Water Treatment...Please Help

R

revolution13

Joined
Jul 6, 2009
Messages
64
What is the best backpacking water-treatment system that can provide safe water for the LONGEST period of time, without purchasing replacement parts, filters etc..???
What i'm looking for is something that i can take to use in the bush for lets say...two years, and not need to purchase anything else to keep making it operate effeciantly.
At first, i thought it would be the SteriPen system, until i read tons of reviews claiming its garbage. Now, i cant find anything that fits the bill. Please help! Thanks.
 
I'd say the Polar Pure iodine crystals would probably be the longest lasting water treatment. Unless you're traveling to a third world country viruses in the water aren't much of a problem. The iodine taste is a turn off for some, but has never really bothered me.

HTH
 
The Katadyn Pocket may be a good idea. I really like the looks of it and the features/construction of it. It is pricey, but the money you save on filters pays for it. Its filter is good for 13,000 gallons versus 200 or so of the Hiker that they make. Weight wise, the Hiker or Hiker pro is 11 ounces and the Pocket is 20 ounces. It is heavier, but I think the utility and durability of it are big points.
 
I bought the Sawyer .02 micron purifier system awhile back. I haven't been able to use it yet, but according to their website it is good for 1,000,000 gallons and is a purifier not just a filter. I am hoping to be able to test it by next weekend if everything goes according to plan.
 
The sawyer looks good, though kind of a pain since you have to hang it up and let gravity do its thing. Good if you are tired and rather just sit back and relax while waiting. Though if you want the water filter asap, idk. A bulkier option, but if it lasts 1,000,000 gallons, seems like a great way to go.

What is the filter rate for the Sawyer? Not sure how fast/slow it is to filter water. Also seems that the Sawyer lacks an active carbon component or anything else that would filter out the taste of bad water. Though I think there is an inline option you can use to fix this.
 
Last edited:
I know it doesn't kill everything, but so far, so good.

If you are heading out to the bush for 2 years, I am going to think you need to forget about it. Find a spring or dig a well and keep your outhouse a good distance away.
 
The only gear that is going to last is a knife, and an axe.

You better figure on primitive means to do everything else.
 
Boiling my friend!
I recently learned that the required time was much
shorter than I had originally thought too. All you need to do is bring it
to a rolling boil. It's safe at that moment! No 10 minutes of rolling boil,
just bring it to boil and your all set. No parts to fail and I would assume
that you know how to get a fire going. Nothing to break and its sure.
If you don't want to boil...I would go with these
http://www.campingsurvival.com/milwatpurtab.html
Current issue and cheap...pretty fail safe also. Just picked up a few boxes myself. Never can be too prepared :D
 
+1 for the polarpure if you're looking for a MOBILE, quick water purifying system. a few pine needles added after the iodine has done its job can neutralize the funky taste. I actually have a Polar Pure bottle into which I've poured a second bottle of crystals. I also encased the bottle in a piece of a bicycle inner tube to protect against breakage. The only problem you may have is locating polar pure crystals. Funnily enough, d***ed meth cooks are using it to cook up their poison. As a result, a lot of stores aren't carrying it anymore.
 
Is there something else you can add for the taste issue? Maybe just bring some powered sport drink or something. The sawyer filter seems like a good idea if used with a pump and an inline carbon filter. The Katadyn mini uses a ceramic filter too and lasts 2000 gallons. It is like $20 more than the hiker series and last 10 times longer. The chemical treatments are a big turn off, really don't want the chemical aftertaste.
 
in order of preference:

- a large pot to boil water
- Iodine crystals - use charcoal from the fire to filer out iodine taste
- bleach - use charcoal from the fire to filer out iodine taste
- build a custom filter with commercial sized filter elements

pros and cons of each:

- a large pot to boil water

guaranteed water sterility! cons would be you need firewood and a fire to do this...not good for some areas....

