Michael Pritchard: How to make filthy water drinkable

Summary

In this talk, the speaker addresses the critical issue of safe drinking water, highlighting the devastating impact of contaminated water sources. He introduces the Lifesaver bottle, a portable water filtration device capable of removing bacteria and viruses as small as 15 nanometers. Through a demonstration, he shows how the bottle can transform filthy water into safe, sterile drinking water. The speaker advocates for a shift in thinking, suggesting that by using the Lifesaver bottle, we can prevent the need for shipping water in crises and enable people to purify water at the point of use, thus improving global access to safe drinking water.

Takeaways

• 💧 The speaker discusses the importance of safe drinking water and its impact on health.
• 🤢 Unsafe water can lead to serious diseases like diarrhea, with statistics showing half of the audience would suffer from it if given contaminated water.
• 💡 The speaker believes the problem of unsafe drinking water feels overwhelming because of traditional thinking.
• 🚨 Urgent statistics reveal that while the speaker was talking, 13,000 people around the world are suffering from diarrhea, and four children have died.
• 😠 The speaker was motivated to create the Lifesaver bottle after seeing the devastation of the 2004 Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.
• ⚗️ The Lifesaver bottle uses 15-nanometer pores to filter even the smallest viruses, far surpassing older filters with 200-nanometer pores.
• 🧪 A live demonstration showed how the Lifesaver bottle can turn contaminated water from rivers and sewage into sterile drinking water.
• 🌍 The Lifesaver bottle can process up to 6,000 liters of water and is used by people globally, while a larger jerry can model can handle 25,000 liters.
• 💸 The Lifesaver bottle is a low-cost solution, with running costs as low as half a cent per day for a family of four.
• 🌿 By thinking differently and utilizing natural processes like rainwater, the global issue of safe drinking water can be solved for billions of people at a fraction of traditional infrastructure costs.

Q & A

What is the main topic the speaker addresses in the script?

The main topic is the global issue of unsafe drinking water and how the speaker’s invention, the Lifesaver bottle, provides a solution by filtering contaminated water to make it safe for drinking.

What triggered the speaker to invent the Lifesaver bottle?

The speaker was motivated by two major disasters: the 2004 Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, where people lacked access to clean water for days, leading to unnecessary suffering and deaths.

How does the Lifesaver bottle differ from traditional water filters?

Traditional filters only remove contaminants down to 200 nanometers, but the Lifesaver bottle filters down to 15 nanometers, which can block viruses as well as bacteria, making it much more effective.

What demonstration does the speaker perform during the presentation?

The speaker demonstrates the Lifesaver bottle by filtering water contaminated with various impurities like pond water, sewage runoff, and rabbit droppings, turning it into safe, drinkable water.

How much water can the Lifesaver bottle filter before it needs replacement?

The Lifesaver bottle can filter 6,000 liters of water before its cartridge needs to be replaced.

How does the speaker propose to solve the global water crisis?

The speaker suggests using Lifesaver bottles and jerry cans instead of relying on traditional infrastructure, which is costly and complex. By filtering water at the point of use, people can access clean water anywhere.

What is the cost-effectiveness of using the Lifesaver jerry can for families?

The Lifesaver jerry can can provide clean water for a family of four for three years at a cost of half a cent per day.

What potential global impact does the speaker claim could be achieved with eight billion dollars?

The speaker claims that with eight billion dollars, the world could meet the millennium goal target of halving the number of people without access to safe drinking water.

What statistics does the speaker provide to highlight the urgency of the water crisis?

The speaker states that 3.5 billion people suffer from unsafe drinking water every year, and two million children die annually as a result of waterborne diseases.

How does the Lifesaver bottle’s failsafe technology work?

When the cartridge reaches the end of its lifespan (6,000 liters), the system automatically shuts off, preventing the user from filtering unsafe water until the cartridge is replaced.

