A purifying water bottle, that cleans itself and the water you pour into it with the touch of a button, has just been shortlisted for a major design award.
The Larq self-cleaning water bottle was today named a winner in the Dezeen Awards 2019. Now in its second year, the awards recognise the most innovative architecture, interiors and design projects in the world. This year, the awards received over 4500 entries from more than 80 countries and this nifty little water bottle bagged the top prize in the product design category.
Reusable water bottles, when left unwashed, are a breeding ground for bacteria such as e-coli and odour-causing microbes that leave a lingering bad scent around the mouth of the bottle. With this bottle though, that's not an issue because it cleans itself and the water you pour into it using UV light. The same technology that most hospitals use to sterilise surfaces.
A rechargeable e-purifier that beams UV-C light into your water (up to 525ml) every two hours. Designers say it can purge up to 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.99% of viruses when it’s set to its highest setting. When UV light is absorbed by the bacteria, the chemical bonds of its DNA break apart, killing them. And unlike most UV technology, Larq’s is mercury-free.
"We know that accessing pure water on-the-go and stinky bottles are the two primary pain points affecting one's adoption of reusable bottles," Lard co-founder Justin Wang told Dezeen. "Larq's proprietary UV-C LED technology is integrated into a beautifully designed product that delivers pure water from a self-cleaning bottle, and directly addresses these complaints."
The bottle is rechargeable via USB and one charge lasts about two months. It's also double-walled and vacuum sealed, so it can keep cold beverages cool and hot ones warm. It's available in five colours for an eye-watering price of £95 (US$122) per bottle. The Larq water bottle launched in the US in October 2018 and in the UK in June 2019, following a successful crowdfunding campaign where the company managed to raise US$1.7 million.
