Portable water system

Hey folks,

I've been staying with family in Texas this winter, but I'm gearing up to travel back to the Pacific Northwest to resume looking for land where I can safely live and BE.  Ahhhh... I'll be camping to avoid microwaves in the cities. I'm needing a travel portable water system so I can filter water as needed, mostly from municipal systems, but occasionally I might need to filter from a river...

I love Berkey filters, and from looking back on posts, seems many here do too. They have a plastic travel bottle that's inexpensive, but it has mixed reviews, some saying it doesn't filter properly, leaks or just plain doesn't work. I don't mind plastic to filter, as I'll immediately transfer to glass for storage anyway, as long as the filter removes the plastic residue:
http://www.amazon.com/Sport-Berkey-Portable-Water-Purifier/dp/B0026OKYPE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Found another one from Swayer, similar model, seems to have better reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Personal-Water-Bottle-Filter/dp/B005SO8VAE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Any thoughts, suggestions or experiences for a portable water filter for extended travel, something that's light and compact if possible?

Thanks so much,
Tim

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

hi, tim.
i recently purchased a zerowater water filter.
seems to work very well.  
removes all the particulate matter.  
you will need to replace the filter more often
in areas where they use lots of things in the water.
for instance, in eugene the ppm is 25...
in DC the ppm is 200+.  
it looks kinda like a britta but filters more than chlorine.
it contains a meter you use to track the filter's usefulness.
it comes in a big countertop model, pitchers, and also a personal size.
https://www.zerowater.com/products
so far, so good.  
love, patricia


Begin forwarded message:

> Any thoughts, suggestions or experiences for a portable water filter for extended travel, something that's light and compact if possible?



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Have purchased the Bekey portable water bottle from Azurestandard last month and found it smelled bad inside, (like cigarete smoke). Rinse out several time with Dr Bronners soap and still smelled alittle, so aired it out and tried to get to work. Wouldnt at first, it seems the part where open the hose out to drinkm was still pinching the hose enough to not let any water out. Called them up and were very nice on helping. Had to keep squeezing in cross direction from way it folds up shut. It does take a firm squeeze from me to work but am still getting strenth back into hands. It will leak sometimes if when squeeze so need to ck if fully open hose.
 wont return this but wouldnt buy another, found an old hand pump filter my mother had for backpacking but dont know where she got it from . Will go try it out and see if handy.
Lynn D

--- In [hidden email], Tim <timheierman@...> wrote:

Hi Patricia,

I've been doing more research and came across this brand yesterday, so it's good to have a referral!  I started looking at pitchers as they are portable and can filter more water at a time. I think the squeeze bottles aren't going to be practical for transferring to glass anyway... There are some bag designs that I'm looking into as well.

I *think* most of the water dispensing machines you find at groceries and stores use RO, which I should avoid to keep my minerals balanced. So a smaller pitcher type filter might just do the trick with municipal water. For river water, I might look for a filter that's designed specifically for that situation... I see a plan coming together. :-)

Just checked Consumer Reports, and their top pitcher is the Clear2O. That model has a hose to attach directly to a faucet, so that won't work for travel. Their second pick is the Zerowater. Some reviews for Zerowater say that the filters plug up quickly. If this happens to you, the Clear2O might work for you....

Thanks for the suggestion!
Tim




________________________________
 From: Patricia Robinett <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 11:53 PM
Subject: Fwd: [eSens] Portable water system
 

 
hi, tim.
i recently purchased a zerowater water filter.
seems to work very well.
removes all the particulate matter.
you will need to replace the filter more often
in areas where they use lots of things in the water.
for instance, in eugene the ppm is 25...
in DC the ppm is 200+.
it looks kinda like a britta but filters more than chlorine.
it contains a meter you use to track the filter's usefulness.
it comes in a big countertop model, pitchers, and also a personal size.
https://www.zerowater.com/products
so far, so good.
love, patricia

Begin forwarded message:

> Any thoughts, suggestions or experiences for a portable water filter for extended travel, something that's light and compact if possible?

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Interesting, accordign to the FAQ's on the zero water,this filter doesn't remove arsenic, fluoride or uranium. Lizzie
 To: [hidden email]
From: [hidden email]
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2013 13:49:56 -0700
Subject: Re: Fwd: [eSens] Portable water system
















 



 


   
     
     
      Hi Patricia,



I've been doing more research and came across this brand yesterday, so it's good to have a referral!  I started looking at pitchers as they are portable and can filter more water at a time. I think the squeeze bottles aren't going to be practical for transferring to glass anyway... There are some bag designs that I'm looking into as well.



I *think* most of the water dispensing machines you find at groceries and stores use RO, which I should avoid to keep my minerals balanced. So a smaller pitcher type filter might just do the trick with municipal water. For river water, I might look for a filter that's designed specifically for that situation... I see a plan coming together. :-)



Just checked Consumer Reports, and their top pitcher is the Clear2O. That model has a hose to attach directly to a faucet, so that won't work for travel. Their second pick is the Zerowater. Some reviews for Zerowater say that the filters plug up quickly. If this happens to you, the Clear2O might work for you....



Thanks for the suggestion!

