Hippo Water Rollers

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Hippo Water Rollers
by Rosa Domingos \| 15-03-2018 20:18 0
When one thinks of hippos, what comes to mind is water - and plenty of it! But it is also a resource that many have to ho to the ends of the world to find. To combat this, a project was created called the "Hippo Water Roller". This initiative was formed to bring much needed and easrier water to impoverished communities. There are more that 1 billion people around the world who don't have access to running water and are forced to travel long distances in order to access what is the most basic of human needs. Women and children are usually the ones who have the responsibility to walk to their nearest river or borehole to collect water, and then carry the buckets back to their homes - these bucket can have a mean weight of up to 20kg - over harsh terrain. This project aims to help people living in rural and informal settlements with Hippo Water Rollers, which are water containers that are capable of containing or moving 90 litres of water with less effort than the conventional 20 litre containers that are largely in use. The Hippo Water Roller was cdesigned in 1991 by South Africans Pittie Petzer and Johan Jonker. It was then implemented by Grant Gibbs from Imvubu Projects. The Roller container is a system made up from a large cylindrical container made from UV-stabilised polyethylene. The container is then attached to a rigid steel handle which effectively turns the drum into a large wheel that could either be pushed or pulled along the ground with relative ease when laid on its side. This, in turn, reduces that strain and likehood of them sustaining neck and spinal injuries, given that the people collecting water don't have to carry the container on their heads. Apart from The ease of movement, the Hippo Water Roller also has a large lid that create a water tight seal that allows for easy filling and hygienic storage, as well as access to the inside of the container for cleaning. There are still many people struggling to get the water they need on a daily basis and this technology has the potential to drastically reduce the amount of time and energy that these people use everyday. Imvubu Projects wishes to take this initiative further and appeal to the public and the organizations to help to help persue their goal of reaching as many people in need as possible. If anyone is interested in partnering with Imvubu Projects or learning more about who they are and what they do can log onto their website http://www.hipporoller.org or contact them via email through contacts hippo@roller.org

Dormant user Rosa Domingos

7 Comments

Horticulturist Susmita says :
Greetings rosa
I hope you are doing well

Thank you so much for this report
Keep writing

Green cheers
Regards
Sus
Posted 15-03-2020 16:32

Joon Ho Mentor says :
Hello Rosa, thanks for always sharing news about interesting tools!
Last time, I saw you introduced 'life straw' and 'uv covered water purifiers'! Am I right?

As Gyeongrin mentor said, though it was simply replacing its main transporting way, it reduced its burden for people who handle it.
Lifestraw was also a tool that it just kept its function away from the fixed, big water purifier on the corner of school and public offices.

Please introduce more marvelous and interesting tools or kits to us next time too!

Posted 18-03-2018 11:20

Gyeongrin mentor says :
Hello, Rosa~
Your report always gives me a new viewpoint about environmental issues, great insight!
In physics, we learn about F=MA and everything about newton etc, but without the interest in actual real life problems stemming from environmental issues, one cannot come up with such a marvelous idea. By simply replacing the water bucket from our original holding position to a roller, it can reduce a lot of burden from people who have to attain water from distant places.
Likewise, I believe when tech is coalesced with a deep interest in these issues we will be able to help more people worldwide!
Thanks for sharing great news about 'Hippo Water Roller'!!
Well written report:)
Posted 17-03-2018 12:54

Rosa Domingos says :
Yes, you're right Dewi. It has been tested countless times and has been found to be rigid on unfriendly terrains.
Posted 16-03-2018 21:03

Dewi R. Sulistyoningrum says :
It's indeed take less energy with Hippo Water Roller. The durability and material have to be strong though, because the road maybe rocky and such. Thanks for sharing this!
Posted 16-03-2018 11:26