The Best Emergency Water Filter

Let's face it folks, in a real emergency you can't run out of the house packing a huge water filter system. James Wesley Rawles, Founder of SurvivalBlog.com and author of "How to Survive the End of the World as We Know it" writes, "Katadyn makes an excellent compact water filter/pump called a Pocket Filter... For hunting trips and Get Out of Dodge/Bugout situations... it is perfect for its intended purpose." You can't live without clean water. Even if your not an avid hiker or camper, you should have a Katadyn filter in your 72 hour kit/bugout bag, just in case.

The Katadyn Pocket water filter will treat an incredible 13,000 gallons of water. That's up to 60 times more water than standard water filters! In fact you can double its life by purchasing a replacement filter. Katadyn of Switzerland has been producing high quality portable water filter systems since 1928. Katadyn water filter products are used by militaries, health organizations and outdoor adventurers worldwide. No other water filter system provides higher quality or longer-lasting performance. "The classic". This robust water filter made of heavy duty materials is ideal for long lasting continuous use even under extreme circumstances. The silver impregnated ceramic element is effective against bacteria and protozoa and can filter up to 0.2 micron. The Katadyn Pocket water filter is the only water filter with a lifetime warranty. Katadyn's classic Pocket Filter combines the highest quality and ultimate durability.

Katadyn Pocket Water Filter Specifications:
Microfiltration Method: Field-cleanable 0.2 micron ceramic depth filter
Output: Up to 1 quart/minute
Cartridge Capacity: Up to 13,000-gallons, depending on water quality
Weight: 20 oz
Height: 10"
Includes: Hydration Connector, Prefilter, Bottle Clip, Carry Bag, Measuring Guage and Cleaning Pad.

How to Choose a Water Filter

Even though the US has some of the cleanest drinking water in the world, depending on where you live, there may be contaminants of concern you'd like to filter out. After you test your water, if you find that the levels of contaminants are high, you may want to invest in a water filter. Remember, though, that in order for the filter to be effective you'll have to change filters and maintain the system, otherwise it can actually result in higher levels of contamination.

Types of Water Filters
The simplest, and often least expensive, water purifiers are those that use a carbon-activated filter. These include pitchers with built-in filters as well as those that attach directly to faucets or to plumbing below the sink. Those using granulated charcoal may be slightly less effective than solid block charcoal filters. Carbon filters will generally remove chlorine, coarse sediment, lead and some organic chemicals. The simplest types won't filter out pathogens, some pesticides and some heavy metals, but those with a combination of filters are more likely to.

The most comprehensive, and most expensive, water purifiers are reverse-osmosis systems. These purifiers push water up against a membrane. The water that does not make it through contains the contaminants and is diverted as waste water. While reverse-osmosis systems remove a wide-range of contaminants, including all heavy metals, many pesticides and asbestos, they do not remove trihalomethanes (THMs), radon and VOCs, or pesticides such as lindane and atrazine unless they also have carbon filters attached. They also waste a lot of water - a few gallons for each gallon purified is flushed away as waste water.

Distillers, contrary to popular belief, do not remove all substances from water. Distillers do remove heavy metals, asbestos, nitrates, bacteria, viruses and cysts, but do not eliminate most pesticides, VOCs, chlorine and trihalomethanes (THMs), a group of chemicals which form when chlorine reacts with organic chemicals left in the water by soil and decaying vegetation. THMs may cause miscarriages. In addition, distillation softens water, removing calcium and magnesium, which are beneficial to human health. Softened water is more likely to leach chemicals from storage containers.

Water purifiers that are labeled with "absolute one micron" will filter out cysts that have escaped disinfection by water companies. A word of caution: "Nominal one micron" will not remove pathogens!

The National Sanitation Foundation, a nonprofit organization, certifies water filters by the type of contaminants eliminated. NSF Standard 42 is used on filters that remove contaminants that reduce aesthetic quality (taste, smell, color), such as aluminum, chlorine, iron and sediment. NSF Standard 53 is the most comprehensive, used for filters that remove most pesticides, VOCs, cysts, fluoride, most heavy metals and THMs. NSF has a database of filters certified by them.

Consumer Reports has found that most under sink models are not necessarily any better than counter top units. The magazine regularly publishes ratings of water purifiers. Regardless of the type of filter you choose, remember to change the filters as often as the manufacturer suggests. Not only will clogged filters be inefficient, but they also may harbor bacteria.