| How do I choose a drinking water system? Use the Drinking Water Safety Guide to help you choose
the best product for your needs.
 
| Purifiers: |
#1 highest safety
rating
Eliminate all viruses, bacteria and Giardia, no matter what the micron size. |
| Microfilters: |
#2 safety rating
Eliminate Giardia and most bacteria, depending on their micron size. |
| Filters: |
#3 safety rating
Only eliminate Giardia and microorganisms larger than 1 micron. |
| What is the best
way to make water safe to drink? |
| Purifying |
Combines chemical
disinfection with filtration to eliminate all three types of microorganisms. PUR Purifiers
work fast, are easy to operate and require little or no maintenence. |
| Boiling |
Bring the water to a
full boil to kill microorganisms. Requires an energy source and takes time. |
| Iodine Tablets |
Add 1 or 2 tablets
per quart and wait 20 minutes to kill the microorganisms. Takes time and adds foul taste.
Limited effectiveness against Giardia and not effective against Cryptosporidium. |
| Filtering |
Microfilters may
remove protozoa aned most bacteria. Doesn't remove viruses. Many require frequent cleaning
due to clogging. |
"What's really in the water?"
Microorganisms are the primary threat in
untreated water sources. They may be in any lake, river or stream, even if the water looks
clean. Microorganisms generally come from animal waste and may be spread by rain and
run-off.
Beware
of these 3 types of microorganisms: |
 |
Protozoa
2 microns
and larger |
Protozoa are the
largest microorganisms. Therefore, they are the easiest to filter out of the water.
However, their protective shell makes them resistant to iodine and chlorine treatment
alone. One common protozoa, Giardia, causes "Beaver's Fever." |
| Example |
Giardia and
Cryptosporidium |
|
Bacteria
.2 microns
and larger |
Bacteria range in
size from 0.2 to 10 microns. Large bacteria may be removed by most microfilters, but
smaller bacteria can only be eliminated by a very small micron size microfilter or a
purifier. Bacteria are responsible for diseases such as Cholera and Typhoid Fever. |
| Example |
E. coli and
Salmonella |
|
Viruses
.004 microns
and larger |
Viruses are the
smallest microorganisms and cannot be reliably removed by filtration. It was traditionally
thought that viruses aren't a concern in North America, but that opinion has changed.
Wilderness studies suggest that 60% of all back country illnesses are actually caused by
bacteria and viruses. Viruses can cause serious health problems, such as Hepatitis, Polio
and Norwalk Virus. Viruses can be eliminated from water with purification, chemical
disinfection, or boiling. |
| Example |
Hepatitis A, Polio,
and Norwalk Virus |
|
"Why do we need drinking water systems?"
More people are using drinking water systems while camping, backpacking and traveling.
Why?
Safety. Unfortunately, most lakes, rivers
and streams are full of microorganisms that can make you sick. Drinking water systems can
eliminate these contaminants and make the water safe to drink. Protect yourself, because
you never know what's in the water.
Freedom. Be self-sufficient with a drinking water system. As long as there is a
water source you can have safe drinking water. And, lightweight drinking water systems
won't weigh you down like carrying extra water.
|