LifeSaver Jerrycan purifies 5 gallons of water for drinking and showering

The LIFESAVER Jerrycan is a large water purification jug that could be of great use to everyone from campers to inhabitants of remote villages. The Jerrycan incorporates a built-in filtration system which can purify 18.5 liters (4.9 gallons) of water at a time, along with an integrated shower attachment that lets you use the water for cleaning as well as drinking.

We've seen numerous water purification systems here at Gizmag, but usually they filter small amounts of water at a time. In fact, the original LIFESAVER bottle fits this description, as does the Lifestraw and Camelbak All Clear Bottle. On the other end of the spectrum, we've seen some devices capable of transporting large quantities of water, but they don't necessarily filter or purify the water.

The Jerrycan does both.

Essentially a bulk version of the LIFESAVER bottle, the Jerrycan uses the same filtration technology to zap 99.999995 percent of bacteria, 99.999 percent of viruses and "all other microbiological waterborne pathogens," leaving you with 5 gallons of clean, potable water. LIFESAVER also says that its activated carbon can cut down on chemical residue, such as pesticides and heavy metals, but users would certainly be better off avoiding potentially contaminated water sources altogether.

The Jerrycan has some clear utility in first-world terms – purifying bulk amounts of water during camping trips and military missions, for instance – but its real potential seems to lie in meeting third-world needs. The jug can serve as a water transport and cleaning system in rural areas that lack access to clean tap water. It may not be quite as transportation-friendly as the Hipporoller, but its combination of bulk transport and purification capabilities are certainly of value to those that lack access to clean water. LIFESAVER has worked to distribute the Jerrycan in remote villages and disaster areas in places like Malaysia, Haiti and Sierra Leone.

The Jerrycan's replaceable filtration elements are rated at 10,000 liters (2,641 gallons) or 20,000 liters (5,283 gallons), meaning users can fill the can about 540 times or 1,080 times before replacement is necessary. So that Jerrycan users don't have to keep track of those hundreds of uses, the filter itself lets you know when it's nearing the end of its useful life. As it nears the end of its lifecycle, more pumping is required to push water through, and when it officially expires, no water is able to be pumped.

The JerryCan includes a water spout for filling smaller bottles and cups, and LIFESAVER offers a shower attachment. The Jerrycan launched a few years ago and is available starting at £170 pounds (approx. US$260) The shower attachment, which was new to LIFESAVER's product range last summer, is available on its own for £24.99 ($38) or as part of the £305 ($468) Family Survival Pack.

Source: LIFESAVER via Uncrate