A Kilmarnock-based plumber has thanked his local branch of PTS for years of support after his invention, the Jompy, was recognised at a national awards ceremony run by non-profit organisation Imagine H20.
The Jompy provides safe drinking and cooking water for developing countries and those affected by natural disasters. Connecting to any container and standard hosepipe, the Jompy saves 60 percent energy compared to traditional methods of heating water and reduces time spent over an open fire, which often leads to eye and respiratory problems, all whilst creating a source of water free from harmful bacteria.
David Osbourne, owner of Celsius Plumbing & Heating and inventor of the Jompy, said: “1.5m children die every year from water-born diseases. As a plumber and heating engineer, I wanted to come up with a solution. The Jompy is a heating element with an inlet and outlet. When connected to a water source and placed over a fire, it creates safe drinking and cooking water.
“PTS has been unknowingly supporting us for years. It has always been there to help find the best product and to give us the best terms – even when I was using its parts to build the Jompy prototype in my garage.”
Kenny Ireland, branch manager at PTS Kilmarnock, said: “I’ve known David since his apprenticeship – so a very long time! When David came in one day and mentioned the Jompy, I was impressed with its simplicity and even more intrigued when he ordered 300 rolls of 8mm copper and 600 15mm-18mm reducers.
“David is always tweaking his designs and working on new ideas and as he makes all his prototypes in Scotland, we get to see everything first. The interest being expressed by international charities is fantastic and well deserved – imagine PTS stock saving lives in developing countries! The whole PTS team wishes David every success in the next chapter of the Jompy.”
The Jompy has already been used in Pakistan during the 2010 floods and the team are now working with Glasgow University, Strathclyde University, Makarere University (Kampala) and Illinois State University amongst others. Currently planning the next stage of its work in Uganda, the Jompy team is also continuing to work with relief and development charity Tearfund.
