In many areas of the world the water crisis is not an issue of scarcity — it’s an issue of providing access to a clean supply. The lack of access to clean water and sanitation kills thousands of people every year, while countless others struggle to meet their basic needs. To assist the third world in confronting this issue, three industrial designers — Jung Uk Park, Myeong Hoon Lee, and Dae Youl Lee — have come up with the Life Sack, an ingenious water purification device that does double duty as a container for shipping grains and other food staples. Once the food has been received, the sack can be used as a solar water purification kit.
Donating grains and other staples packed in sacks is not uncommon for charities. Based on this practice, the life sack provides the same service, initially carrying food. Once the grain has been stored, individuals are able to use the sack as a water purification kit. The Life sack uses SODIS (Solar Water Disinfection Process) technology to filter contaminated water — UV-A-radiation and the bag’s thermal treatment process work to kill deadly microorganisms and bacteria in water. As an added bonus, the sack can also be worn like a backpack for quick and easy movement from the source to the community.
Via Tuvie
where i can buy a life sack?
A real lifesaving device for poor if reasonably priced and manufactured with UN subsidy.
Why not just use SODIS? It uses plastic water bottles that are generally available in developing countries. Why send more plastic to developing countries that will only get tossed on the ground after a couple of uses?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_water_disinfection
Many who are much better informed than I am, are forecasting that the next, very soon to come, battle for “control” of precious liquid will not be for oil, but for water. In some of the world’s cities, periodic water-shortages are already a fact (e.g. Mexico City, Calcutta). This invention may be the answer to challenges all of us may be facing within the next 15 to 20 years.
exciting to see this.
So how much does it cost? This article doesn’t say, and that’s the key issue. Even assuming it works as advertised, if it’s too expensive (say, $5 a unit or more), it won’t be used.
I hope they sell this in the U.S and then have some of the proceeds go to help africa
If this works as they say it works, it might been one of the most useful inventions.