This odd looking thing looks like a big whale’s fin doesn’t it? Well, no the people in the pictures are not killing whales. This is actually a life saving invention called the Solar Water Disinfecting Tarpaulin, designed by San Francisco based architect & CCA professor Eric Olsen. It is a portable filtration system designed for areas where potable water is a luxury. It can be put to good use in disaster areas, developing urban areas, rural regions, etc.

The vessel is powered by solar radiation and can be easily filled and carried. The tough tarpaulin is composed of laser cut LDPE (a type of thermoplastic made from oil) and rubberized nylon and it expands to hold up to 20 liters of water, which is rendered drinkable after five hours of exposure to the sun. This purification method is approved by the World Health Organization, and uses passive solar heat and ultraviolet radiation to kill disease causing bacteria.The Solar Water Disinfecting Tarpaulin can be easily rolled for storage and transport. It has also won the 2008 Metropolis Magazine Next Generation design competition.You can read more about it here.