Outlines

00:00

💧 The Global Water Crisis and the Lifesaver Bottle Invention

The speaker introduces the serious issue of unsafe water consumption, explaining how half of the audience could potentially be affected by diarrhea if they consumed contaminated water. He highlights the scale of the global water crisis, stating that many people and organizations become overwhelmed by its magnitude. The speaker shares how his frustration led him to invent the Lifesaver bottle, inspired by witnessing water crises during disasters like the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. He expresses how these tragedies motivated him to create a solution to provide safe drinking water for everyone.

05:03

🧪 Demonstrating the Lifesaver Bottle

The speaker shifts to a live demonstration of the Lifesaver bottle, a revolutionary filtration device capable of turning even heavily contaminated water into sterile drinking water. He humorously collects water from rivers, ponds, and other unclean sources, even adding sewage and rabbit waste to emphasize the bottle's power. After showing how easy it is to pump the water through the filter, the audience is impressed when he drinks the clean water. He notes that the Lifesaver bottle is used globally and can process up to 6,000 liters of water before needing a new filter, making it a sustainable solution in crisis situations.

Keywords

💡Lifesaver bottle

The Lifesaver bottle is a portable filtration system invented by Michael Pritchard to provide safe drinking water in disaster zones and underdeveloped areas. It can filter water down to 15 nanometers, removing harmful bacteria and viruses. In the video, it is demonstrated with contaminated water to highlight its efficacy, tying into the broader theme of solving the global clean water crisis through innovative technology.

💡Safe drinking water

Safe drinking water refers to water that is free from contaminants, such as harmful bacteria and viruses, and safe for human consumption. The lack of access to safe water is a central issue in the video, with Pritchard explaining how contaminated water sources lead to diseases like diarrhea, which affect millions worldwide, especially in disaster and crisis situations.

💡Nanometer filtration

Nanometer filtration is the process of filtering water to extremely small levels, measured in nanometers. The Lifesaver bottle filters down to 15 nanometers, smaller than viruses (around 25 nanometers), ensuring that even the smallest harmful particles are removed. This technology is critical in demonstrating how the Lifesaver bottle is more effective than traditional water filters, which only filter down to 200 nanometers.

💡Global water crisis

The global water crisis refers to the widespread issue of inadequate access to clean drinking water, which leads to illness and death, especially in developing countries and during natural disasters. Pritchard discusses the scale of the problem, emphasizing how millions suffer from waterborne diseases like diarrhea, and highlights the potential of his invention to alleviate this crisis by providing immediate access to safe water.

💡Contaminated water

Contaminated water is water that contains harmful pathogens or pollutants, making it unsafe to drink. In the video, Pritchard uses examples of water from rivers, ponds, and sewage to demonstrate how severely contaminated water can be, and how the Lifesaver bottle can turn even such polluted water into safe drinking water. This illustrates the urgency and scope of the water safety problem.

💡Crisis response

Crisis response refers to the actions taken to provide relief and resources in the aftermath of natural disasters, such as floods or tsunamis. Pritchard critiques traditional methods of providing aid, such as shipping bottled water, which is slow and inefficient. Instead, he argues that distributing Lifesaver bottles would empower individuals to create their own safe drinking water, making crisis response more effective and sustainable.

💡Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common and deadly illness caused by drinking contaminated water, particularly in developing regions or during disasters. Pritchard uses this term to underscore the human cost of the global water crisis, noting that half of his audience would suffer from diarrhea if they drank untreated water. The Lifesaver bottle is presented as a solution to prevent such waterborne illnesses.

💡Millennium goals

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a set of global objectives established by the United Nations to address major challenges like poverty, hunger, and access to clean water. Pritchard mentions that his invention could help achieve the goal of halving the number of people without access to safe drinking water, underscoring the broader social impact of the Lifesaver technology in meeting global development targets.

💡Point-of-use water treatment

Point-of-use water treatment refers to the process of purifying water directly at the place where it is consumed, without the need for extensive infrastructure like pipelines. The Lifesaver bottle and jerry can are examples of point-of-use systems, enabling individuals to purify local water sources rather than relying on centralized water treatment facilities. This concept challenges traditional thinking about how to address water scarcity.

