ThirstPack

EXPO 2015
Bio21

Table of Contents
Abstract

About the Thirst Pack

Absence of Clean Water

Contaminated Water vs Clean Water

Physical Effects on Body

Organizations That Help With Water Supply

Works Cited

Abstract
The purpose of our project is to provide individuals with a safe way to stay hydrated if
they find themselves in a difficult situation in nature. There is a great lack of access to clean
drinking water around the world, and consuming unfiltered water is dangerous and can lead to
health complications, such as the contraction of waterborne diseases. We combined a straw filter
with a hydration pack to come up with the Thirstpack, an innovative solution to this major
worldwide problem. We created a three-dimensional model to demonstrate what the Thirstpack
looks like. In addition to assisting individuals, our innovation can benefit the conditions of many
places in need and lower the mortality rate, as well as improve the health and hygiene of
inhabitants.

About the ThirstPack

When natural disasters strike countries such as Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Haiti, and
Colombia relief workers are sent out to help with any issues the disaster might have caused. In
many of these countries, contaminated water is a common issue among the citizens and in order
to keep the relief workers healthy and safe when assisting the ill, our EXPO team created the
ThirstPack.
The ThirstPack is a small backpack that uses an embedded filter and straw to purify water
and eliminate pathogens. The ThirstPack uses EXPOs overall theme of balance by evening out
the amount of safe, drinkable water on the Earth. The theme of nature is incorporated by
installing clean and filtered water into the overall goal of the T-Pack. The cost of one ThirstPack
is fifty dollars in total. Our product is unique because it is eco friendly, lightweight and easy to
carry, and not only helps victims of natural disaster victims stay healthy, but the relief workers as
well.
Many people worldwide do not have access to drinkable water and this negatively affects
their daily lives. It is evident that a new addition to peoples lives such as the ThirstPack could
definitely beneficial. Seeing as the ThirstPack purifies water (eliminating pathogens), this new
product will not only be beneficial to relief workers, but to citizens who suffer from natural
disasters as well. Our product will shine a positive and bold light on the issues with drinkable
water in third world countries and how this major problem can be solved with one simple
backpack. ThirstPack, eliminating contaminated water one pack at a time!

The Absence of Clean Water Resources

About 11 percent of the worlds population does not have access to clean drinking water.
That means that about 783 million people are at risk of consuming contaminated water and more
than 850,000 of them die everyday. Out of the 7 billion people in the world, 9 million are without
access to safe, usable water in developed countries. In Latin America and the Caribbean, there
are 9 million people without access to water. In Africa, there are 358 million people; in South,
West, and Central Asia there are 180 million; and Oceania, and South and East Asia there are 186
million people, all without access to water.

Contaminated Water vs Clean Water

Drinking or using untreated water can be very dangerous, even fatal. There is the risk of
contracting diseases from exposure to impure water. Some of these waterborne illnesses include
amebiasis, viral gastroenteritis, cryptosporidiosis, cholera, E. coli, giardiasis, Hepatitis A,
legionellosis, salmonellosis, and an adenovirus infection. Most of these infections have
symptoms involving diarrhea and cramps.
Having a sudden access to clean drinking water can affect those who previously did not
have it greatly. This can ameliorate the conditions of many cities, countries and states that are in
need, such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Chad, Cambodia, and many more. These areas already have
a high percentage of the population that is in need of clean water and are currently affected by
the lack of it.
This can be a great change and improve countries overall health and hygiene, help
prevent bladder infections, diarrhea, starvation, and malaria, as well as lower the mortality rate in
these countries. An abrupt access of healthy drinking water would have a notably large impact on
the rural areas of South Africa without water in addition to the many other countries in need.

