Portable Water Filter

A portable water filter is very important for hikers, campers and large group of people who are in an environment where water is a limited resource. These portable filters are sometimes called POU or point of use water treatment systems. The difference of these filters with those that are used at homes is that first and foremost, they are small enough to be carried around in backpacks and similar packages and at the same time provide filtration of 0.2-0.3 micrometers. This is usually enough to filter potent protozoa and bacteria that may cause diarrhea and health problems that could be fatal without a hospital for hundreds of miles. Portable filters are usually used to prevent people from getting sick in a remote, unforgiving area. Minor diarrhea can worsen in a matter of hours and dehydration can be very quick.

Most of the time ceramic filters are used with these portable filtration systems which can filter 5,000 – 50,000 liters per cartridge. These filters can effectively clear the water with pathogens and other contaminants. The weakness of this system is that its filter cartridges can “spawn” pathogens when not maintained with care. Current technology like bonding silver nanoparticles to the filter can lessen this risk.

There are two common filters used in these portable filters. One is ceramic filters and the other is the activated charcoal. Activated charcoals are used as a secondary filtration option, enhancing the quality of the water after it has gone through a ceramic filter. It can also be used before having the water go through a ceramic filter. Either way it works great in ensuring that the water you drink sourced from a nearby stream is safe and properly sanitized.

There are also portable reverse osmosis systems generally used by the military. Instead of using a pressure pump or a pressurized supply line to pass water in the membrane, the portable RO system is equipped with a hand pump. This system has the ability to make drinkable water from seawater.

A portable water filter is not a standalone water treatment. It may include activated charcoal, ceramic filters and chemical sanitizers (such as chlorine and iodine) to make untreated and potentially deadly water safe enough for consumption.

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