A clear winner
Device to purify water demonstrated
Rotarian John Brown paid more than just lip service when he flagged up a lifesaving initative.
At Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Rotary Club on Thursday, John spoke on the Rotary-associated innovation Aquabox.
But he went a step further by showing how it filters dirty water to make it safe for drinking - then gulped some down for himself.
The Aquabox initiative has helped to save lives in disaster areas, and in other areas where clean water is not accessible.
John gave a practical demonstration of the efficiency of the AquaFilter by using one to provide drinking water from a container of dirty water. To prove his point he then drank the product, and some members of the club joined him to confirm its purity.
The charity and community project was originally set up and managed by the Rotary Club of Wirksworth to provide access to safe drinking water through use of high technology water filtration units.
Club spokesperson Peter Holmes said: “John gave an excellent presentation. The work of those providing Aquaboxes was a superb demonstration of Rotary at work.
“While people can manage for a time without food and shelter, early access to safe drinking water is vital for survival.
“Aquabox responds to this need by dispatching its AquaFilters and other elements of humanitarian aid. Operated entirely by volunteers, the team works closely with selected aid agencies and distribution partners to ensure that Aquaboxes reach those most in need. Central to the Aquabox, which costs £150, is the AquaFilter which, although hi-tech, is simple to use.
“The family unit can purify a litre of dirty water per minute and, over its working life, provide half a million litres of clean drinking water. A larger version of the family AquaFilter is the Community Filter that can purify 360 litres an hour.
“Since its formation in 1992, Aquabox has sent more than 110,000 aid boxes to more than 50 countries around the world, helping hundreds of thousands of people in times of crisis.
“An important point made by John was that, in the context of current concern about the effects of plastic on the environment, rather than the current policy of supplying water by way of plastic bottles, Aquafilters could be used to provide drinking water.”
In terms of support which the public can give, John said donations of knitted garments for children aged up to three are welcomed, as are donations of money which can be made on the website: www. aquabox.org.