Physical Effects on Body

There are many women and children who are forced to walk miles each day, carrying
heavy supplies of water back to their home. This is not safe; the constant burden has unpleasant
physical effects on the body. These include sore muscles, body aches, weak bones, starvation,
dehydration, injuries, diarrhea, and risk of bladder infections. They are susceptible to sexual
assault and rape, and they are also not allowed to use the restroom if necessary. Additionally,
when people are sick due to unclean water, it can hinder them from being productive in other
aspects of their life, such as school, according to The Water Project.
Women and children in Africa and Asia have to walk an average of 6 kilometers (3.7
miles) just for water. On top of getting this water, the women must be caretakers for millions of
ill children with waterborne diseases. This exhausts them by a days worth of work. They must
do this daily. The climates in these areas have a huge effect on peoples access to water as well.
In southern Africa, the climate is semi arid, according to The United States Environmental
Protection Agency. Middle Asia also has a dry climate. Due to this, people become dehydrated
trying to find clean water. If people do not have enough water, their productivity is affected.

Organizations That Help With Water Supply

Project Humanity: http://projecthumanity.org/water-projects/
Objective: Project Humanity is currently working to provide 5,000 people access to clean
drinking water in northern Uganda. Our goal is to reduce the prevalence of waterborne disease in
children and vulnerable populations.
Where they work: Project Humanity is currently working to provide 5,000 people access to
clean drinking water in northern Uganda.
WaterAid: http://www.wateraid.org/us
Objective: WaterAid transforms lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation
in the world's poorest communities. We work with partners and influence decision-makers to
maximize our impact.
Where they work: East Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa, Nicaragua, Australia, Bangladesh,
Cambodia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste.
The Water Project: http://thewaterproject.org/
Objective: The Water Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization unlocking human
potential by providing sustainable water projects to communities in sub-Saharan Africa who
suffer needlessly from a lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation.
Where they work: Burkina Faso, Kenya, Uganda, and Sierra Leone.
Global Water: http://globalwater.org/
Objective: Founded in 1982, Global Water is a volunteer-based, international, non-profit
humanitarian organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in the United States. Were focused
on providing safe water supplies, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and related health programs
for rural villagers in developing countries.

Where they work:

Drop in the Bucket: http://www.dropinthebucket.org/
Objective: Our goal is to provide schools and communities with tools they need to improve
child health, increase school enrollment rates, and promote gender equality.
Where they work: We are based out of Los Angeles, but we spend most of our time working out
of our field offices in Uganda and South Sudan.
Charity: Water: http://www.charitywater.org/
Objective: Our mission is to bring clean and safe drinking water to every person in the world.
Where they work: Africa, Asia, and Central and South America.
Water to Thrive: https://www.watertothrive.org/
Objective: Water to Thrive is a faith-based non-profit dedicated to the mission of bringing
clean, safe water to those who need it in rural Africa.
Where they work: Ethiopia
Water is Life: http://waterislife.com/
Objective: WiL provides clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene education programs to
schools and villages in desperate need.
Where they work: India

Works Cited
"Charity: Water." Charity: Water. N.p.,02 Nov. 2010. Web. 01 Apr. 2015.
"PNG Health Statistics." |. N.p.,02 Dec. 2009. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.
"Billions Affected Daily by Water and Sanitation Crisis." Water.org. N.p.,10 Sept. 2013. Web. 25
Feb. 2015.
"WaterAid: Clean Water and Toilets for Africa,Asia and Central America." WaterAid America.
N.p.,Linda St. "World Water Day: 10 Places Most in Need of Clean Water." N.p.,n.d. Web. 01
Apr. 2015.
"10 Facts on Women and Water." Water for the Ages. N.p.,n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2015.
"Infection Immunocompromised Persons." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2015.
Cyr,n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.,n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
"ADHS." Waterborne Diseases. N.p.,n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
"Drop in the Bucket | Changing Lives with Clean Water Wells." Drop in the Bucket. N.p.,n.d.
Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
"Give Water - The Water Project." The Water Project. N.p.,n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
"Global Water." Global Water. N.p.,n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
"Homepage | WATER IS LIFE." Homepage | WATER IS LIFE. N.p.,n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
"Our Mission | Water to Thrive." Our Mission | Water to Thrive. N.p.,n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
"Water Projects - Project Humanity." Project Humanity RSS. N.p.,n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.
"Amebiasis." TheFreeDictionary.com. N.p.,n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.

10

"International Impacts & Adaptation." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency,n.d. Web. 29 Mar.
2015.
"Water In Crisis - Spotlight South Africa." The Water Project. N.p.