PATH’s prototype water filter for household water treatment

In collaboration with outdoor equipment manufacturer Cascade Designs, Inc. (CDI) and India-based design consultant Quicksand, PATH worked to design a prototype HWTS device specifically for the developing-world consumer. Proper assembly and use of the device can be figured out without prior knowledge or experience with water treatment products or practices. The size, shape, and physical appearance of the device are both appropriate and appealing. It meets the water consumption needs of low-income households, and it is a device that consumers aspire to have in their home. There is no chemical smell or taste in the treated water, and the cleaning of the device—a common practice in the developing world for household goods—can be done effectively with hands and fingers. [authors abstract]