tough questions, they could not be answered. This dream of the solution began to unfold as nothing more than that, a fantasy. The technology did not work and the moreover, the company was in the process of dissolving. Unbeknown to the group, this individual had taken millions from investors and had nothing but empty promises to show for it. The talk of these systems positioned all over the globe soon was discovered to be false and the he investors were outraged. The losses for many were financially devastating but the worst part for Kevin was the fact that he was to now tell the community that there would be no water after all. This was a huge blow and a defining moment for Kevin.
Kevin made a promise to the members of that community and others, to return to the Panama one day, and he would bring a way to have clean water when he did.
An attempt was made to resurrect the project and for this man from the US to redeem himself to Kevin and others in and this time, in Asia. Once again, this man proved to be as volatile as he was morally corrupt. Kevin severed that relationship and never looked back. He used that dark time as fuel, energy, and a trajectory into the next phase of his life; to finish what he started long before this dark chapter and complete his design for a mobile and sustainable, clean drinking water system. Kevin worked day and night to design his own system, in his own way and utilizing every ounce of his visionary perspective. He incorporated all that his Father had taught him and capitalized on now knowing 'what not to do'. He would set forth on a journey that would span continents and reach the furthest corners of the globe. He taught himself and studied chemistry, fluid dynamics, water treatment objectives, water composition and automation and process control. He committed to seeing to it that his basic criteria would be met, and this system would have to possess the attributes needed to operate in the harshest environments, and the most remote locations. It would need to be capable of filtering a tremendous amount of water daily, reside at a very low operating cost and be 100% efficient. It would need to be easy to operate and robust; able to operate in temperatures ranging from 45° Celsius to below 50° Celsius. He knew if a system could not achieve this, then he would not continue as it would not succeed otherwise. He dove deeper into water contamination and bacteria and virus inactivation, filtration characteristics, renewable energy design elements and global water science.
Kevin began to draw attention from a group in Asia, that recognized the potential of his design and pursued him in order to explore possibilities and synergies between them. Kevin learned that they shared the same intention, which was to provide access to safe, clean water to those that deserve this basic right in life. In addition, there was potential for deployment throughout the Nation; the first of which was a contract with the Chinese Military if the system proved viable. Kevin took that introduction, and the path was cut; this would be the push he required to see his vision realized.
After countless days, months and a year and half of computer design, physical modelling and trial & error, the design plan for what was known as the Mobilpur10 prototype system was born. A leading edge, innovative water treatment system could be realized!
Kevin and his team of experts and visionaries alike, together negotiated a contract with a State-owned factory in Nanjing, China for manufacturing and testing of the prototype system. It was about to be one of the most unconventional models known for technology development and yet it was the beginning of the build and test phase; proof of concept was next.
"We did not follow the typical model of many Western companies seeking merely inexpensive procurement and manufacture costs by doing so in China. Conversely, all components were sourced in North America and shipped to China. We saw the collaborative benefits of an international team that shared a dream, had the skills and the desire to see it through to the end. Considering the expense of shipping (a great deal of which was done by air), the cost of this project was large. It needed to be, in order to get it right"
Kevin goes on to explain; "A complete bill of materials was generated and the components necessary were purchased in British Columbia, Canada. This totaled 1,298 individual pieces that would make what the system complete. These components boxed and sent by myself were then shipped to China where I followed behind on a flight. There I met my team, shared many hugs, and welcomed each other to the future of the system and what it represented. We all eagerly and unpacked those same crates; this was an exciting time and signified the beginning."
Construction began on Oct 2017 and the system was completed on March 23, 2018. This after countless edits, remanufacturing of system structure and process flows, treatment technologies changed, and changed yet again, computer automation command logic writing; it was complete. The Mobilpur10 was ready!
Kevin recounts, "Delays were ever present, and unforeseen difficulties were realized. What appeared to be insurmountable setbacks arose and despite these, we navigated through and together learned so much of one another. Two polar-opposite cultures combined for the betterment of so many lives; that was fuel to persist! As importantly, friendships for a lifetime to come were cultivated with a dedicated and passionate team; one that proved a great deal to themselves and our families. We did it!" They had managed to take this idea that Kevin had drawn on a litany of pages on 61 full field notebooks, three very tired laptops, 11 external hard drives, full of CAD/Solidworks™ design drawings, to construction in a specialized facility 9,098.6 miles away from that beautiful setting of Kevin's home on the West coast of Canada. The system design gained global recognition after deployment of this first demonstration system in China.
With trade restrictions and an uncertain geo-political climate given the volatile and unpredictably strained US/Canada/China relations, it was agreed to be too dangerous to continue in China until further notice. Kevin needed to say goodbye to his friends in Asia and welcomed his good friends and colleagues, John Pulos and John Derby to join as a team and collaborate to ensure the implementation globally, was a reality! These two gentlemen are equally affected and inspired by the plight that exists around the world. They joined Kevin and together they have propelled themselves onward. Constantly challenging themselves and bringing new ideas, they are investing in the future of a project that will help to see an end to the global clean water shortage.