Tim



________________________________

 From: Patricia Robinett <[hidden email]>

To: [hidden email]

Sent: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 11:53 PM

Subject: Fwd: [eSens] Portable water system

 



 

hi, tim.

i recently purchased a zerowater water filter.

seems to work very well.

removes all the particulate matter.

you will need to replace the filter more often

in areas where they use lots of things in the water.

for instance, in eugene the ppm is 25...

in DC the ppm is 200+.

it looks kinda like a britta but filters more than chlorine.

it contains a meter you use to track the filter's usefulness.

it comes in a big countertop model, pitchers, and also a personal size.

https://www.zerowater.com/products

so far, so good.

love, patricia



Begin forwarded message:



> Any thoughts, suggestions or experiences for a portable water filter for extended travel, something that's light and compact if possible?



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





   
     

   
   






       

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

hi, tim.

thanks for the info about consumer
reports.  they do good research.  :)

it depends on the quality of your water,
how fast the filters are 'used up'.  if by
"plug up", you mean the filter is slow
and the water does not move through,
they instruct you to 'burp' the pitcher,
as the air/water flow needs a little help
sometimes.  i've had to 'burp' mine...
and then it works fine.  i have the 6-cup
model.  

when i feel that i need more minerals,
i add 'trace minerals' from salt lake city
to my water.  first, purify it, then add
full-spectrum minerals to it.  as a matter
of fact, i think i'll go grab my trace
minerals now... thanks for the reminder.

so sad that
we need to go to all this trouble to have
good water.  in eugene, all they need is
a charcoal filter, because all they add is
chlorine.  luxury!  :)  

love, patricia


On Apr 4, 2013, at 4:49 PM, Tim wrote:

On Apr 4, 2013, at 6:40 PM, Elizabeth thode wrote:

> Interesting, accordign to the FAQ's on the zero water,this filter doesn't remove arsenic, fluoride or uranium. Lizzie


i don't read it like that, lizzie.
i read that it costs a great deal of money
to have the testing done and so they are
not 'certified' in those categories.  

http://www.zerowater.com/faqs.aspx

---

Q. Does the ZeroWater filter remove Fluoride?
A. ZeroWater filters are not certified for the reduction of fluoride however fluoride is an inorganic compound. The TDS meter is designed to detect inorganic compounds. Fluoride levels in water are usually around 2 to 4 ppm, which will show up on the meter as 002 to 004. So when filtered water reads 000 it is not likely that fluoride is present in water.


Q. Does the filter remove Uranium?
A. ZeroWater filters have materials commonly used in industry to treat uranium. The performance of ZeroWater filters to do this has not been tested because no water filtration lab has agreed to handle elevated levels of uranium.


Q. Does the filter remove Arsenic?
A. At this point in time, we are not certified for reduction of arsenic.

---

Thanks for the info Lynn... This is what others have reported too with the Berkey water bottle. Dang, I like their other products!  :-)

Tim




________________________________
 From: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Thursday, April 4, 2013 11:06 AM
Subject: [eSens] Re: Portable water system
 


 
Have purchased the Bekey portable water bottle from Azurestandard last month and found it smelled bad inside, (like cigarete smoke). Rinse out several time with Dr Bronners soap and still smelled alittle, so aired it out and tried to get to work. Wouldnt at first, it seems the part where open the hose out to drinkm was still pinching the hose enough to not let any water out. Called them up and were very nice on helping. Had to keep squeezing in cross direction from way it folds up shut. It does take a firm squeeze from me to work but am still getting strenth back into hands. It will leak sometimes if when squeeze so need to ck if fully open hose.
wont return this but wouldnt buy another, found an old hand pump filter my mother had for backpacking but dont know where she got it from . Will go try it out and see if handy.
Lynn D

--- In [hidden email], Tim <timheierman@...> wrote:

 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks Patricia... I've heard burping reports from folks out there, so that must be a common thing. :-)  Some have reported that the filters stopped working (even after burping) with a week or two, using only municipal water sources. I dunno. There's no perfect solution when traveling, but I think a pitcher type filter will work reasonably well.

I explored Florence along the OR coast and may return to explore further this summer, love that area. You are lucky that you can escape the heat of Eugene in the summer!  :-) 


Tim



________________________________
 From: Patricia Robinett <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Thursday, April 4, 2013 8:47 PM
Subject: Re: [eSens] Portable water system
 


 
hi, tim.

thanks for the info about consumer
reports.  they do good research.  :)

it depends on the quality of your water,
how fast the filters are 'used up'.  if by
"plug up", you mean the filter is slow
and the water does not move through,
they instruct you to 'burp' the pitcher,
as the air/water flow needs a little help
sometimes.  i've had to 'burp' mine...
and then it works fine.  i have the 6-cup
model.

when i feel that i need more minerals,
i add 'trace minerals' from salt lake city
to my water.  first, purify it, then add
full-spectrum minerals to it.  as a matter
of fact, i think i'll go grab my trace
minerals now... thanks for the reminder.

so sad that
we need to go to all this trouble to have
good water.  in eugene, all they need is
a charcoal filter, because all they add is
chlorine.  luxury!  :)

love, patricia

On Apr 4, 2013, at 4:49 PM, Tim wrote:


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]