The Hippo Water Roller Project

Simple idea with the power to transform lives and empower communities.

The SOS Lab has become the first corporate brand to put its name behind Hippo Roller International, a global project to improve access to water for rural communities.  Google recently singled out the Hippo Roller as an example of the type of innovation Google’s Project 10100 is interested in supporting.

For many, clean water comes with the twist of a tap. But in rural Africa, access to water requires hard work: hours of walking, waiting in line and heavy lifting. The time spent on this basic need keeps many children out of school and prevents women from carrying out their domestic tasks and income generating work.

The Hippo Roller’s innovative design allows the transport of water more easily and efficiently by placing the water inside its "wheel." A full Hippo contains 200 lbs (90 kg) of water – five times the amount possible using traditional methods. But because the weight is borne on the ground, it has an effective weight of just 22 pounds (10 kg) allowing almost anyone to easily manage a full roller over most types of terrain.

The Hippo is a major improvement on the toxic, re-purposed gasoline and paint containers that are typically used to collect water in rural African communities. A single Hippo carries enough water to meet the basic needs of five people per day and gives them access to better hygiene and living conditions. In addition, Hippos make it possible for families and schools to collect enough water to grow their own vegetables using a technique known as drip irrigation. Fewer trips to collect water means women and children can spend more time on productive educational and economic activities.

The SOS Lab has become the first corporate brand to put its name behind Hippo Roller International, a global project to improve access to water for rural communities.  Google recently singled out the Hippo Roller as an example of the type of innovation Google’s Project 10100 is interested in supporting.

“We’re thrilled to play a role with the Hippo Roller,” said Luke Vorstermans, President of The Sense of Smell Lab. “The Hippo Roller takes an existing problem and by simply changing the delivery system makes it more user friendly and efficient. That’s exactly what we are doing with the aromapod and non transdermal patch. It’s a perfect fit for us.”

The SOS Lab donates 5% of product sales to fund the Hippo Project.

Click here to find out how Hippos are transforming lives.