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.