LifeSaver Cube

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$124.95

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Lifesaver directly through its online page and response to disaster events in collaboration with organizations such Oxfam and the UK Department for International Development.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include VF 100 Village Bucket Filter, WateROAM ROAMfilter Plus, LifeWell Water Filter, ACI Household Filter, WateROAM ROAMfilter Lite, AquaFilter Family, TATA Swach Cristella Plus Water Purifier, LifeStraw Family 2.0, EAWAG System, and TATA Swach Smart.

Manufacturing/Building Method

Manufactured by LifeSaver in the UK.

Intellectural Property Type

Patent

User Provision Model

Users can obtain the product from online distributors and the manufacturer's webpage. Icon LifeSaver also works with international organizations, charities, and governments including DFID & Oxfam to help distribute Lifesaver technology.

Distributions to Date Status

2,300 units have been distributed by Oxfam in South Sudan as of August 30, 2016.

Design Specifications

The LifeSaver Cube is designed to be portable and robust. The water is forced through the 15-nanometer filter via pressurization produced with a built-in hand pump in the cap. The activated carbon filter for chemical residuals is designed to filter 100 liters and will last 1 month. According to the instruction manual, the membrane cartridge has FailsafeTM technology that prevents any water from passing through the filter once it has reached the end of its service life.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Contact the manufacturer

Replacement Components

Activated carbon filters and membrane filter cartridges are available from the manufacturer.

Lifecycle

All parts are replaceable with a maximum membrane cartridge lifespan of 5,000 liters or 4.5 years for a family of 5 filtering 3 L of water per day. At the end of the life of the membrane cartridge, no water will flow and a replacement cartridge is required. The LifeSaver Cube includes a 2-year international warranty.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

The filter is designed to filter 5,000 L  under conditions with low turbidity while removing 99.99% of viruses, 99.9999% of bacteria, and 99.9% of cysts.

Vetted Performance Status

The Cube was evaluated by BCS laboratories for virus, bacteria, and cyst reduction. Oxfam field tested the Cube and reported on logistics of distribution, ease of use, and design drawbacks as experienced in South Sudan.

Safety

No specific known safety risks. Potential hazards include the consumption of unsafe water that can lead to gastrointestinal problems due failure to follow use and maintenance instructions of the user manual.

Complementary Technical Systems

Also a pre-filter is recommended for turbid water, as increasing turbidity lowers the flow rate of the Cube to 0.5 L/min and lower at greater than 5 NTU. Safe water storage container for treated water and optional activated carbon filter to remove chlorine, taste and odor.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

Meets an adaptation of NSF Protocol 231 for microbiological water filters based on recommendations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Evaluation methods

Filters have been tested by a third-party in the laboratory and Oxfam in the field for Bacteriophage MS2 (ATCC 15597-B),Bacteria Raoultella terrigena, MS-2 Bacteriophage, and Fluorescent microspheres.

Other Information

Lifesaver Cube User Manual. Lifesaver has other products including the Lifesaver bottle, emergency preparedness packs, Lifesaver jerrycan, and Lifesaver C2.