💡Mother Nature's water cycle

Mother Nature's water cycle is the natural process by which water evaporates, condenses, and falls back to Earth as rain, replenishing rivers, lakes, and streams. Pritchard emphasizes how nature provides water in abundance near human settlements, and all that's needed is a way to sterilize it. By leveraging this natural system through technologies like the Lifesaver bottle, he suggests a more efficient solution to the global water crisis.

Highlights

Introduction to the topic of water safety and statistics on water-related illnesses.

The problem of unsafe water seems too large to solve, leading governments and aid agencies to 'switch off.'

The speaker references watching the aftermath of the 2004 Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, which sparked the idea to create a solution.

The invention of the Lifesaver bottle was driven by frustration over inadequate responses to natural disasters.

Comparison between traditional hand filters (200 nanometers) and the Lifesaver filter (15 nanometers), which prevents even the smallest viruses from passing through.

Demonstration of the Lifesaver bottle using contaminated water from local rivers mixed with waste products.

The Lifesaver bottle provides sterile water after simple pumping, offering a practical solution in crisis situations.

The bottle lasts for 6,000 liters, and when it expires, it shuts off automatically, ensuring user safety.

Traditional methods of providing safe water during crises are inefficient and can perpetuate disease spread in camps.

By shipping Lifesaver bottles instead of water, people can stay in their homes and make their own clean water.

The speaker explains how using natural processes to provide water is more cost-effective than building infrastructure.

Introduction of the Lifesaver jerry can, capable of processing 25,000 liters of water for a family of four over three years.

The cost of using the Lifesaver jerry can is about half a cent a day, making it a sustainable solution for families.

With $8 billion, the global goal of halving the number of people without safe drinking water can be achieved.

For $20 billion, the entire world could have access to safe drinking water, saving millions of lives each year.

Transcripts

Good morning everybody.

I'd like to talk about a couple of things today.

The first thing is water.

Now I see you've all been enjoying the water

that's been provided for you here at the conference,

over the past couple of days.

And I'm sure you'll feel that it's from a safe source.

But what if it wasn't?

What if it was from a source like this?

Then statistics would actually say

that half of you would now be suffering

with diarrhea.

I talked a lot in the past about statistics,

and the provision of safe drinking water for all.

But they just don't seem to get through.

And I think I've worked out why.

It's because, using current thinking,

the scale of the problem

just seems too huge to contemplate solving.

So we just switch off:

us, governments and aid agencies.

Well, today, I'd like to show you

that through thinking differently,

the problem has been solved.

By the way, since I've been speaking,

another 13,000 people around the world

are suffering now with diarrhea.

And four children have just died.

I invented Lifesaver bottle

because I got angry.

I, like most of you, was sitting down, the day after Christmas in 2004,

when I was watching the devastating news

of the Asian tsunami as it rolled in,

playing out on TV.

The days and weeks that followed,

people fleeing to the hills,

being forced to drink contaminated water

or face death.

That really stuck with me.

Then, a few months later,

Hurricane Katrina slammed into the side of America.

"Okay," I thought, "here's a First World country, let's see what they can do."

Day one: nothing.

Day two: nothing.

Do you know it took five days to get water to the Superdome?

People were shooting each other on the streets

for TV sets and water.

That's when I decided I had to do something.

Now I spent a lot of time in my garage, over the next weeks and months,

and also in my kitchen -- much to the dismay of my wife. (Laughter)

However, after a few failed prototypes,

I finally came up with this, the Lifesaver bottle.

Okay, now for the science bit.

Before Lifesaver, the best hand filters were only capable

of filtering down to about 200 nanometers.

The smallest bacteria is about 200 nanometers.

So a 200-nanometer bacteria

is going to get through a 200-nanometer hole.

The smallest virus, on the other hand,

is about 25 nanometers.

So that's definitely going to get through those 200 nanometer holes.

Lifesaver pores are 15 nanometers.

