A Clean Bag of Water

Friday, June 26, 2015

It weighs no more than 11 ounces, fits easily into a backpack and looks like any other plastic bag.

But the simple device is a life-saver for people who have no access to clean drinking water.

The bag, called Fieldtrate Lite, filters dirty water, such as river water, through a membrane and turns it into potable water in the same time it would take to run it from the tap.

It is the brainchild of Singapore start-up WateROAM, which designs portable water filtration systems for use in disaster relief operations or among rural communities without access to clean water.

The social enterprise, set up last August, is run by four young people – Mr David Pong, 26, Mr Lim Chong Tee, 24, Mr Vincent Loka, 22, and Mr Pooi Ching Kwek, 27. They were schoolmates at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Mr Pong, WateROAM’s chief executive, said: “Our vision is to build a world where no man shall face prolonged thirst.”

The Singaporean, who has a degree in business administration, added: “In the areas we went to, such as Phnom Penh and Bintan, we saw kids stunted in growth from not having proper nutrients and clean drinking water.

Source: USA Today (link opens in a new window)

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Agriculture
Tags
social enterprise