Tuesday, June 3, 2014

A tsunami and no water to drink: how disaster inspired lifesaving invention


By Shane Hickey 

Handheld water filtration system used by hill walkers, British soldiers in Afghanistan, and communities in the developing world

lifesaver
Lifesaver uses a simple new method of purifying water in bottles and canisters to cleanse water of all bacteria and viruses. Photograph: Frantzesco Kangaris for the Guardian

With soil sliding in from the banks, leaf litter collecting from overhanging trees and Japanese koi producing waste, the pond outside the production facility of Lifesaver Systems was perfectly filthy.

Dipping into the water what appeared to be an outsized plastic water bottle, Michael Pritchard scooped up some of the brownish gunk, sealed the bottle with a screwable base and pushed its pump a few times.

When he opened the teat at the top of the bottle, clear water sprayed out, leaving behind the pond detritus. "That," he said as he sipped the liquid from a glass, "is clean, sterile, drinking water."  MORE

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