Amazing Bottle Makes Dirty Water Drinkable

By Richard Maino, London Press Service

AN ORDINARY-looking plastic bottle can turn into an extraordinary device that could save millions of lives. The remarkable Lifesaver container can instantly clean the dirtiest water, making it entirely safe to drink.

Its inventor, Michael Pritchard, says he felt duty-bound to develop it after watching TV coverage of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 that killed at least 230,000 people and left a vast swathe of destroyed communities and infrastructure. Many of the survivors had little or no supply of fresh water to help recovery.

He explained: "In the days and weeks afterwards, people were dying from drinking contaminated water and it took ages for response teams to reach them. That really affected me and I thought something had to be done."

A determined man, Pritchard - who runs a water treatment business in Ipswich, eastern England - spent the next three years and his life savings to create his remarkable health aid that makes "foul-smelling water drinkable in seconds". During that time, a similar tragedy struck the US after a massive hurricane struck the southern seaboard, illustrating the constant disaster paradox of being surrounded by water that is undrinkable.

Finally, Michael Pritchard's dream has been turned into reality by manufacturers Omega Plastics of Gateshead, north-east England. Its technical engineer, Peter Angus, said: "It is the best idea I have seen in my life."

The Lifesaver device is an all-in-one filtration bottle that removes all bacteria, viruses, cysts, parasites and fungi from water - without the aid of unpleasant tasting agents such as iodine or chlorine.

Using unique technology, the 750ml plastic bottle can be filled with liquid from a dirty pond or river and - with just a few pumps and the twist of a cap - clean drinking water is produced. Although not cheap at 190 pounds each, the bottle could revolutionise the way that health aid is handled in disaster-struck or war-torn countries; it become cost-effective by eliminating most water-borne diseases, allowing medical units to treat other conditions.

The bottle uses a highly advanced filtration system originally developed for industrial applications. Conventional filters can cut out bacteria measuring more than 200 nanometres but not viruses that are typically 25 nanometres.

The Lifesaver can clean up any water including faecal matter; it stops anything longer than 15 nanometres, meaning that viruses can be filtered without the use of chemicals. The bottle can distil from 4,000 to 6,000 litres without changing the filter.

Its activated carbon filter captures a broad spectrum of chemical residues including pesticides, endocrine-disrupting compounds, medical residues and heavy metals such as lead and copper. It also eliminates bad tastes and odours from contaminates such as chlorine and sulphur and protects against cholera and cryptosporidium. But it cannot make sea-water drinkable.

"I felt there had to be a way of making contaminated water drinkable and avoid this tragic waste of life," said Pritchard. "I am not a parasitologist and neither do I have a doctorate in viruses. But I am an inquisitive person and since I could sit up I have wanted to know how and why things worked.

"I have invented a product that will do the world some good and is going to save millions of lives. The Lifesaver will reduce the onset and spread of diseases and reduce the logistical support required when responding to events.

"It lowers the overall cost of response because in many cases no bottled water will be required. Also, it means you don't need to create extra landfill sites to get rid of plastic bottles," he added.

The Lifesaver is patented in the UK and internationally. The company has received calls from the United Nations and others interested in the product that was recently voted Best Technological Development. Four hours after the Lifesaver was launched at a defence show in London recently, the whole stock of 1,000 was sold.

According to top government body UK Trade & Investment, UK consultants excel at translating ideas into commercial success. It says UK designers are renowned throughout the world for their ability to deliver effective design solutions, with a unique ability to design for the international market place.

"The design industry is large and diverse, spanning disciplines from branding and graphics, packaging and commercial interiors to product design, multimedia and crafts," it said.

"Its willingness to adopt new ideas ensures that it will always have a leading role to play in guiding consumer tastes, as well as predicting and reflecting consumer trends. The UK is a significant exporter of design services and in 2005 the industry's turnover was 4.6 billion pounds."

UK Trade & Investment is the leading government organisation created to support companies in the UK trading internationally and overseas businesses seeking to set up or expand in the UK.

Contact:

Michael Pritchard
Lifesaver Systems
The Old Bakery, 7 Tuddenham Avenue, Ipswich, Suffolk, United Kingdom, IP4 2HE
Phone: +44 1473 252831
Fax: +44 1473 232656
E-mail: info@lifesaversystems.com
Web: www.lifesaversystems.com