Water Department

Buying Guide:
Portable Water Purifiers & Micro Filters

Get the product you need to provide safe water during your travels. For comprehensive contaminant removal in foreign countries or outback regions, trust the purifiers. For times when the water sources you are drawing from are likely bacteriologically & virually safe, the micro filters are an excellent, economical choice.

	Purifiers Use these for maximum water cleansing when water sources are suspect							MicroFilters Use these where/when water sources are considered bacteriologically safe
Features	First Need	First Need Base Camp	Trav-L-Pure	Trav-L-Pure Camper	Exstream XR Bottle	Travel Well Pocket		Katadyn Pocket	Katadyn Combi	Katadyn Mini	MicroLite
Manufacturer	General Ecology	General Ecology	General Ecology	General Ecology	Katadyn	PreMac		Katadyn	Katadyn	Katadyn	General Ecology
Purification or Filtration Technology	Structured Matrix: 1. Ultrafine micro straining 2. Broad spectrum molecular capture 3. Electrostatic removal				Activated carbon Iodine resin Micro cyst filter 3-part:	Activated charcoal (carbon) cloth Iodine resin		Silver impregnated ceramic depth filter (inhibits bacteria growth within the filter)	Silver impregnated ceramic depth filter(inhibits bacteria growth within the filter)	Silver impregnated ceramic depth filter(inhibits bacteria growth within the filter)	Carbon micro filter
Hold Time, Backwashing, or Secondary Treatment	None	None	None	None	None	Hold 2 min.		None	None	None	None
Benefits & Primary Application	All General Ecology products remove pathogens rather than simply poisoning them & leaving the residue in the water to be consumed				Cost & convenience	Cost & size		Incredible durability & capacity	Versatility & capacity	Size & capacity	Cost, size
	Hiking / camping	Group camping & expeditions High flow rate	World & business traveller	Campers & RV vehicles	Sports & hiking	Emergency prep & first aid		Hiking / camping	Hiking / camping Campers & RV vehicles Cabins	Hiking / camping	Hiking / camping
Flow Rate	1.8 qt/min (1.7 L/min)	0.5 gal/min (1.9 L/min)	1.32 qt/min (1.25 L/min)	0.5 gal/min (1.9 L/min)	6.8 oz/min (200 ml/min)	6.8 oz/min (200 ml/min)		1.06 qt/min (1 L/min)	1.06 qt/min (1 L/min)	0.5 qt/min (0.5 L/min)	1.0 pt/min (0.47 L/min)
Storage capacity	X	X	22 oz (600ml)	X	28 oz (830ml)	X		X	X	X	X
Typical Canister Capacity (note: depends on water source quality)	125 gal (475 L)	500 gal (1900 L)	105 gal (400 L)	125 gal (475 L)	26 gal (100 L)	13.2 gal (50 L)		13,200 gal 50,000 L	13,200 gal 50,000 L	2,000 gal 7,000 L	100 pt 47 L
Micron Retention	0.1 nominal 0.4 absolute	0.1 nominal 0.4 absolute	0.1 nominal 0.4 absolute	0.1 nominal 0.4 absolute	not avail	not indicated		0.2 nominal ? absolute	0.2 nominal ? absolute	0.2 nominal ? absolute	0.5 nominal (1.0 absolute)
Contaminant Removal...
Pathogenic Cysts (eg. Cryptosporidia, Giardia)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Disease Bacteria (eg. E.Coli, Fecal Coliform, Salmonella)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		No	No	No	No
Viruses	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		No	No	No	No
Chemical Contaminants (eg. pesticides, herbicides, toxic chemicals. Specifics are available upon request)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	Some		Some	Some	Some	Some
Chlorine	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		No (requires carbon pre-filter)	No (requires carbon pre-filter)	No (requires carbon pre-filter)	No
Aesthetic Contaminants (eg. foul taste, odor, color)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dimensions & Dry Weight	Pump: 8" 20cm 15 oz 425g	4.1 x 8.9" 5.5 x 23cm 5.5 lbs 2.5 kg	6.6x4.4x3.3" 16.8x11.2x8.4cm 22 oz 625g	5.2 x 3.2" 13.2 x 8cm 12 oz 340g	3 x 11" 7.5 x 29cm 7.4 oz 210g	0.9 x 5.1" 2 x 13cm 2.3 oz 65g		2.3 x 10.5" 6 x 27cm 21 oz 580g	2.3 x 10.5" 6 x 27cm 21 oz 580g	3.1 x 2 x 7" 8 x 5 x 18cm 8 oz 210g	2.75 x 5.5" 7 x 14cm 7 oz 200g
Other Features	Includes: carry bag, built-in bottle adaptor Hydration pack adaptors available Sealed cartidges eliminate possible contact with contaminants 1-year warranty	Rugged design 10-year warranty	Includes: carrying case, test dye 1-year warranty	Simple threaded connection to hoses & hook-ups 1-year warranty	Bite valve on straw Carry loop Fits standard bike bottle cages 1-year warranty	Disposable 10+ years shelf life		Includes: hydration accessory, prefilter, bottle clip, carry bag, useage gauge, cleaning pad Field cleanable 20-year warranty	Includes: bottle adaptor, prefilter, carry bag, useage gauge, cleaning pad Field cleanable Optional: faucet kit 2-year warranty	Includes: prefilter, bottle clip, carry bag, useage gauge, cleaning pad Field cleanable 2-year warranty	1-year warranty
Outpost Price	Check	Call	Check	Check	Check	Check		Call	Check	Call	Check

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Water Department

A quick look at common purification methods...

