LifeStraw
Encyclopedia
LifeStraw is a water filter designed to be used by one person to filter water so that they may safely drink it. It filters a maximum of 1000 litres of water, enough for one person for one year. It removes 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria
and 99.9% of parasites. The LifeStraw Family, a larger unit designed for family use, also filters out 99.99% of virus
es .
LifeStraw includes LifeStraw and LifeStraw Family, which are complementary point-of-use water filters designed by the Swiss
-based Vestergaard Frandsen for people living in developing nations and for distribution in humanitarian crisis
. LifeStraw Family filters a maximum of 18,000 liters of water, providing safe drinking water
for a family of five for up to three years. LifeStraw and LifeStraw Family were distributed in the 2010 Haiti earthquake
, 2010 Pakistan floods
, and 2011 Thailand floods
.
tube 31 centimeters long and 30 millimeters in diameter, Water that is drawn up through the straw first passes through hollow fibers that filter water particles down to 0.2 microns across, using only physical filtration methods and no chemicals. The entire process is powered by suction, similar to using a conventional drinking straw
, and filters up to 1000 liters of water. While the initial model of the filter did not remove Giardia lamblia
, LifeStraw removes a minimum of 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites including giardia and cryptosporidium.
, has criticized the LifeStraw for being too expensive for the target market. He also points to other important problems linked with accessing the water in developing countries, which wait to be solved, but are not addressed by the device itself.
Although LifeStraw are available for retail sale in the developing world, the majority of LifeStraw are distributed as part of public health
campaigns or in response to complex emergencies by NGOs and organizations that give them away for free in the developing world.
Many thousands of LifeStraws have been donated worldwide by the Rotary Club of Brynmawr (Wales) Water Projects Charity. Cash donations can be made through their charity website.
LifeStraw has been praised in the international media and won several awards including the 2008 Saatchi & Saatchi
Award for World Changing Ideas, the ‘INDEX: 2005’ International Design Award and "Best Invention of 2005" by Time magazine.
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
and 99.9% of parasites. The LifeStraw Family, a larger unit designed for family use, also filters out 99.99% of virus
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
es .
LifeStraw includes LifeStraw and LifeStraw Family, which are complementary point-of-use water filters designed by the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
-based Vestergaard Frandsen for people living in developing nations and for distribution in humanitarian crisis
Humanitarian crisis
A humanitarian crisis is an event or series of events which represents a critical threat to the health, safety, security or wellbeing of a community or other large group of people, usually over a wide area...
. LifeStraw Family filters a maximum of 18,000 liters of water, providing safe drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
for a family of five for up to three years. LifeStraw and LifeStraw Family were distributed in the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
, 2010 Pakistan floods
2010 Pakistan floods
The 2010 Pakistan floods began in late July 2010, resulting from heavy monsoon rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan regions of Pakistan and affected the Indus River basin. Approximately one-fifth of Pakistan's total land area was underwater, approximately...
, and 2011 Thailand floods
2011 Thailand floods
Major floods are occurring during the 2011 monsoon season in Thailand, most severely in the Chao Phraya but also in the Mekong River basin. Beginning in late July and continuing for over three months, the floods have caused 602 reported deaths by early November, affected over 2.3 million people,...
.
Construction
The LifeStraw is a plasticPlastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
tube 31 centimeters long and 30 millimeters in diameter, Water that is drawn up through the straw first passes through hollow fibers that filter water particles down to 0.2 microns across, using only physical filtration methods and no chemicals. The entire process is powered by suction, similar to using a conventional drinking straw
Drinking straw
A drinking straw is a short tube intended for transferring a beverage from its container to the mouth of the drinker by use of suction. A thin tube of plastic or other material, straight or with an accordion-like living hinge, it is employed by being held with one end in the mouth and another end...
, and filters up to 1000 liters of water. While the initial model of the filter did not remove Giardia lamblia
Giardia lamblia
Giardia lamblia is a flagellated protozoan parasite that colonizes and reproduces in the small intestine, causing giardiasis. The giardia parasite attaches to the epithelium by a ventral adhesive disc, and reproduces via binary fission...
, LifeStraw removes a minimum of 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites including giardia and cryptosporidium.
Critical response
LifeStraw has been generally praised for its effective and instant method of bacteria and protozoa removal and consumer acceptability. Paul Hetherington, of the charity WaterAidWaterAid
WaterAid is an international non-profit organisation set up as a response to the UN International Drinking Water & Sanitation decade . WaterAid is dedicated to helping people escape the poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation. It is based in London, England and was...
, has criticized the LifeStraw for being too expensive for the target market. He also points to other important problems linked with accessing the water in developing countries, which wait to be solved, but are not addressed by the device itself.
Although LifeStraw are available for retail sale in the developing world, the majority of LifeStraw are distributed as part of public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
campaigns or in response to complex emergencies by NGOs and organizations that give them away for free in the developing world.
Many thousands of LifeStraws have been donated worldwide by the Rotary Club of Brynmawr (Wales) Water Projects Charity. Cash donations can be made through their charity website.
LifeStraw has been praised in the international media and won several awards including the 2008 Saatchi & Saatchi
Saatchi & Saatchi
Saatchi & Saatchi is a global advertising agency network with 140 offices in 80 countries and over 6,500 staff. It was founded in London in 1970 but now headquartered in New York. The parent company of the agency group was known as Saatchi & Saatchi PLC from 1976 to 1994, was listed on the London...
Award for World Changing Ideas, the ‘INDEX: 2005’ International Design Award and "Best Invention of 2005" by Time magazine.