Filtration water bottles: Are they good or bad???

[RokJok]

Has anyone used or done any testing with the squirt-type water bottles that have a charcoal (or other) filter built into them?

I saw some demo'ed at the state fair this fall for about $40 that were supposedly good for about 200 gallons of filtering. I think it may have been this Bottom's Up Bottle or one like it that loads from the bottom, then squirts out the top. I naturally wondered how well they would work for survival circumstances. The dude doing the demo would pour muddy water into the bottle, then squeeze the filtered water out into paper cups and have folks drink it. I tried it and it was no worse than my tap water. My bigger concern is chemical purification via the activated charcoal in the filter and/or removing viruses, bacteria, or cyto-nasties from really trashed water. (think chemical plant or sewage contamination of water after an earthquake maybe)

Campmor has a similar type bottle for less than $20 USD, though it doesn't load from the bottom. This sort of water bottle purification filter would seem to be a pretty cheap piece of potable water insurance stashed in a BOB for SHTF situations if it actually works.

I'd greatly appreciate hearing any results you've gotten using or testing similar bottles (please include mfr & model used) or links to reviews/testing.

Thanks in advance, -- Greg --

 

[alco141]

i used on while hunting in the big horn mountains, i did not get sick, that all i can tell you.

 

[baraqyal]

I had one of these when they first came out. Well, at least when they first came to my market area about 4 or 5 years ago.

The decent ones have ok filters, but do not compare to the average pump-type filter. It should be good enough for crypto and giardia, but not for smaller contaminates.

Be careful with the cheap knockoffs - make sure they filter the same level micron contaminates. I've seen many cheap ones that look like regular water bottles, without the bottom fill feature.

Ideally, you should have one with a bottom fill, and a cap that is water tight over the top-drinking part. This way, when you dunk it into a stream, the water does not contaminate the clean part that you drink from. Also, it probably should have a screen on the bottom fill part to eliminate the larger particles.

I've used it a bit. A lot more convinient than a full on pump filter, and much faster.

But, it has a few problems.
1) The replacement filters are expensive
2) Pump filters will fill a bottle in much smaller, drier streams, as the little hose can reach much less deep water and still fill.
3) Bit heavier and bigger than a normal bottle.
4) Still lets some things through
5) One bottle of water does not replace 2 or 3 where water is not easily availble - you've gotta find the water to filter it.

I think it would be useful if you were trying to minimize weight and bulk, like while hunting or making one long, fast day hiking trip. Might also be nice on rafting, canoe, and kayak trips on fresh water. I probably wouldn't use it in the desert, or high in the mountains in late summer when water is hard to find.

You could just use tablets, or iodine, though the taste is not the same.

Also, only use it someplace where open, fairly clean water is easily available. I wouldn't want to fill it with muddy water, as it will clog the filter much faster.

-- Rob

 

[Robert H]

I like the aqua mira version. Never had any problems with it, and if the water is really dirty or suspect I pre treat with the aqua mira drops.