The products listed in our table above are among the most highly rated available. But how do they compare against products found in typical outdoor stores, groceries, & pharmacies? Why not just boil your water to be safe?
Have a look at the following table, and then decide for yourself what level of risk you are willing to take...

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Water Department

Frequently Asked Questions About Drinking Water Purification Systems...

1. How can I tell if my drinking water really is safe?

There are so many different types of contaminants that it is impossible to be completely sure on all possibilities. You can, however, have your water tested for bacteriological safety and for specific contaminants. The NORS (National Organics Reconnaissance Survey) showed that essentially all treated water supplies have at least trace amounts of chemical contaminants, such as THM’s, present. More importantly, Giardia and Cryptosporidia pose very serious health threats with more cases of illness occurring in “city” water than in the wilderness. There is no known treatment except prevention for many of these problems.

2. Isn’t it necessary to add chemicals to destroy bacteria and viruses?

Normally, yes. chlorine, bromine, iodine, ozone and sometimes silver and other pesticides (economic poisons) are frequently used in efforts to destroy bacteria and viruses.
General Ecology is one manufacturer of purification systems that has a goal to remove chlorine and other economic poisons from the environment. It simply makes no sense to add even more of them during the so-called purification process. Their 'Structured Matrix' system does not rely on chemicals and is well known as the ecologically friendly, chemical free water purifier!

3. What bacteria should I be aware of in my drinking water, and what happens to them after they’re removed by a purifier?

Fortunately, there are only a few strains of bacteria you normally need to be concerned about relative to drinking water. These are salmonella, of which S. typhosa, or typhoid fever, bacteria is the best known, shigella, which causes diarrhea and cramping, the dreaded cholera of the Middle Ages and some foreign countries at the present time, and the well-known E. coli. Additionally, some bacteria, such as campylobacter jejeuni, which formerly were considered to be non-pathogenic to man, have been found to be human pathogens. Bacteria, like people, need food to exist and multiply. Bacteria also have relatively short life spans (measured in hours not days or years). Typically, this food comes from organic contamination in the water.

In the case of General Ecology purifiers, bacteria are removed on the outer surfaces of the cartridge matrix and the nutrients (food for the bacteria) are absorbed in the interior of the matrix. Thus, the cartridge effectively isolates bacteria form an essential food base. Bacteria, without food, are unable to reproduce, and die within a relatively short time. Also, in many situations, incoming water will contain contaminants such as chlorine, phenols, pesticides, etc…, which are hostile to, and help kill, bacteria concentrated on the outside of the matrix.

4. I’m concerned about asbestos and have been told that ordinary filters don’t remove this potential carcinogen.

You’ve been told correctly that ordinary filters don’t reliably remove asbestos. But the General Ecology 'Structured Matrix' products, rather than being mere filters, is a sophisticated microstraining device that readily removes asbestos fibers. Because of the depth type microstructure, the General Ecology technology has been tested on asbestos fibers as small as .04 microns in diameter and has shown complete removal within the detection capability of the testing equipment.

5. How much do filter & purifier operating costs compare to bottled water?

Surprisingly, they are quite inexpensive. Many ordinary aluminum and plastic-housing, charcoal filters, which must be used only on previously treated waters and are largely inefficient, cost almost twice as much for the unit and several times as much for replacement cartridges. Bottled water, which can be of questionable quality, can cost 75 cents to a dollar or more per gallon. The present cost of a good purifier unit, like the General Ecology products, is less than 40 cents per gallon (approx 10 cents per gallon in the case of Seagull IV residential systems including equipment, installation, operation and maintenance, averaged over its useable life).

Putting this in perspective, 1000 gallons of bottled water costs $750.00 - $1000.00 or more, while a 125 gallon General Ecology First Need cartridge costs less than $50.00. Plus you are getting the benefit of being able to produce clean water wherever & whenever you need it.

6. What about these small charcoal filter gadgets that attach to the end of the faucet or are installed in a plastic pitcher? They seem to be quite inexpensive.

Actually they’re quite expensive, since they cost good money and do essentially nothing to improve the quality of your water. These units typically contain just a few grams of loose granular charcoal and have demonstrated as little as 5 to 10 percent effectiveness (i.e. 90 to 95 percent of contamination comes through). Many of our customers are people who have become aware of the need for water quality improvement, have purchased one of the faucet-attaching or pitcher gadgets, and then sought an effective product that really works.

7. What can I do when I travel? I know resorts use rooftop catch basins and that many countries have very serious water-borne disease problems.

The answer to this question is to review the purifier products on the top of this page. Do not rely on a simple micro filter to protect you from the waterborne disease that exists in many foreign countries. It only takes one of the little critters to destroy your trip, and possibly your quality of life for months or even years after.