Choosing an Outdoor Water Filter
Using the proper Outdoor Water Filter can prevent you from falling victim to harmful waterborne pathogens during your hiking adventures. These portable filtration systems remove unpleasant taste, odors, chemicals and bacteria that cause waterborne illnesses.
Backpacking filters use microscopic pores to sift out protozoa and bacteria but cannot eliminate viruses from contaminated water. These filtration systems also feature a backflush system to keep the filter clean.
1. Activated Carbon Filter
Activated carbon filters remove objectionable tastes, odors, and chemicals from water. They’re also effective in reducing the amount of Nitrate in water (nitrate is a key element for plant growth, but too much can lead to methemoglobinemia, or “blue baby syndrome,” in infants).
Carbon filters use a process called adsorption. This works by soaking up and bonding with organic compounds in the water. The carbon’s surface area and pore structure are important factors in its adsorption properties. The larger the carbon’s pore structure, the more impurities it can trap.
The carbon used in these filters can be sourced from various materials, including coconut shells, coal (anthracite or bituminous), and peat. The carbon is then “activated” to open up its massive surface area. This process drives off impurities and enhances its adsorption capabilities.
Activated carbon filters are not able to eliminate all contaminants on their own, so they’re often used in combination with other types of water treatment systems. For example, a gravity water filter might incorporate a carbon-activated filter and a UV filtration stage to offer the most comprehensive protection from harmful microorganisms and chemical contaminants. This two-step approach is a powerful way to ensure that you’ll always have safe and clean drinking water when out in the wild.
2. Membrane Filter
In addition to the gear you’ll need for backpacking, it’s also important to carry an effective outdoor water filter. These can make all the difference between getting sick and making it to camp on time for a great adventure. There are many different styles of filters available, each suited to different scenarios and budgets.
Membrane filtration works by using a membrane material that separates dissolved and particulate matter from a liquid. All dissolved and particulate materials with a higher molecular weight cut off (MWCO) than the membrane material will be trapped, while all water molecules will pass through. This type of filtration is often used in industrial applications, but it’s also an excellent option for outdoor water filtration.
When selecting a membrane for a particular application, it is important to consider the fluid chemical compatibility and maximum pore size. Uniformly thin membranes offer the greatest gas Outdoor Water Filter and fluid flow per unit area, and can be die cut from a variety of materials including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded PTFE, cellulose acetate, nitrocellulose, and nylon.
In order to function properly, membranes must be cleaned regularly. Undesirable constituents will clog the membrane over time, and these particles must be removed from the membrane surface to prevent the loss of efficiency that would result from fouling. Cleaning the membrane involves reversing the direction of water flow through the system, by applying pressure on the dirty side of the membrane. This pressure is supplied by a pump, and helps to overcome head loss that is created as the constituents build up on the membrane surface.
3. Sediment Filter
Sediment filters are a defensive and preservative filtering method that catch larger particles like dirt, silt, and sand. They can help prevent turbidity (cloudiness) and reduce sediment build-up in your home’s plumbing system, water heater, or any appliances that use water.
Most sediment filters are rated by their micron capacity, which indicates what size of particle the filter is able to trap. For example, a sediment filter with a micron rating of 10 will remove all particles that are ten microns or larger. For comparison, a human hair is 75-80 microns in size and anything smaller than that will be invisible to you without a microscope.
There are a few different types of sediment filters that you Portable water purification straw can choose from, including melt-blown, pleated, and string-wound. Melt-blown filters use a blend of polyester, cotton, or polypropylene that is melted together to create a thick layer that captures unwanted substances in your water supply. Pleated filters have an even larger surface area, allowing them to catch more contaminants than a melt-blown filter. String-wound sediment filters have tightly wound layers of string that can catch particles.
Whether you live on a well, or are pulling your water from a public source, the best way to ensure your family’s health and wellbeing is by installing point-of-entry sediment filtration at your house. This helps to protect you and your loved ones from harmful toxins in the water and can save you money in the long run by reducing the need for expensive bottled water purchases.
4. UV Filter
UV systems use ultraviolet light to kill pathogens and microorganisms that are detrimental to water quality. They work by targeting a pathogen’s DNA or RNA and destroying it, leaving the water clean.
UV systems can also remove herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals that can run off into backcountry water sources and are a great choice for hikers looking to protect themselves against potential backcountry poisoning. They’re typically a bit bulkier than other water filters, which makes them less favored by lightweight backpackers, but they can be super reliable in the backcountry.
The only drawback of using a UV system is that they can’t remove physical contaminants like heavy metals and harmful chemicals from the water. They can, however, get rid of toxins and other chemicals by targeting them with the UV light (and sometimes adding an activated carbon filter to remove any remaining chemicals).
Another thing to keep in mind when using a UV system is that it requires electricity to work. If you plan on taking your system into the backcountry, you’ll want to pack a backup power source that you can plug in and start treating water with if something goes wrong with the main unit. If you’re hiking with a group, this isn’t a big deal as most UV systems have multiple treatment ports that can be used to treat water simultaneously.