LifeStraw is a brand that manufactures water filtration and purification devices. The first product was designed as a portable water filter "straw". It filters a maximum of 4000 litres of water, enough for one person for three years. It removes almost all of waterborne bacteria, microplastics and parasites. A bottle was later developed which incorporated a LifeStraw cartridge into a BPA-free plastic sports water bottle. In addition to these portable filters, the manufacturer also produces high-volume purifiers powered by gravity that also remove viruses. These are designed for family and community use. The LifeStraw water filters are designed by the Swiss-based Vestergaard Frandsen. While originally developed for people living in developing nations and for distribution in humanitarian crisis, LifeStraw water filters have gained popularity as consumer products. The LifeStraw is now used as a tool for survivalists and outdoor enthusiasts in addition to being used to help combat clean water scarcity worldwide. LifeStraw water filters can provide clean water without the need for batteries or chemical treatment. All LifeStraw filters are made using hollow fiber membrane technology. Some of them also incorporate an activated carbon component. The original LifeStraw and LifeStraw Family were distributed in the 2010 Haiti earthquake, 2010 Pakistan floods, 2011 Thailand floods, and 2016 Ecuador earthquake, among other crises and initiatives. In the Mutomo District in Kenya which has suffered from long term drought, the Kenya Red Cross supplied filters to 3,750 school children and 6,750 households. In 2015, LifeStraw filters were deployed in Rwanda. The company also funds a retail give back program that as of 2018 has provided safe water to more than 1 million school children in rural Kenya. Contrary to popular belief, the original LifeStraw does not incorporate a reverse-osmosis membrane nor is it able to filter out salts or minerals.
Construction
The original LifeStraw is a plastic tube 22 cm long and 3 cm in diameter. Water that is drawn up through the straw first passes through hollow fibres that filter water particles down to 0.2 µm across, using only physical filtration methods and no chemicals. The entire process is powered by suction, similar to using a conventional drinking straw, and filters up to 4000 litres of water. While the initial model of the filter did not remove Giardia lamblia, LifeStraw now removes a minimum of 99.999% of waterborne protozoan parasites including Giardia and Cryptosporidium. The original LifeStraw does not filter viruses, chemicals, salt water, and heavy metals. However, the newer LifeStraw products are capable of removing chemicals and heavy metals including lead.
Critical response
LifeStraw has been generally praised for its effective and quick method of bacteria and protozoa removal and consumer acceptability. Although LifeStraw is available for retail sale in the developed world, the majority of LifeStraw are distributed as part of public health campaigns or in response to complex emergencies by NGOs and organizations that give them away for free in the developing world. LifeStraw has been praised in the international media and won several awards including the 2008 Saatchi & Saatchi Award for World Changing Ideas, the ‘INDEX: 2005’ International Design Award and "Best Invention of 2005" by Time Magazine. The LifeStraw was featured in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 2019, the Lifestraw Home water filter pitcher was launched and won the IDEA design award and the Red Dot design award.
