Bill Gate to Re-invent the Toilet

Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates attends a technology showcase as part of his foundation's competition to reinvent the toilet for those without access to modern sanitation. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced further funding for the best projects after scientists from around the world showcased their ideas in Seattle, USA. "The current design has a real problem. It uses a lot of water, requires a very expensive system to bring in very clean water, then you make that water dirty," said Mr Gates, speaking at the toilet expo. "You have a very expensive system to take it away and then you have a treatment plant and actually the water you are using there is almost ten times as much as you use for direct human consumption," he added. To enter the competition for the"world's next toilet", the Gates Foundation gave a precise designbrief: the lavatory must operate without running water, electricity or a septic system, not discharge pollutants, preferably capture energy or other resources, and operate at a cost of five US cents a day. "What we are used to is a toilet that is connected to sewer systems and water systems, so in some ways it's a luxury to be ableto flush a gallon of water every time you pull the handle on the toilet," said Chris Elias from the Billand Melinda Gates Foundation President of Global Development. "That's not a scalable solution; most places don't have that muchwater." The United Nations estimates disease caused by unsafe sanitation results in about half the hospitalisations in the developing world. About 1.5 million children die each year from diarrhoeal disease. Scientists believe most of these deaths could be prevented with proper sanitation, along with safedrinking water and improved hygiene. The foundation, which has has committed $370m (£236m) to the project, expects to field test its first prototypes within the next three years.