LifeStraw Community

Design specification of LifeStraw Community includes:

• Filtration technology: 0.02 micron membrane ultrafilter cartridge
• Purifier lifetime: 25,000 gallons (100,000 liters)
• Flow Rate:12 liters/hour
• Food grade materials (US FDA 21 CFR standards)
• Total capacity: 50 liters (13 gallons)
• Weight: 17lbs (8kgs) (without water)
• Size (assembled): 22.’’ x 22.’’ x 33.5 ‘’
• Size (box): 22.4’’ x 22.4’’ x 24.4‘’
• Replaceable purification cartridge
• All parts are recyclable

The operational procedure of LifeStraw Filter:

1. 25 liters of untreated water is poured into the top of the unit, also called the dirty water container
2. The pre-filter removes coarse particles larger than 0.080 mm
3. The hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane cartridge then stops all suspended particles and pathogens larger than 20 nanometres (including all bacteria, viruses, and protozoan cysts).
4. Particles and microbes larger than 20 nanometres stay on the dirty side of the membrane and clean/purified water passes through the membrane
5. Purified water can be collected from any of the four taps
6. The backwashing handle allows semiautomatic backwashing; when it is pulled down and released, pathogens and dust particles on the dirty side of the membrane are lifted by backpressure and then flushed out into the red backwash container

There is no technical support provided and users are expected to maintain the product on their own. However, LifeStraw has available a user’s manual, a Water Resource Guide, and online videos detailing the appropriate use of this product.

The product includes a 1-year warranty and has an expected lifetime of 2-3 years with the total filtration capacity of 70,000 – 100,000 liters before replacement.

Water quality testing performed by WHO determined 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.999 % of viruses, and 99.99% of protozoan cysts removal.

No known safety hazards are related to this product. However, users must be cautious by avoiding cross-contamination of the clean water container and should not consume water from the back flush area.