For
most of us, access to clean water is just a turn of the tap away, but
in many developing countries women and children are often tasked with
fetching water and carrying it considerable distances in containers -
often on their heads. Aside from the strain this places on the neck and
back, these containers can be discarded jerry cans and buckets that
originally carried fuel, oils, pesticides, paints and other chemicals
that you wouldn’t want mixed with your drinking water. The WaterWear is a
collapsible backpack designed to overcome these problems
The result of a partnership between Greif, a manufacturer of industrial
packaging products, and Impact Economics, the WaterWear pack holds up to
20 liters (5.3 US gal) of water. While this is much less than the 75.7
liter (20 gal) capacity Hipporoller, the collapsible backpack form
factor makes the WaterWear pack easier to store and transport over
uneven terrain.
Constructed from lightweight and durable industrial grade woven
polypropylene, it features adjustable straps, a base that allows it to
stand on its own while being filled, and a roll top that makes it easy
to remove the liner for cleaning. There is also a protected spout on the
rear of the pack to keep the water clean for drinking and hand washing.
According to Greif, women and children in developing countries travel an
average of 3.5 miles (5.6 km) a day collecting water and carrying it to
their homes. With a design that allows it to be worn like a backpack,
the WaterWear provides a faster and more ergonomic way to transport
water, while also keeping it clean. There is also a 15-liter hybrid
WaterWear pack that can be worn as a backpack or carried on the head. It
is hoped that assembly and decoration of the packs and distribution and
sales of liners could also provide business opportunities in
communities in which they are used.
Aside from the obvious benefits for those in developing countries, the
WaterWear packs can also be distributed quickly in the event of
disasters. Some 2,000 WaterWear packs have already been distributed in
Haiti as part of on-site field-testing and there are plans for wider
distribution in developing countries in the future.
The Back the Pack initiative hopes to distribute 100,000 packs by
September 3, 2012 and you can help them realize that goal by donating
via the Back the Pack website.
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