THE RAKYAT POST
 
Fancy turning raw water into safe drinkable water as and when you need them while getting a good workout?
 
An invention by Japan’s Nippon Basic Co Ltd called CycloClean allows people to do that by just investing on a bicycle.
 
Nippon Basic’s founder Yuichi Katsuura said his company assembled a bicycle with water purifying equipment that helps turn raw water into clean water by just pedalling the bicycle.
 
“One hour of cycling can produce about 300 to 360 litres of clean water — enough for 150 people — but that depends on your pedalling power.”
 
What makes the invention better is that it requires no electricity.
 
In fact, it generates electricity to run the invention and serves as a perfect solution for rural villages with power problems.
 
CycloClean is also portable and handy during a power outage or natural disasters when other water purification facilities and sources running on electricity are unusable.
 
The bicycle also includes puncture-free tyres with the pump and hoses housed in an attache case-like box on the rear carrier.
 
Three filter cartridges are fitted around the rear wheel.
 
Katsuura said even river water would be clean and safe to drink after a few “cycles” of the CycloClean.
 
“Only waste water and sea water cannot be cleaned with this equipment.”
 
“Otherwise, all sources of water without arsenic, can be purified and this includes water from swimming pools, lakes, rain and wells,” said Katsuura as he provided The Rakyat Post an insight into the invention and its mechanics.
 
The Rakyat Post was among eight media representative from Asia that were invited to Japan under the Japan Foreign Press Centre Fellowship Programme to learn about the country’s sustainable initiatives and technology.


 
“Watching it work it sparks curiosity among children so it also educates them on cleaning processes and increases their awareness on the importance of water sanitation,” said Katsuura
 
Katsuura, a water-purifying specialist said the cost of CycloClean varies according to countries.
 
“One that is assembled in Japan cost up to US$5,500 (RM18,400) but if it is assembled in Bangladesh, it would cost only half the price, even if most spare parts are from Japan,” he said, adding that the company has managed to sell over 200 units to date.
 
The company has also invented another machine that can produce clean drinking water from seawater, but that is a gasoline powered machine.
 
Bangladesh project
 
New CycloClean was introduced in Dhaka City, Bangladesh through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to provide clean water supply to the locals.
 
It is also aimed at improving sanitation and health of the local people there.
 
According to the company, Bangladesh has around 60 million people without clean drinking water.
 
In April 2013, the company was given the approval by the Bangladeshi government to sell water produced by New CycloClean to the locals.