Today Clearflo Solutions Inc., is comprised of our Canadian team only and manufacturing is done on the ancestral and Unceded territory of the K’òmoks First Nation, in British Columbia, Canada. Headquarters include Canada and the Republic of Panama.
More than ever, and as we grow-we share the same intention; to provide access to safe, clean water to as many as we possibly can throughout the world. The latest production version of the Mobilpur10 possesses incredible advancements over the already unique system. The technology is pending patent globally and more innovations are in the works as the ever-changing landscape brings with it the need for new design implementations.
The latest Mobilpur10 is currently in place in a remote community of the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca, Panama. We are proud to say that the promise made back in the beginning of the journey to those in Panama, will most certainly be kept by Clearflo. We returned, and we brought clean water with us!
The Clearflo story begins in the Jungles of South and Central America where Kevin Haughton, was working an unrelated project with the indigenous peoples in remote areas of the Ecuadorian Amazon; those that are seemingly long forgotten by most. Kevin started to see a very clear picture emerging as he witnessed a life marginally sustained from tainted water sources or a complete lack thereof. This was difficult to understand because in his own home Country of Canada, the First Nations communities were suffering from this crisis; for a long, long time. Canada, is one of the richest in finance and resource, and yet those underserved communities at home, were in no different a position than those in the remote jungles he was in. Kevin grew up on the ancestral territories of the K’òmoks First Nation, in what is called the Comox Valley.
His heart was pulled to the front of his chest witnessing this and he was simply awestruck by the strength and determination of these people that lacked the very basic necessities of life. He soon realized that wherever he travelled, the lack of safe, clean water was ever-present. Village after village, town after town and even in city centers; the problem existed. The magnitude of this issue really hit home when Kevin began to study the historical data regionally and that is when his interest expanded globally. The lack was everywhere and there were over 750 million people without safe, clean water. That number has grown each day since.
He witnessed many systems and studied many efforts - technologies that existed and many that purported to deal with the issues however, something was lacking and there was a common denominator. Most of the areas without safe, clean water, were remote. Due to their locations in the harshest of areas, they did not have grid power and therefore could not support most all conventional water treatment systems. This realization was not only frustrating to him, but it also fueled him, as he knew that the promises of health and a new sense of well-being in many communities depended on a technology that could operate in these conditions. It would require a green technology, an efficient technology and one that was autonomous. The only way this could work is if it were powered by renewable energy sources; solar, wind and water energy specifically. He also knew that if it was achievable here, it would be easier to adopt back home. Knowing that his own Government would not accept his model (he hadn't even designed yet), until it was proven. He was there in the Amazon and this place, he chose to be his design lab and testing ground, he got to work!
It began as sketches and technical specifications on a dirt-stained notebook alongside a stream in the jungle. Many of these filed notebooks later, the basis of design was formed. Then as chance would have it, Kevin's colleagues introduced him to an individual from the US that claimed to have the answer; a water treatment system that could operate in the remote areas. Kevin was excited as no matter what or who, we were all working toward the same goal of ending this global crisis. Kevin was cautiously optimistic about this technology given that no one had witnessed one in operation yet. Kevin and his group would be the first. They got to work preparing the remote village in the Ngäbe-Buglé, Comarca in Panama for the arrival. He had grown especially fond of this community and the absolute zest for life these people shared, despite not having the most basic needs of life, safe clean water. He realized those that had the least - appreciated the most. He was welcomed by them and shared in the love, laughter, and pain they felt as a marginalized people.
When the day came that the system and this man that developed it with it, the news rang loud across the jungle. Hope was present again. Then as the days went on and Kevin asked the tough questions, they could not be answered. This dream of the solution began to unfold as nothing more than that, a fantasy. The technology did not work and the moreover, the company was in the process of dissolving. Unbeknown to the group, this individual had taken millions from investors and had nothing but empty promises to show for it. The talk of these systems positioned all over the globe soon was discovered to be false and the he investors were outraged. The losses for many were financially devastating but the worst part for Kevin was the fact that he was to now tell the community that there would be no water after all. This was a huge blow and a defining moment for Kevin.
Kevin made a promise to the members of that community and others, to return to the Panama one day, and he would bring a way to have clean water when he did.
