Camping with friends and family can be fun. However, absence of civic amenities in camping areas can be a nightmare. If you vacation at a trailer, cabin or guesthouse every season, a camping water filter is a must have.
The spots ideal for camping and outdoor vacationing are generally far flung and out of the coverage of civic amenities. The water from the lakes may look blue and fresh but it may not be fit for human consumption. As a result, it is important to filter the water before consuming. Getting sick on the holidays is the last thing you would want.
However, purifying water while on the move is not so easy. In most of cases, there is no reliable access to electricity. You cannot just carry your home –electrolysis based purifier to your holiday home. Setting it up involves considerable costs and human resource. As a result, a portable water filter will be your safest bet while on vacation.
Most of camping water filters are portable. You can easily fit them into a bag. For larger parties, you can buy water filters with greater capacity. While looking for portable filters, it is wise to buy one that filters as well as stores water. This will reduce the need of carrying a separate storage vessels. Also, when you leave the vicinity of the filter, carry your own water in small sippers and water bottles.
Portable filters can be built on Reverse Osmosis technology, UV / UF technology or chemical filtering of water. The water can be dispensed by pumping with hand. However, remember that camping filters are usually designed for individual use. If large amount of water is needed, use Gravity – based filter. It will ensure that the water drips faster.
The cost of handheld filters ranger from $25 and can reach up to $350. The filter purifies water by straining out microbes and other contaminants. The cleaning ability of a water purifier depends upon its Pore-size efficiency. Bacteria are smaller than protozoa and hence need a finer pore- size. Several pocket filters filter put only protozoa. Drinking water from these is risking your health because bacteria may not be filtered out. If you plan to travel to relatively unhygienic areas, The First Need filter designed by General Ecology is a must. It is the sole filter that claims to conform to EPA virus-removal standards by employing filtration alone. This particular filter has a matrix system in which waters is made to pass through a maze of passages, which absorbs all the contaminants. Another popular choice is the Katadyn Water Filter. It is a bit of a classic these days as it almost invented the category, but it is still going strong and has served people well for years.
A few portable filters employ chemicals to cleanse water. They can either incorporate the chemical into the filter or use it in the form of tablets. Iodine is a commonly used disinfectant. It cleans water efficiently but its taste is not agreeable to human tongue. As a result, the Iodine is later neutralized by adding Carbon. Carbon usage has the added advantage of removing heavy metals, chlorine, herbicides and pesticides. However, Iodine needs to be avoided in case the user is suffering from thyroid disease.
Finally, you must remember that with usage, every camping water filter will get clogged with the containments. Hence, never try to force- pump water out of it. If you so, you will be getting back even more polluted water. Replaceable filters and carbon element need to be replaced periodically. Getting a good filter is a step towards remaining healthy through your camping vacation.
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