- Iodine crystals - use charcoal from the fire to filer out bleach smell taste

simple, effective, but what if you lose your iodine supply? some people cannot use iodine (health reasons). taste is turnoff for some (i actually like the taste) but its easily filtered thru fire charcoal......

- bleach - use charcoal from the fire to filer out iodine taste

simple , very effective. But you need a large supply, so best suited to cabin use. Possible overdosage by people who dont know mix ratio.....

- build a custom filter with commercial sized filter elements

can be tailored to your exact needs. expensive, big/bulky, not for traveling, stationary use only....

my 2 cents.

I like boiling
 
The Sawyer directions say to backflush every 3000 gls and the attachments to backflush is for a home faucet. Perhaps something esle could work.
 
riz_aaroni said:
The sawyer looks good, though kind of a pain since you have to hang it up and let gravity do its thing. Good if you are tired and rather just sit back and relax while waiting. Though if you want the water filter asap, idk. A bulkier option, but if it lasts 1,000,000 gallons, seems like a great way to go.

What is the filter rate for the Sawyer? Not sure how fast/slow it is to filter water. Also seems that the Sawyer lacks an active carbon component or anything else that would filter out the taste of bad water. Though I think there is an inline option you can use to fix this.
Click to expand...


riz, I have heard the filter rate is 1 liter per minute. I can't confirm that at this time though. The system I purchased has the 4 liter bags so if what I heard is correct it would of course take 4 minutes which is about the same as most pumps. I figure even if it takes twice as long it will give me time for a break to enjoy the scenery.

The only downsides that I have seen so far are no prefilter (going to use a coffee filter for this) and it may be susceptable to damage while in my pack ( looking for a pelican case that will hold it and the coffee filters)

I can always take the used coffee filters when dry for tinder
 
Thomas Linton said:
The Sawyer directions say to backflush every 3000 gls and the attachments to backflush is for a home faucet. Perhaps something esle could work.
Click to expand...


Thats for a different set up from what I have. With this one to back flush you simply hang the filtered water higher and let it flow back into the "gray" water bag
 
I use my sawyer filter water bottle for hiking. $40 at walmart. It removes almost everything, and with nothing but a 2 liter bottle, and a modified cap, I have a gravity water filter, and i can also put it inline onto a camelback. Although I know what to look for in safe untreated water, as in fast running, not stagnet, very clear, no animal feces nearby. I have relied on my own skills several times on a hot summer day, when I didnt have a water bottle.
 
There are some people that say that using water treated with iodine for too long can cause thyroid problems. I'm no expert, but I would guess that there isn't a portable system out there that can reliably filter / purify water every day for two years. If you are living off the land, you are going to be moving pretty slow and have a nightly fire anyway, so boiling wouldn't be the onus it normally would. If you are going to resupply, I would pick a filter that has commonly available replacement parts or count on replacing it every once in awhile and carry backup iodine tabs.

What are you thinking of doing, if you don't mind me asking?
 
hdglock said:
riz, I have heard the filter rate is 1 liter per minute. I can't confirm that at this time though. The system I purchased has the 4 liter bags so if what I heard is correct it would of course take 4 minutes which is about the same as most pumps. I figure even if it takes twice as long it will give me time for a break to enjoy the scenery.

The only downsides that I have seen so far are no prefilter (going to use a coffee filter for this) and it may be susceptable to damage while in my pack ( looking for a pelican case that will hold it and the coffee filters)

I can always take the used coffee filters when dry for tinder
Click to expand...

I wonder if you could just use the inline carbon filter as a pre filter. That might not be the biggest help though. The coffee filter idea would obviously work, but I rather have something longer lasting and simply part of the whole system.
 
I'd look real seriously at the Katadyn products. While mine hasn't seen two years of "continious" service, it defenitly worked as advertiesd. I know that thier larger models are used by variuos rescue org's for large scale purification.
And you can't go wrong with the whole boiling thing either.
Allan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top