An attempt was made to resurrect the project and for this man from the US to redeem himself to Kevin and others in and this time, in Asia. Once again, this man proved to be as volatile as he was morally corrupt. Kevin severed that relationship and never looked back. He used that dark time as fuel, energy, and a trajectory into the next phase of his life; to finish what he started long before this dark chapter and complete his design for a mobile and sustainable, clean drinking water system. Kevin worked day and night to design his own system, in his own way and utilizing every ounce of his visionary perspective. He incorporated all that his Father had taught him and capitalized on now knowing 'what not to do'. He would set forth on a journey that would span continents and reach the furthest corners of the globe. He taught himself and studied chemistry, fluid dynamics, water treatment objectives, water composition and automation and process control. He committed to seeing to it that his basic criteria would be met, and this system would have to possess the attributes needed to operate in the harshest environments, and the most remote locations. It would need to be capable of filtering a tremendous amount of water daily, reside at a very low operating cost and be 100% efficient. It would need to be easy to operate and robust; able to operate in temperatures ranging from 45° Celsius to below 50° Celsius. He knew if a system could not achieve this, then he would not continue as it would not succeed otherwise. He dove deeper into water contamination and bacteria and virus inactivation, filtration characteristics, renewable energy design elements and global water science.
Kevin began to draw attention from a group in Asia, that recognized the potential of his design and pursued him in order to explore possibilities and synergies between them. Kevin learned that they shared the same intention, which was to provide access to safe, clean water to those that deserve this basic right in life. In addition, there was potential for deployment throughout the Nation; the first of which was a contract with the Chinese Military if the system proved viable. Kevin took that introduction, and the path was cut; this would be the push he required to see his vision realized.
After countless days, months and a year and half of computer design, physical modelling and trial & error, the design plan for what was known as the Mobilpur10 prototype system was born. A leading edge, innovative water treatment system could be realized!
Kevin and his team of experts and visionaries alike, together negotiated a contract with a State-owned factory in Nanjing, China for manufacturing and testing of the prototype system. It was about to be one of the most unconventional models known for technology development and yet it was the beginning of the build and test phase; proof of concept was next.
"We did not follow the typical model of many Western companies seeking merely inexpensive procurement and manufacture costs by doing so in China. Conversely, all components were sourced in North America and shipped to China. We saw the collaborative benefits of an international team that shared a dream, had the skills and the desire to see it through to the end. Considering the expense of shipping (a great deal of which was done by air), the cost of this project was large. It needed to be, in order to get it right"
Kevin goes on to explain; "A complete bill of materials was generated and the components necessary were purchased in British Columbia, Canada. This totaled 1,298 individual pieces that would make what the system complete. These components boxed and sent by myself were then shipped to China where I followed behind on a flight. There I met my team, shared many hugs, and welcomed each other to the future of the system and what it represented. We all eagerly and unpacked those same crates; this was an exciting time and signified the beginning."
Construction began on Oct 2017 and the system was completed on March 23, 2018. This after countless edits, remanufacturing of system structure and process flows, treatment technologies changed, and changed yet again, computer automation command logic writing; it was complete. The Mobilpur10 was ready!
Kevin recounts, "Delays were ever present, and unforeseen difficulties were realized. What appeared to be insurmountable setbacks arose and despite these, we navigated through and together learned so much of one another. Two polar-opposite cultures combined for the betterment of so many lives; that was fuel to persist! As importantly, friendships for a lifetime to come were cultivated with a dedicated and passionate team; one that proved a great deal to themselves and our families. We did it!" They had managed to take this idea that Kevin had drawn on a litany of pages on 61 full field notebooks, three very tired laptops, 11 external hard drives, full of CAD/Solidworks™ design drawings, to construction in a specialized facility 9,098.6 miles away from that beautiful setting of Kevin's home on the West coast of Canada. The system design gained global recognition after deployment of this first demonstration system in China.
With trade restrictions and an uncertain geo-political climate given the volatile and unpredictably strained US/Canada/China relations, it was agreed to be too dangerous to continue in China until further notice. Kevin needed to say goodbye to his friends in Asia and welcomed his good friends and colleagues, John Pulos and John Derby to join as a team and collaborate to ensure the implementation globally, was a reality! These two gentlemen are equally affected and inspired by the plight that exists around the world. They joined Kevin and together they have propelled themselves onward. Constantly challenging themselves and bringing new ideas, they are investing in the future of a project that will help to see an end to the global clean water shortage.
Today Clearflo Solutions Inc., is comprised of our Canadian team only and manufacturing is done on the ancestral and Unceded territory of the K’òmoks First Nation, in British Columbia, Canada. Headquarters include Canada and the Republic of Panama.
More than ever, and as we grow-we share the same intention; to provide access to safe, clean water to as many as we possibly can throughout the world. The latest production version of the Mobilpur10 possesses incredible advancements over the already unique system. The technology is pending patent globally and more innovations are in the works as the ever-changing landscape brings with it the need for new design implementations.
The latest Mobilpur10 is currently in place in a remote community of the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca, Panama. We are proud to say that the promise made back in the beginning of the journey to those in Panama, will most certainly be kept by Clearflo. We returned, and we brought clean water with us!