Time magazine recently selected Apple’s iPhone as its invention of the year. While the iPhone is a breakthrough mobile device, I was upset at Time choosing a gadget with such a small global reach as its annual halo invention. Instead, I’d like to rave about Time’s 2005 invention of the year, the Lifestraw from Vestergaard Frandsen Group. Yes, this is about three years late, nevertheless, this little straw that could is even more relevant today than it was in 2005 (and a new version just came out).

Studies show about a billion people worldwide do not have access to a reliable source of safe drinking water, something most in the developed world take for granted. Africa comes to mind first given the general public perception of a continent devoid of anything liquid but the problem affects most third world countries (including India which, paradoxically, boasts the Guinness World Record for heaviest rainfall). Often, the issue isn’t the availability of water itself, rather, access to clean, potable water. To this end numerous devices have been suggested to counter the issue but most have similar drawbacks; large capital investment (eg. for desalination plants), prohibitive cost (for high-tech reverse-osmosis devices) or significant energy requirements. Besides, most of the solutions are large-scale involving modifications to existing water distribution systems: Ineffective in regions where such systems do not exist or are in disrepair.

The trick to reaching the poorest and most needy sections of society is to develop products with grassroots appeal in terms of cost and distribution. Enter the Lifestraw. Designed from the ground up to be a portable, cheap, water-purification system, it has the potential to save millions of lives a year. On top of that, it is a triumph of engineering and design.

Powered solely by the the user sucking on one end, the Lifestraw cleans the water through a four-step filtration process (outlined in the graphic at right). According to Wikipedia, one of the drawbacks of the device is its inability to filter the Giardia Lamlia parasite. I believe the manufacturers are working on plugging this shortcoming (indeed, one of the issues with the first version of Lifestraw was a higher than normal iodine content in the filtered water, something which has since been corrected).

Nevertheless, it is a magnificently simple invention with massive potential. Which leaves only the question of cost. Most reports indicate the Lifestraw could be purchased for as low as 3 dollars a piece (with one straw filtering approximately a year’s worth of water for one adult, about 700 liters). The only site I could find to contribute Lifestraws to those in need has a somewhat higher cost, 24.95 USD a piece (with the site matching your purchase). Still, not a bad price. If you’re feeling altruistic this holiday season, might I suggest heading over HERE to make a truly worthwhile contribution. We at the Backwomb will be. It sure makes sense to help people suck their way to clean water.

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