LifeStraw is a water filter designed to be used by one person to filter water for drinking . It filters a maximum of 4000 litres of water , enough for one person for three years . It removes almost all of waterborne bacteria and parasites . In addition to the classic LifeStraw , the manufacturer also produces other styles on the LifeStraw product : the LifeStraw Family , a larger unit designed for family use , and the LifeStraw Go Water Bottle , which incorporates a LifeStraw filter into a plastic sports water bottle . The LifeStraw water filters are designed by the Swiss-based Vestergaard Frandsen . While originally developed for people living in developing nations and for distribution in humanitarian crisis , the LifeStraw has gained popularity as a consumer product . The LifeStraw is now used as a tool for survivalists and packed in emergency preparedness kits in addition to being used to help combat clean water scarcity worldwide . LifeStraw personal filters can provide clean water for up to a year , and the LifeStraw Family filters a maximum of 18,000 litres of water , providing safe drinking water for a family of five for up to three years . LifeStraw and LifeStraw Family were distributed in the 2010 Haiti earthquake , 2010 Pakistan floods , 2011 Thailand floods , and 2016 Ecuador earthquake , among other crises and initiatives . In the Mutomo District in Kenya which has suffered from long term drought , the Kenya Red Cross supplied filters to 3,750 school children and 6,750 households . In 2015 , LifeStraw filters were deployed in Rwanda
2010 Pakistan floods
2010 Pakistan floods
LifeStraw