Re: Water Purifier Portable Water Purification System
I have seen one use and it worked fine. Of course you can only purify one quart at a time and the water should be clear for the UV to be effective. The only concerns I have heard about them are: batteries die and you do not have replacements with you or if the electronics fail. In either case you no longer have a water purifier. UV purifiers will really kill the "bugs" though if used as directed in clear water.
To be rated as a purifier in the U.S. the device (UV unit, chemicals, mechanical filter, etc.) must meet the EPA standard for a water PURIFIER.
cysts and parasites: 3 Log reduction min. that is 999/1000 removed/killed
bacteria: 6 Log reduction min. that is 999999/1000000 removed/killed
virus: 4 Log reduction min. that is 9999/10000 removed/killed
The above says nothing about heavy metals or man introduced chemicals and pesticides.
I clean our fresh water tank once a year with chlorine bleach and then only put known safe water in it for drinking. More convenient then purifying one quart of water at a time for drinking and cooking.
We do have Katadyn Exstream water purifiers with us in case the only water we have available is suspect. Again they are only one quart units. I have used them in Haiti for ALL my drinking (and teeth brushing) needs. They also have a charcoal element for improving the taste of water if needed and maybe take out some chemicals if present.
If by chance you are concerned for biologicals ("bugs"), heavy metals, and chemicals I would look at a Berkey w their black elements. On the other hand if you really knew all that crap is/could be in the water I wouldn't go near the place.
We have used a Sweatwater pump filter and iodine (Polarpure) to purify lake water while canoe camping. We still only use lake water that the park rangers say is safe to drink once the "bugs" are killed.
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Len & Joanne
The Green TARDIS
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