Emergency Water Filters
Emergency water filters are an essential part of emergency planning and water storage. Most of us take clean water for granted. It only takes two or three days without water for our human body to start to fail.
When a major disaster or emergency strikes, we might not have access to healthy drinking water for days or even weeks. Stores will run out of bottled water almost immediately. At times like these, having emergency water filters, and a stored supply of water… will be your lifeline.
Why Filter Water?
Water that looks crystal-clear can contain microorganisms, it is not possible to tell whether water is of an appropriate quality by visual examination. Water contaminants – protozoa, bacteria and viruses –
can cause serious illness or even death.
Not only is drinkable water essential to maintaining health, it is also important for cooking, personal hygiene, sanitation, and reconstituting dehydrated foods.
About Emergency Water Filters
Generally, water filter systems are designed to remove specific kinds of pollutants and substances. The particular materials that the device or substance is capable of removing will be listed on the label they come with, filter costs will vary according to the capabilities of the device.
Both purifier and filter systems are microbiological water-treatment devices. A filter system alone, removes protozoa and bacteria from contaminated water. A water purifier does the same, plus eliminates viruses.
1. Water Purifiers
Water Purifiers, whether in the form of, a System Device – such as the MSR Filter shown to the right, or in the form of tablets and solutions, can remove or inactivate viruses and are therefore ideal for outdoor recreation, travel, and disaster-preparedness.
Purifying water gives the highest level of safety available by eliminating ALL microorganisms including viruses.
Why is a purifier better than a micro-filter? A water “filter” generally claims to reduce or eliminate protozoan parasites and bacteria. A filter is adequate for remote wilderness seldom visited by people. A water “purifier” also removes or inactivates viruses and is therefore ideal in any situation.
2. UV Water Purification Systems
A more recent alternative to the above treatments, ultraviolet (UV) light rays can be used to irradiate water. Though new to most consumers, this process has been used for decades by commercial bottling plants and municipal water systems.
The UV process works by damaging the DNA of microbes, even viruses. Without complete DNA, germs and pathogens cannot reproduce and cause harm.
UV water filters are intended for clear water only. Water with significant discoloration or particulates can reduce effectiveness by inhibiting penetration of UV light through the water.
SteriPEN products are the perfect tool to insure your family has safe drinking water anywhere. They use ultraviolet light to purify water so there is no chemical taste, odor or risky side-effects.
Used as directed, UV devices such as the SteriPEN have been shown to destroy over: 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.99% of viruses and 99.9% of protozoa (i.e. Giardia and Cryptosporidium).
3. Portable Water Filter Systems
Portable emergency water filters are used by hikers, by aid organizations during humanitarian emergencies, and by the military.
These filters are small, portable and light (1-2 pounds or less), and usually filter water by working a mechanical hand pump, although some use a siphon drip system to force water through while others are built into water bottles.
Dirty water is pumped via a screen-filtered flexible silicon tube through a specialized filter, ending up in a container. These filters work to remove bacteria, protozoa and microbial cysts that can cause disease.
These types of emergency water filters deliver long-lasting, fully self-maintainable water filtration. Their durable ceramic element ensures protection, pumps water for years, and can be cleaned repeatedly for full recovery.
Fortunately, portable water filters CAN help make water safe to drink, where-ever and when-ever you need it. They have become essential equipment for emergencies and outdoor survival worldwide.
(These emergency water filters should not be confused with the devices or tablets that are water purifiers, most of which remove or kill viruses such as hepatitis A and rotavirus).
*For protection against viruses, an EPA registered disinfectant or water purification tablet/solution may be added to the water after it has been filtered with one of these filter devices.
4. Gravity Drip Filter/Purification Systems
Most gravity filter systems are best considered for household or base camp emergency situations because they are portable, but not as small and lightweight as the water systems above.
They yield several gallons of water a day and do not require the use of electricity, and therefore are an excellent emergency choice for specific types of emergencies.
These emergency water filter systems typically retain suspended matter, all harmful bacteria and parasites such as cryptosproidium and giardia. The essential minerals remain in the water.
Berkey Brand water filters have become the standard of excellence by which all other water filtration systems are measured. They deliver the cleanest water possible from the world’s most superior water filtration systems.
Most other filtration systems are inferior. They do not remove pathogenic bacteria and many remove beneficial minerals from the water as well. In addition, the Berkey Light is powerful enough to purify raw, untreated water from sources like lakes, streams, rivers and ponds.