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Wilderness Portable Water Filtration Tips

by Lynn Holmgren

Overview

Danger in the wilderness doesn't always come in the form of a large, threatening animal. In fact, wilderness danger is more likely to be invisible to the human eye. Rivers, lakes and other bodies of water can all contain microorganisms and bacteria harmful to our health. To prevent illness from waterborne pathogens, you should use a water filter. There are many easy and efficient portable water filters on the market, and ways to build your own filter system if caught in a pinch.

Filtering water
Choosing a Filter

When comparing portable water filters, there are several things to keep in mind. The best filter should be simple to use, effective, long-lasting and easy to clean. Compare products' method and speed of filtration, as well as weight, ease of cleaning and replacement parts. If you are traveling outside of North America, for a long period of time, or in an area that you know has questionable water, you will want to buy a top-of-the-line model. If the filter will be used for occasional day hikes, you can stick with a simpler model.

Types of Filters

There are several types of filters to choose from. Hand-pump-style filters take "raw" water from the source, pumping it through a filter that catches sediment and bacteria, returning clean water to your container. Most of these filters also have a purifier element in the form of an additional chemical like iodine, carbon or an electrostatic process to render viruses in the water inactive. These filters are usually ceramic, ceramic with a carbon core, fiberglass, structured matrix or iodine resin. Filters often use carbon to reduce offensive tastes and smell from the water. For maximum safety, look for an absolute pore size of 0.2 microns, the industry's smallest filtering capacity. Gravity-powered filtration systems provide filtration, delivery and storage all in one without any pumping. Water is forced through a filter by gravity, traveling from one storage bag to another. UV filtration is a recent development in portable filtration devices. It involves no chemicals or pumping, only batteries. It sterilizes water using UV light, destroying viruses and bacteria. Light, fast and effective, it is quickly becoming one of the more popular choices for portable water filtration. Katadyn, Bota, MSR, Sweetwater and Steripen are all companies that market multiple styles of filters.
Build Your Own Filter

If you are stuck in the woods without a filter on hand, you may be able to build one yourself. Use a large, empty can with five to 10 holes punched in the bottom, or a large plastic bottle with the end cut off evenly. Fill the container to the top with layers of sand and gravel, alternating fine and coarse layers. If using a bottle, "plug" the opening with pebbles, grass or cotton. Pour water through the top of the filter, putting a container below to catch it. You may want to run it through again if it is not clean. If you have any charcoal from your fire, it can help remove harmful bacteria. Crush it to gravel size and add it as a middle layer.