Water filters

R

Ravaillac

Joined
Feb 14, 2005
Messages
1,650
I was just playing around with the idea of buying a filter.



Boiling water works very well against all biological contamination. Main problem is that it is not very handy.
Chemical purification is quite handy and efficient considering you choose adequate product. That said it is somewhat slow.
Filters are quite quick, but they won't treat viruses. That said I've talked with some professional who told me that viruses where not a huge threat in quite large running waters. Problem was about stagnant water or special situation (dead animal close by).

Another quite big problem is chemical pollution: looks like only Carbon filters can treat it, and I think I'm quite likely to run into potentially polluted water (agriculture, industry).

So I guess, right solution would be: filter and then treat, or better, if you have a contaminated water contenair: treat/filter. That said is there a reason to buy a filter if you anyway need to treat.


Any opinions about filters?
 
I have a PUR Explorer that gives very high quality water form any source you care to use. It is very slow IMO and if there is anything suspended in the water it clogs very quickly and has to be cleaned. The filter element is also expensive, about $40. It is supposd to treat even virus' with an iodine impregnated plastic. The filter is also heavy and bulky. I find it hard work to keep a group hydrated if you rely on the one filter. I feel like I'm always filtering for everybody.

I now only use the PUR when my wife is along becuase she is very discriminating regarding water. I should make her carry it!

For personal use I have had the same system for years and have experienced no water related health issues. I made a simple filter from 20 mm PVC. (10 cm pipe, pipe joint, screen, 10 cm pipe, screen, reducer) The upper chamber has a wad of fluff from a fish tank filter. The lower chamber contains activated charcoal. To use it you just pour the raw water it the top and let it drain through to the canteen. I then treat the water with iodine, usually Potable Aqua Plus or simple 2% Tincture of Iodine.

This system cost me about $5 to make. The PUR was $150 IIRC (retail purchase). The flow rate through my PVC filter is about the same as the PUR but I don't have to pump. it is also lighter and takes up less space. Mac
 
I use a PUR Voyageur. Not sure what the current equivalent is since they were taken in by Katadyn, I believe. It's the same thing as the Hiker, except that it's a purifier instead of just a filter.
IIRC, there was something in the paperwork about how you might want to filter the water twice if you were downstream from a sewage treatment facility-the water would be safe to drink, but one filtering might not kill the taste, or something like that.
I've checked out various and newer models by different manufacturers over the last several years, and there are purifiers that are faster, and maybe made better, I don't know. Most are bigger and heavier-key words when all your gear is on your back. The Voyageur does what I want it to, and I have no complaints. It works with my Nalgene bottles, and Camelbak Pakteen. It has a charcoal prefilter, ceramic "element" for killing all the little nasties, and I use a coffee filter over the intake to keep silt and crap like that from prematurely degrading its performance. It's supposed to be good for 200 gallons before changing the element, and mine is probably getting close to that, but hasn't slowed down, yet. I carry Potable Aqua, and am prepared to boil water if necessary, but have used neither method since getting my purifier several years ago.
If I had to start over today, I'd buy the exact same purifier. Wish I could say the same for most of my other gear.
 
pict said:
For personal use I have had the same system for years and have experienced no water related health issues. I made a simple filter from 20 mm PVC. (10 cm pipe, pipe joint, screen, 10 cm pipe, screen, reducer) The upper chamber has a wad of fluff from a fish tank filter. The lower chamber contains activated charcoal. To use it you just pour the raw water it the top and let it drain through to the canteen. I then treat the water with iodine, usually Potable Aqua Plus or simple 2% Tincture of Iodine.
Click to expand...

Jeez Mac that is a great idea. I wonder why I never thought of this before.

Thanks !!!

David
 
msr MIOX or mixed oxidant it works great for water that is contaminated but dosent have chemicals in it. the miox uses salt tablets and a battery. it is more or a reusable alturnative to iodine tablets but it has not taste and can be reused/recharged w/ more salt and batterys so it is great for long trips
 
I got the Katadyn Pocket Filter. 13K gallons between element changes.

Slow for some people, but I'll take that over ineffective anytime.

Also carry Potable Aqua, coffee filters, and the Katadyn MP1 tablets.
 
In the field I use a katydyne when traveling heavy, Potable Aqua tabs when traveling light.
At home, in the water line, I use a particulate (50 micron) filter followed by several stages of charcoal filters to remove the chemicals that are added to the water by the city to keep us healthy.
Enjoy!
 
thatmguy said:
I got the Katadyn Pocket Filter. 13K gallons between element changes.
Slow for some people, but I'll take that over ineffective anytime.
Also carry Aqua Pure, coffee filters, and the Katadyn MP1 tablets.
Click to expand...

They are great filters but remember one hairline crack in the ceramic element and its history. Handle with care and pump out excess water if freezing is posible.

Skam
 
There's a new chemical treatment that I haven't tried yet, but I hear it's good and with no foul taste. Until I buy some of that new stuff, I'll keep using my Polar Pure iodine crystals. Better tasting than the iodine tablets and a small bottle lasts for years.

I find filters to be expensive, heavy, bulky, and slow. I've also encountered many hikers with clogged/broken filters. Buy a filter if you think you need to, but definitely have a backup plan. I'm also suspicious that on many models the inserts/filters can break without you knowing it.

Good luck,
Bob
 
I have a General Ecology First Need Deluxe, and i love it. Easy to pump, and it removes colours, bad tase, and it's a purifier, so it removes viruses too.
 
Pict--

Your homemade filter is a great idea (you should market it at $10 ea and make a million bucks!)

My question though, is what is, and where do I find "activated charcoal"? (I'm kind of new at this stuff)

Thanks!
 
Eric,

This filter is basically the same stuff you would use in an aquarium. I got my "store bought" activated charcoal from a fish store. The glory of this filter is that you can use regular black lumps of charcoal from a fire and they work just as well. Make sure they don't have any white ash on them and that the wood is totally burnt. I crunch the coals up into chips.

If you have really nasty water several of these filters can be joined together to make one long charcoal tube. It is basically a modern version of the bamboo filter found in many survival books. You just substitute PVC for bamboo. I like the synthetic fluff rather than cotton, it improves the flow.

I also stretched a short section of thin bike innertube over the last reducer to make a nozzle that fits into the canteen.

I don't drink the filtered water without chemically treating it first but the filter does remove bad tastes and makes the water clearer. It just gives the raw water a quality upgrade before chemical treatment.

The worst thing that has happened to me using this filter is that one got invaded by little red ants here in Brazil when I left it out of my pack. They were drawn to the moisture during dry season. Live and learn. Mac
 
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