__NOTOC__<small-title />[[Image:LifeStraw Family.jpg|thumb|right|150px200px|LifeStraw Family version]]
LifeStraw® Family is a point-of-use instant microbiological purifier that allows people to create their own homemade drinking water. The process of filtration begins when dirty water is poured into the pre-filter bucket. The 27 micron pre-filter removes coarser turbidity. At the bottom of the bucket, there is a halogen chamber that releases minimal chlorine to prevent the formation of biofilm on the membrane. Simple gravity forces the water through a tube and into the purification cartridge, which contains millions of tiny pores called capillary membranes (ultrafiltration, pore size of 20 nanometres) that retain bacteria, viruses, parasites and fine particles. Subsequently, clean and safe water is then ready to flow from the attached blue tap. The average flow rate is 8 - 10 litres/hour. As tested at the University of Arizona, the initial flow rate is 12-19 litres/hour. It decreases to 6-8 litres/hour when the filter reaches its 18.000 litre capacity. In this test, the water is contaminated with turbidity and organic carbon.
===Suitable conditions===
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center"
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! width="50%" style="background:#efefef;" | Advantages
! style="background:#ffdeadf0f8ff;" | Disadvantages
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| valign="top" | - High flow rate with instant access to clean water <br>
===Construction, operations and maintenance===[[Image:LifeStraw Family use.jpg|thumb|right|150px200px|Woman using LifeStraw Family to purify water]]
Complete instructions for operation and maintenance are provided with the product.
It filters a minimum of 18.000 litres of water. The calculated lifespan is 3 years, based on the consumption of 10-15 litres/day which is an average size family of seven in sub-Saharan Africa (an adult man consumes up to 3 litres/day, an adult woman drinks at least 2 litres/day, and 5 children, each drinks 1 litre/day). This amount includes other consideration like increased water intake by pregnant/lactating women as well as manual labour in high temperatures.
===Costs===
{{Treatment_Cost2
|CapCost= US$20 = €14,3/unit (purchase up to 500 units) <br>US$17 = €12,1/unit (purchase between 500 and 3000 units)
}}
==Acknowledgements=Supplier===* [http://www.vestergaard.com/our-products/lifestraw Vestergaard - LifeStraw]