WHY HIPPO?

The Problem:

For many of us, clean water comes with the twist of a faucet. But for 1 in 6 people, access to water requires hard work: hours of walking, waiting in line and heavy lifting.

The time spent fulfilling this basic need keeps many children out of school and prevents women from carrying out all the domestic and income generating work for which they are responsible. In rural Africa, it is often necessary to walk five miles (8km) or more every day to fetch water. In the dry season, it is not uncommon to walk twice this distance. Collecting water can be dangerous too. The traditional method of carrying water - carrying a 5 gallon (20 liter) water bucket on the head - can severely damage the spine, causing severe pain and even leading to complications during childbirth. In some countries, walking to find water exposes people to the dangers of land mines.

Many aid and charitable organizations are working hard to provide wells close to communities. But all too often, a lack of maintenance, mechanical failures and fuel shortages make these safe water sources inoperable. And during the dry season, wells are often unable to reach the water source for months at a time. As a result, women and children must collect water from ditches and streams that are usually shared with animals and teeming with pathogens. In developing countries, 4/5 of all illnesses are caused by water-borne diseases like dysentery and diarrhea, a leading cause of childhood death. Households headed by children and grandparents caring for their grandchildren have a particularly hard time meeting their water needs on a daily basis, increasing their risk for disease.

The Solution:

The Hippo Water Roller Project aims to improve global access to water by making it possible to collect 24 gallons (90 liters) of water- five times the amount possible using traditional methods - in less time and much more easily. The Hippo's innovative design allows water to be placed inside its "wheel," transforming 200 pounds (90 kg) of water to an effective weight of just 22 pounds (10 kg). This means that almost anyone can easily manage a full roller over most types of terrain.

A single Hippo carries enough water to meet the basic needs of 5 people per day. Access to sufficient water enables people to practice better hygiene and stay healthy. The Hippo is manufactured from a high quality durable plastic and has a large screw cap, which allows users to thoroughly clean the inside. This is a large improvement on the toxic, re-purposed gasoline and paint containers that are typically used to collect water. In addition, Hippos make it possible for families and schools to collect enough water to grow their own vegetables using a technique known as drip irrigation. Education about water purification, good hygiene strategies and drip irrigation are all components of the Hippo Water Roller Project.

Fewer trips to collect water means women and children can spend more time on productive educational and economic activities. In addition, men are proud to be seen using a Hippo Roller, and many have assumed the role of water carrier for their families.

The daily burden of water collection undermines productivity, limits educational opportunities and traps households in poverty. The Hippo Water Roller is one of the few strategies that focuses specifically on reducing the social, economic and health consequences of carrying heavy loads of water over long distances.

The work of Hippo Roller International is made possible by a dedicated team of volunteers. Click here to find out about how you can help us make Hippos available throughout the world.