Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Life Straw

Life Straw

This article in Newsweek (suggested by Malia) reports on a new device that works as a portable water filter that will only cost $3 and filter about 185 gallons (1 years worth of drinking water).

Most of the LifeStraw's users will never drink anything fancier than plain water through the device. But its impact on their lives can't be overstated. More than 1 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, and 6,000 people die each day of waterborne diseases like typhoid, cholera and dysentery. In regions like sub-Saharan Africa, half of most people's water consumption takes place outside the home—either while they're working, or walking to and from school. Vestergaard Frandsen S.A.—which also produces mosquito nets and plastic sheeting coated with insecticide to fend off malaria—hopes that the $3 LifeStraw will drastically lessen their chances of getting sick.

Reminds me of the fog harvesting article I put up a while ago... neat stuff.

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