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Water purification - Options??

Aubrey

Aubrey

Basic Member
Joined
Mar 28, 1999
Messages
669
Hi All

Doing my annual kit review .... and I am stuck on is water purification. I like my small bottle of Aquapur (have to wait 24 hours) as a back up so a new one is in the kit ...but my primary system is due for a review. Primarily this is for use while mobile and water cannot be boiled to sterilize it.

I have used a Katadyn Pocket Filter for 12 years and apart from the labor of pumping, a very good system that has never failed me. I do like the use right after pumping option but doing 10 l gets a little laborious.

Last year I have replaced it with the MSR MIOX. Great kit and easy to use but having spare rock salt, batteries and test strips at hand in Africa is not always my priority and delivery can take 8-10 weeks. I do like ease of operation but downside is the wait ... 4 hours for the hardiest bugs and water have to be pretty clean/clear to start. I like the CR123 batteries as they have a long shelf life, so no need to cycle spares every 2-3 months. Smaller than the Katadyn filter but not small and also, a few loose bits to carry.

So now I found the Steripen ......no strips, no salt and no pumping. Downside is the batteries and also a wait period but can live with that ....... this thing is small from what I gather. Questions is around first hand experience of the Steripen ........ does it work as advertized? Worst case I found out it was BS when I come down due to water purification failure ........

Reality is also, that I may be itching and trying to scratch it with a new gadget ...... :D
 
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I've only used it a couple times, but it worked fine for us, and we used it in conjunction with a katadyn vario. And, of course we didn't use any scientific tests to check that it did it's job.

It worked like it was supposed to though, so I can't complain about it, and I just ordered my own. Just keep spare batteries with you, and if you can buy from a place like rei, so if you do have problems you can return it no questions asked.
 
I just use the chlorine based tabs that MEC sells. Pretty cheap, leaves almost no taste at all, super light, quick and works well.

I've drank beaver pond water 25 min after disinfecting, I dont know how scientific a test that is, but it works for me.
 
Ravaillac said:
I've been using a Katadyn Hiker + Micropure.
No problem so far.

Now I've come into this (Platypus Clean Stream)
http://cascadedesigns.com/platypus/filtration-and-storage/cleanstream-gravity-filter/product

And it does look very interesting to me.
Click to expand...

That seems neat.

Normally when I go backpacking I go with a lot of people and we spend a lot of time pumping the filter.

I've been considering something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Katadyn-Base-Camp-Water-Filter/dp/B0016A3KDW
 
I have a steri-pen but now have the Sawyer filter on my radar.

http://www.sawyerproducts.com/viral.htm

Since I have a couple of MSR Dromedary bags already I'm thinking I'll get the .02 micron bucket filter and insert the bucket adapter through a plain Dromedary cap.
 
Aubrey -- I'm fortunate to travel all over for my job. (Though for the last 6 months I've only been traveling inside Afghanistan.) Traveling I always have a SteriPen UV bulb on me (been using one for years, long before their current more widespread marketing). Used correctly, it's fast and convenient... and will prevent Montezuma's Revenge and all the other nasties you do not want. (And yes, I do drink the water in Mexico.) It does have it's limitations, in cloudy water it WILL NOT work... so if pre-filtering through a bandana does not remove sufficient sediment, you'll need another water source or a different purification method (like boiling). Some/larger sediment is not an issue, as you can slowly stir the water with the pen and run it longer... the key is to avoid the proveribal puddle of mud. There is no appreciable wait time or chemical taste... when compared with those methods. Battery longevity is considerable (always carry one spare set), and while the bulb should not be intentionally abused, it will take the hard knocks of military life. Oh, and I remember in another post somewhere the question was asked, "what about the outside of the container that I just dunked in my water source, it wasn't treated (but is wet now)?" At survival we were taught to spill some treated water over the side before we drank... that technique has never failed me. Hope this helps.
--schlots
 
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www.uvaquastar.com

I've been successfully using this for a couple years, including a bunch of nine-day backpacking trips and longer rafting trips in AK. I fill it, drop it into my water bottle holder (inverted), and start walking. For me, it's a little more convenient than the Steri Pen.

