[Stoves] Drinking straw that eliminates the need to cut any firewood at all

[Andrew C. Parker]

Interesting.  Things have certainly improved since I last researched this  
sort of stuff, about 15 years ago.  It took some digging on their site  
before I found any meaningful information, but it is there.  I would tend  
to agree with the Stanford article.

Filter membranes are expensive and finicky.  The Family unit requires a  
replaceable (refillable?) chlorine cartridge to keep biofilm from fouling  
the membrane.  Many reverse osmosis systems also require that feed water  
be softened because of the risk of hard water deposits fouling the  
membrane.  I do not know if this microfiltration design suffers the same  
problem.

An additional concern is that there are some things LifeStraw does not  
filter that can do harm.  Water ought to be tested for heavy metals and  
toxins before people are told that microfiltration will give them healthy  
water.

Membrane filters certainly have their place, but successful use requires  
training and an understanding of how it works, what it can and cannot do,  
and the ability to test the water regularly to assure that everything is  
still working.

Saying that, if someone wants to give these away, fine, but it is only a  
short term solution.

Another problem is that treated water is only part of the equation.   
Hygiene is a major factor. Dirty hands and dirty vessels nullify the  
benefits of the treated water.

I agree that point-of-use treatment is a major benefit in developing  
countries (and a few developed ones as well.  Even in metropolitan areas  
with conventional treated water systems the distribution systems (mostly  
low-pressure) are often compromised by illegal perforations and bad  
plumbing that allow siphoning of contaminants into the system.  My in-laws  
in Ecuador always boil their drinking and cooking water (Ecuador  
subsidizes propane for cooking, so no wood or charcoal is burned), and  
some people boil bath and laundry water as well (after bath/shower  
disinfectants are a big seller).  It is nice to have clear water from the  
tap, when it works, but by the time it reaches the customer, it may still  
appear clear but has been contaminated with who knows what.


Andrew Parker