So nothing is getting through.

Okay, I'm going to give you a bit of a demonstration.

Would you like to see that?

I spent all the time setting this up, so I guess I should.

We're in the fine city of Oxford.

So -- someone's done that up.

Fine city of Oxford, so what I've done is I've gone

and got some water from the River Cherwell,

and the River Thames,

that flow through here. And this is the water.

But I got to thinking, you know,

if we were in the middle of a flood zone

in Bangladesh, the water wouldn't look like this.

So I've gone and got some stuff to add into it.

And this is from my pond.

(Sniffs) (Coughs) Have a smell of that, mister cameraman.

Okay. (Laughs) Right.

We're just going to pour that in there.

Audience: Ugh!

Michael Pritchard: Okay. We've got some runoff

from a sewage plant farm.

So I'm just going to put that in there.

(Laughter)

Put that in there. There we go.

(Laughter)

And some other bits and pieces, chuck that in there.

And I've got a gift here from a friend of mine's rabbit.

So we're just going to put that in there as well.

(Laughter)

Okay. (Laughter) Now.

The Lifesaver bottle works really simply.

You just scoop the water up.

Today I'm going to use a jug

just to show you all. Let's get a bit of that poo in there.

That's not dirty enough. Let's just stir that up a little bit.

Okay, so I'm going to take this really filthy water,

and put it in here. Do you want a drink yet?

(Laughter)

Okay. There we go.

Replace the top.

Give it a few pumps. Okay?

That's all that's necessary.

Now as soon as I pop the teat,

sterile drinking water is going to come out.

I've got to be quick. Okay, ready?

There we go. Mind the electrics.

That is safe, sterile drinking water.

(Applause)

Cheers.

(Applause)

There you go Chris.

(Applause)

What's it taste of?

Chris Anderson: Delicious.

Michael Pritchard: Okay.

Let's see Chris's program throughout the rest of the show. Okay?

(Laughter)

Okay. Lifesaver bottle is used by thousands of people around the world.

It'll last for 6,000 liters.

And when it's expired, using failsafe technology,

the system will shut off, protecting the user.

Pop the cartridge out. Pop a new one in.

It's good for another 6,000 liters.

So let's look at the applications.

Traditionally, in a crisis, what do we do?

We ship water.

Then, after a few weeks, we set up camps.

And people are forced to come into the camps to get their safe drinking water.

What happens when 20,000 people congregate in a camp?

Diseases spread. More resources are required.

The problem just becomes self-perpetuating.

But by thinking differently,

and shipping these,

people can stay put.

They can make their own sterile drinking water,

and start to get on with rebuilding their homes and their lives.

Now, it doesn't require a natural disaster

for this to work.

Using the old thinking, of national infrastructure

and pipe work, is too expensive.

When you run the numbers on a calculator,

you run out of noughts.

So here is the "thinking different" bit.

Instead of shipping water,

and using man-made processes to do it,

let's use Mother Nature. She's got a fantastic system.

She picks the water up from there,

desalinates it, for free, transports it over there,

and dumps it onto the mountains, rivers, and streams.

And where do people live? Near water.

All we've go to do

is make it sterile. How do we do that?

Well, we could use the Lifesaver bottle.

Or we could use one of these.

The same technology, in a jerry can.

This will process 25,000 liters of water;

that's good enough for a family of four,

for three years.

And how much does it cost?

About half a cent a day to run.

Thank you.

(Applause)

So, by thinking differently, and processing water

at the point of use,

mothers and children no longer have to walk four hours a day

to collect their water.

They can get it from a source nearby.

So with just eight billion dollars,

we can hit the millennium goal's target

of halving the number of people

without access to safe drinking water.

To put that into context,

The U.K. government spends about 12 billion pounds

a year on foreign aid.

But why stop there?

With 20 billion dollars, everyone can have access to safe drinking water.

So the three-and-a-half billion people

that suffer every year as a result,

and the two million kids that die every year,

will live.

Thank you.

(Applause)