DancesWithKnives
 
I just bought a berkey bottle.

Water bottle with a filter built into it.

Fill the bottle up and suck clean, pure water through the straw. You can carry a spare nalgene with stream water and refill as necessary.

Under $30 and no extra equipment.

Carl-
 
schlotskey said:
Aubrey -- I'm fortunate to travel all over for my job. (Though for the last 6 months I've only been traveling inside Afghanistan.) Traveling I always have a SteriPen UV bulb on me (been using one for years, long before their current more widespread marketing). Used correctly, it's fast and convenient... and will prevent Montezuma's Revenge and all the other nasties you do not want. (And yes, I do drink the water in Mexico.) It does have it's limitations, in cloudy water it WILL NOT work... so if pre-filtering through a bandana does not remove sufficient sediment, you'll need another water source or a different purification method (like boiling). Some/larger sediment is not an issue, as you can slowly stir the water with the pen and run it longer... the key is to avoid the proveribal puddle of mud. There is no appreciable wait time or chemical taste... when compared with those methods. Battery longevity is considerable (always carry one spare set), and while the bulb should not be intentionally abused, it will take the hard knocks of military life. Oh, and I remember in another post somewhere the question was asked, "what about the outside of the container that I just dunked in my water source, it wasn't treated (but is wet now)?" At survival we were taught to spill some treated water over the side before we drank... that technique has never failed me. Hope this helps.
--schlots
Click to expand...

Thanx for that. I travel across Africa for work as well so guess the Steripen will have a job after all.

You answered my next question that was related to clarity of water. 50% of the time the water is clear from mountain streams but in the desert, a cloudy sediment is often suspended. I think I'll try the Steripen in the mountains with Aquapur drops as a back up ...... and for desert I'll stick to the MSR MIOX with Aquapur back up... must admit it has given me great service if a little bulky with all the spares :cool:

Keep the advise coming as I like to learn a little each day.
 
There's a story about double dosing a mud puddle (so to speak) with the steripen and being fine, it's on the steripen site I think. Particulate will reduce the effectiveness, but it also clogs filters and makes chems ineffective- they bond with organic material and drop out of suspension.
 
OK, being such a patient man ....I have ordered the Steripen Adventurer.

Thanx for all the feedback and advise. I appreciate it.

Cheers from Africa

Aubrey
 
hollowdweller said:
That seems neat.

Normally when I go backpacking I go with a lot of people and we spend a lot of time pumping the filter.

I've been considering something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Katadyn-Base-Camp-Water-Filter/dp/B0016A3KDW
Click to expand...

I'm just back from a five-day family canoe trip using that filter.

It works well, but there's a caveat: after the first couple of uses, the flow will slow down significantly, even if you are filtering water from clear, nutrient-poor lakes without any algae bloom.

To make this filter effective, make sure you have a container that you can clip or attach the hose to, so you can fill it, and leave it to run constantly. Don't expect to run it on demand! And consider carrying an extra filter element.

There are similar filters from MSR, Platypus, and Sawyer. The MSR and Platypus can be backflushed (not sure about the Sawyer), but from my reading they all suffer this same problem. The flow rate will quickly deteriorate.

Even so, this is a much better solution than pumping for a group.

The Katadyn filter has a large capacity, which is helpful. The others have smaller capacities but attach to clean water containers; you have to supply your own container for the Katadyn.
 
FYI - The more turbid the water (suspended solids) the more difficult it will be to treat. Bacteria lodged in a suspended solid have some level of protection from disinfection chemicals, so the contact time must be longer. Also good to know that cloudy water can be caused by air entrained in the water (small air bubbles - gives a milky look). If left sitting for a few minutes the air will dissipate and the water will appear less cloudy. Air will not inhibit disinfection. Good to know if the water is cloudy because it has chunks in it, or because of air.
 
For anyone using a filter and chemical treatment, what's the best sequence to use, filter, then treat.... or treat, then filter? I apologize if this has been addressed elsewhere.
 
Filter then chemical treatment. Remove the chunks so the chemical can get to the bugs.
 
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