Just Filter Away Your Water Worries

(From Outgear column, July 7, 1996): The Outgear review of the First Need Deluxe water filter from General Ecology (June 9) mistakenly underrated the filter’s flow rate. The filter delivers pure water at slightly more than one quart per minute.

Water filters, part 1

Our water was long gone as we stared glumly at what the folks who organized the Utah Eco-Challenge adventure race defined as a spring an oil-slicked, mosquito-infested sludge pond containing a few odd tires, tons of cattle excrement, and one dead rat … yummy.

Armed with filters and iodine tablets, we managed to procure one gallon of potable water. Although the lack of purity of this water source was obvious, determining what is safe to drink isn’t so easy.

Microvermin such as giardia and cryptosporidium potentially lurk under the surface of the most crystal-clear, seemingly pure water. To drink directly from any natural water source is to risk a bout of nausea, diarrhea, vomiting or worse. Which is why water filters, which continue to get lighter, smaller, and more convenient to use, are essential to have.

Basic Designs Ceramic: (707-575-1220) The Basic Designs Ceramic Filter Pump ($32) weighs seven ounces and is as stripped-down a filter as you’ll find. The pump is simple, easy to use, and quite reliable. The ceramic filter effectively removes protozoa, making it ideal and cost-effective for backpacking - but it won’t deal with viruses and only selectively filters bacteria. Also, the filter element is too bulbous to work directly from a shallow water source, so you’ll have to contaminate a pot or bottle to transfer your unfiltered water. It’s a great buy for anyone worried only about giardia, cryptosporidium and the few forms of dangerous bacteria found in the U.S.

Sweetwater Walkabout: (800-557-9338) New for 1996 and an attempt by Sweetwater to gain acceptance by those who obsess over ounces and are prone to counting pennies, the Walkabout ($35) weighs just eight ounces. The filter removes both protozoa and bacteria and is easily cleaned in the field. Water delivery is a tad slow at just under a liter per minute. Although it is lighter and more compact than it’s cousin the Guardian ($60 / $80 with virus cartridge), I think the Guardian is a much better machine and value since it works in a wider variety of water conditions and its cartridges last longer.

First Need Deluxe: (800-441-8166) The 15-ounce First Need Deluxe ($70) from General Ecology is a time-proven filter that pumps easily enough, delivering pure water at just over one pint per minute - a bit slow for my tastes. However, it just leapfrogged up in value without the company having to lift a finger. Why? Because tests show it removes viruses through filtration with no iodine assistance, in addition to protozoa and bacteria. Still, if the cartridge gets dropped it can crack which opens the door for all the little nasties. Even though it is a rare occurance, General Ecology includes instructions on using a bottle of blue dye to test for cracks, the only way to see if the cartridge is damaged since it’s sealed in an opaque blue plastic housing. My advice is, carry an extra cartridge.

Next week: Water filters, part 2

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