Water Filtration

A portable water purifier can come in handy many times, including the aftermath of a natural disaster or while camping. There is, however something that you need to keep in mind when considering having fresh, clean drinking water and that is there is a difference between filtered water and purified water. All filtered water may not be safe for human consumption and even when using a portable water purifier the water can still hold floating contaminants that can alter the appearance and taste of the water.

No matter the reason or the amount of water required, there will be a portable water purifier to meet your needs. From small units that fit into the top of a water bottle to much larger ones, big enough to supply purified water to hundreds of people in a short period, a portable water purifier can turn some of the worst types of water into potable water for drinking and cooking. Although purified water is usually safe for drinking, unless many of the floating particles in the water have been removed, it may not taste or smell very good.

In order to be safe a purification unit is necessary, even though filtering will remove many of the smallest particulate matter, including metals and some bacteria. Even a portable water purifier can kill all the bacteria and germs living in the water to prevent them from causing disease when ingested.

On The Camping Trail Portable Units Handy

Having a portable water purifier, especially for campers, allows them to have a continuous supply of clean water while on the trail without having to carry large amounts of water with them. Before passing the dirty water through a portable water purifier to completely clean it of dirt, smell and bacteria, first run the water through portable water filters to remove any sediment.

There are different methods of purifying water, including the use of chlorine and iodine, but these chemicals often leave an unpleasant odor in the water and despite it being safe to drink, water from a chemical portable water purifier may not be acceptable to some users. Ultraviolet purifiers use the power of the sun to create heat to kill bacteria and some others use an electrical charge to kill any living things in the water. Using membrane filters small enough to capture bacteria are also popular types of portable water purifiers, but require pressure to force the water through the filter.

There are also in recent years a few disaster use water filters that can provide pure, safe water without the use of power or high pressure. These filters are a favorite with RV and boat owners, as well. Just make sure that no matter which filter you go with you don’t trade quality for cost, especially if it’s to be used in an emergency. 

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Let’s face it; there are a variety of portable water filters to choose from on the market today. In order to choose the best portable water filters for your own personal use, it helps to know a little about what the different products can do. Here are some things to consider.

First things first, where are you planning to travel? There are filters for practically any condition that you might come up against.

For example, if you are a hiker, drinking water straight from a spring or stream is unsafe. Ask any nurse working in an emergency room near the Appalachian Trail. Hikers come in all the time with a condition known as Giardiasis.

Hikers sometimes just call it giardia, the name of the single-celled parasite that causes the infection. So, if you expect to be in a situation where you will need to drink from a spring or stream, the safest filters to carry with you will kill or remove giardia.

If you were traveling to Africa or other countries where the water source is particularly unreliable, the best portable water filters to choose will effectively eliminate water-borne diseases such as cholera. There are some excellent water filters on the market that are credited with reducing cases of potentially fatal diarrhea in Zimbabwe. Caused by drinking water contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and cysts, the condition is a common problem in Africa.

But, let’s face it. Most of us are not planning to take a missionary post, and vacationing in a third world country is not particularly popular, but all of us have to go to work, school, on vacation or somewhere with unfiltered tap water. While drinking it probably won’t make us deathly ill, it could endanger our future health and it just doesn’t taste good.

So, the best portable filters for the majority of people usually fall under the heading of sport bottle filters or water filter bottles. Different companies rearrange the words, but they all work similarly.

Typically, you will find plastic bottles shaped like any other sports bottle, but with a specially designed lid or spout that holds a filter. Some of these devices block only odor and chlorine. Others can remove giardia.

A few of the best portable water filters block lead, which is particularly important if you work or live in some of the major cities around the country. Recent reports have determined that the tap water in a large number of city structures is contaminated with lead, because of deteriorating pipes that carry water into the buildings. In other words, don’t drink from the water fountain.

Make no mistake about it, portable water filters are a good alternative to buying bottled water. Not only will it save you money, but the quality and taste of the water will likely be better, particularly if you choose the best portable water filters. Plus, you’ll be doing your part to help protect the environment from those ever growing piles of plastic bottles.

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If you enjoy camping and hiking or any outdoor activity you will be happy to know there are portable water filters on the market in which you can take with you which will filter water you derive from areas in which you could not normally consume the water due to the enormous amount of contaminants including bacteria and chemicals. These filters can cost anywhere from $20 to $200, however, if you are a hiker or camper and enjoy this hobby multiple times during the year the cost could quickly pay for itself.

There are also also portable water systems which have a filter in them and you fill water before you leave and it filters through the drinking system and you carry the water as a backpack. They are a type of camel back. Pitcher filters can be taken on camping trips to fill as needed for drinking purposes or you can also filter water into gallon containers and take them with you so that it is simple and convenient.

Imagine going on a hike and taking your filter with clean pure water with you on your back and whenever you need a drink you simply sip the purified water through a straw like tubing. These types of water filters which are common for back country hikers are becoming more popular with day hikers and even families spending the day out at sporting events or day long picnics are using these. They are simple convenience and easy.

The next time you go camping or plan a day out or even fishing consider one of these portable water filters to make the ease of your trip a little less stressful.

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There are many occasions when Crystal Quest portable water filters may be a good idea.  Emergencies and international travel are two of them. A more common use might be when having an outdoor excursion near streams, lakes, or ponds.  The Outback is a water filtration system that exceeds EPA guidelines for removal of Giardia Lamblia parasites and Cryptosporidium protozoa as well as other bacteria that may cause illness.

The filtration matrix Outback uses has little effect on water molecule flow, but presents a difficult obstacle course for parasites, resulting in safe drinking water that needs no prior disinfection.  The filter is designed for ease of use and will provide approximately 200 refills.

Crystal clear, rushing streams; plunging waterfalls; bubbling brooks — all convey an image of freshness and purity. But when you drink from them, be aware you are not the only drinker. Insects drink, too, and some of them lay millions of eggs in the water. Animals also drink and very often leave behind their wastes. Just one swallow of that fresh-looking ( and often fresh tasting ) water contains literally billions of microorganisms, some harmful to humans and some not. Even cold, swiftly flowing water contains bacteria, viruses, and quite possibly, microscopic parasites and worms. The chance of getting sick, sometimes seriously sick, just isn’t worth it unless it’s an emergency and you have no other source of liquid.

Today there are several compact, portable water filters designed specifically for use in the wild, and I strongly recommend that you use one if you don’t carry your own water with you.

Excerpted from the book “The Drinking Water Book — How to Eliminate Harmful Toxins from Your Water” by Colin Ingram. 

One of the downsides of camping is that you have the arduous process of cleaning water, which includes the boiling and cleaning of water.  You could bring prepackaged bottled water, but that’s environmentally unsound, since bottles made of plastic 7 are not reusable. 

These issues can be remedied with the purchase of a portable water purifier.  By carrying a water purifier with you, you can drink from streams and have clean water and not have to worry about bring extra bottles or pots with you to have access to drinkable water.