Need Safe Drinking Water? There’s a Straw for That

What started in 1994 as a way to filter a specific type of worm larvae from contaiminated water has grown into a lightweight portable water purification system which allows those without access to safe drinking water to drink directly from streams, lakes, or any container by removing almost all waterbourne bacteria from the source, including E. coli, salmonella, and waterborne protozoa. 

LifeStraw, a small, 23-centimeter tube, uses a hollow fiber membrane micro filtration with a 0.2 micron pore size. “This means that dirty water goes into the LifeStraw, microorganizsms are physically removed and safe drinking water comes out,” the product’s FAQ section explains. This straw-style device can filter up to 1,000 liters of water, all without the use of chemicals and without requiring batteries.  

Dubbed one of “10 Life Saving Gadgets Everyone Should Know About” by Interesting Engineering, LifeStraw meets US EPA drinking water standards, and the product’s raw materials meet US Food and Drug Administration regulations and standards. While LifeStraw isn’t capable of removing chemicals, salt water, heavy metals or viruses, the company offers another product that is capable of filtering out viruses.   

In addition to providing a safe and easy to use tool for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, as well as disaster and emergency relief responders, LifeStraw also founded ‘Follow the Liters’, which is an ongoing program where a portion of the funds acquired through consumers’ purchases of LifeStraw filters and purifiers are used to distribute community water purifers to primary schools in developing communities that don’t have access to safe drinking water.