The “LifeStraw” is an invention that could become one of the greatest life-savers in history.
LifeStraw is a portable water purification instrument that cleanses surface water and makes it safe for human consumption. It is a 25 cm long, 29 mm diameter, plastic pipe filter and costs just a few dollars.
The original idea was created years ago by Torben Vestergaard Frandsen, but over the years in partnership with The Carter Center and others, the Lifestraw has made clean water a possibility to many.
Millions of people die every year because they don’t have clean water to drink. Until now, there was not much we could do about this because clean water solutions were costly, required electricity, spare parts, and so on. But the LifeStraw offers a practical way to provide tens of millions of people with clean water every year.
LifeStraw is a personal, low-cost water purification instrument with a life time of 700 liters or approximately one year of water consumption for a single person. Positive test results have been achieved on tap, turbid and saline water against common waterborne bacteria.
LifeStraw has been tested by independent and qualified research laboratories. The instrument contains PuroTech Disinfecting Resin (PDR). PDR is a patented, effective material that kills bacteria on contact. Active carbon withholds particles such as parasites. The tests and studies indicate the following: The level of bacteria in the water will be reduced to levels that are safe for human consumption and any health risk is slight. Any parasitic properties in the water will also be reduced significantly. Adults and children of any age can use the LifeStraw, provided they have access to drinking water.
If we can find a way of manufacturing and distributing one of these to each human at risk, every year, we could save countless lives.
Each LifeStraw lasts for one person’s annual needs of clean water.
A straw costing a few dollars will save numerous lives per year. That is something we could all get behind.
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Carrie January 30, 2013
That is so cool! That could save so many lives every year, and would be easy to provide to the people who need it!