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Effects Region and Country
Material
Energy
Africa
m2 Water Surface
South Africa
fields
the third cleaning stage mostly chemical removal of special
inorganic and non-degradable organic substances occurs.
All these cleaning processes require energy and or chemical
additives such as chlorine, which can be saved by using
these cleaning bags. If it is possible to replace central water
purification by these innovative bags, huge material efforts
due to the construction of a municipal water supply infrastructure
could be saved.
The local water purification in rural areas is often done by
boiling water. More than half the world´s population uses
fuels such as wood or kerosene for their fireplaces, which
are inefficient in nature. By using the “high-tech-bags” it
is possible to avoid the use of mentioned raw materials,
emissions resulting from the combustion, as well as the
expenses for transportation of freshwater and wastewater.
Barriers and Risks
Although the price of the bags appears to be very low for
consumers in industrialized countries, for the developing
countries it might be too high. Thus, a widespread, prevailed
usage may be prevented due to price of the bags.
Moreover it is unclear, whether all possible contaminants
of water, such as highly toxic chemicals, are being filtered.
In the end, the bags help the underprivileged, who have
to drink contaminated water every day and have no other
option. However, the bigger problem in many developing
countries is that there is no water available in the first place,
which cannot be solved by the cleaning bag.
Potentials
The potential of these cleaning bags lies in their ease of
use, especially in regions that are not easily accessible
and do not have proper water treatment facilities. About
three billion people suffer from an inadequate supply of
clean drinking water, which in developing countries constitutes
to the main cause of disease and deaths. Therefore,
the bags could have positive effects on the health of
many people. Other fields of application are both in leisure
activities such as hiking or camping and emergency
situations, where quick help is required, for example, after
earthquakes or for flood victims.
Further information
www.thehopeproject.co.za
www.southafrica.info (search for: Teabag)
www.eartheasy.com (search for: Teabag)
Stellenbosch University
Private Bag X1 Matieland
7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa
www.sun.ac.za
Ressourceneffizienzatlas
Resource Efficiency Atlas 33