UMEED: A Multipurpose Floodwater Filtration and Emergency Lighting Device

Abstract

The prevailing flood situation in Pakistan has given rise to an urgent need for potable water, which is essential for the survival of flood-affected individuals. This research aims to provide a viable solution to the issue of inadequate and insufficient water supply that arises during a flood event and explores a cost-effective solution that can be implemented even with limited resources. Although several products are available in the market to address the problems of water availability and emergency lighting during an emergency, none of them offer a comprehensive solution to the issues faced by flood victims. This report examines the impact of floods, the devastation they cause, and the primary needs of victims, to arrive at a solution. The proposed solution is a product called "Umeed", a low-cost, manual hand pump with a water filtration function, which is designed to address the basic requirement for clean water on a smaller scale. Thus, designing a compact product that is portable will urge the local community to become more self-reliant; in addition to enabling them to move towards rehabilitation.