The Hippo Water Roller was designed to help supply more water to those who need it. It’s a barrel shaped container manufactured from UV stabilized Pollyethylene and holds 90 liters of water (or 20 gallons). It has a large screw on cap, is easy to clean and was designed to handle rough terrain.
A sturdy steel clip on handle makes the Hippo Roller easy to maneuver and even children and the elderly are able to handle it. It’s a simple but effective invention and the barrel basically becomes the wheel with a handle attached to it.
Many African women and children are straining themselves carrying heavy loads of water back and forth for miles. This is usually done by balancing heavy containers on their heads which can cause health problems with many people’s necks and backs. It takes up valuable time they could be using to work on their gardens and homes. Their children could also be playing, learning or reading instead. Now many do have more time to do other things and the Hippo Roller has improved their quality of life by increasing their nutrition, health and given them more time to work on other things such as growing food. Animals are also healthier since they can drink more freely. Cooking and drinking water is no longer the problem it used to be for Hippo Roller users because there’s now a bigger supply.
Improved Food Security
There’s also a Hippo Food Security System in place that’s designed to feed an average sized family of six. It includes:
- A 210 liter drum for the irrigation system and a 90 liter Hippo Water Roller used for topping up the reservoir.
- 8 x 6 meter drip lines are also included which cover up to 50 square meters of land.
- Tools and instructions and a starter pack of seeds for both the summer and the winter.
- Further training is available if needed.
Their first harvest takes about three months, but after that a family becomes more self sufficient and there's the option of generating additional income from surplus crops.
Grant Gibbs, the Hippo Water Roller Project Leader, had this to say when asked about the Hippo Roller and how it originated.
“The original designers of the Hippo Water Roller are South Africans: Pettie Petzer and Johan Jonker. They were trying to design a better wheelbarrow with a low centre of gravity – when costing their new design; they realized that the wheel was the most expensive component – that’s when the idea was born to put the water inside the wheel, not on top! Grant Gibbs carried out further improvements to the original design of the Hippo Water Roller and is primarily responsible for driving the Hippo Water Roller project. About 25,000 rollers have been distributed to date, most of them donated.” Grant Gibbs (email interview,May 3rd, 2007)
For further information on the Hippo Roller see: The Hippo Water Roller Project
Donations for the Hippo Water Rollers are now being accepted through Operation Hunger
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