H2.O: A Revolutionary Drinking Water ATM

Future Factory LLP's Award-Winning Design for Safe Drinking Water

The inspiration for H2.O came from the serious health hazards caused by natural arsenic contamination in the Ganges delta. Future Factory LLP aimed to make this advanced technology accessible and user-friendly, especially for schools and local communities. The design of H2.O is a perfect blend of magnificence and functionality, featuring fine detailing, exquisite engineering, and a careful combination of highly reflective and matte surfaces.

H2.O stands out for its unique format, bringing technologies used in large water treatment plants to smaller communities living with unsafe water. Its design language of “serious play” combines playfulness with technology, humanizing the robust and powerful aesthetic. The product is tamper and vandal proof, with locking mechanisms for critical components. It also features part-openable side panels and gas spring hinges for easy access to electronics, adding to its functionality.

The product is designed to withstand extreme weather and usage conditions. It is constructed using exterior grade powder-coated galvanized steel sheets, ensuring durability and longevity. The design also allows for manufacturing with minimum tooling operations. The product's dimensions are Width 1676mm x Depth 1245mm x Height 2253mm.

The design process involved extensive field research to understand the contextual problems, deployment options, and ergonomic requirements of target users. The challenges of ergonomics, tamper-proofing, weather-proofing, ease of deployment, and maintenance were successfully addressed. The design also aimed to instill pride of ownership in the community to ensure its continued maintenance.

The project started in 2014 in Mumbai, India, and the product was launched in the Indian market in February 2015. Over 200 units of H2.O have been successfully deployed at public schools in the eastern part of India, where contaminated drinking water is a major health hazard. The first set of machines was installed in Kolkata, where it was reported to be a big success.

The Silver A' Social Design Award in 2018 is a testament to the design's remarkable level of excellence, innovation, and positive impact. This award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that showcase strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill. H2.O's success story is a shining example of how design can be a powerful tool in addressing critical social issues.