Water Water Everywhere, Not a Drop to Drink: Dealing with Water as an Individual and Small Team – Part Two, by GuerrillaLogistician

This is a continuation of Part One, which can be found by clicking here. It is highly recommended that you start there.

FILTRATION PURIFIERS

The first thing you need to know is the difference between a Filter and a Purifier. Filters include Lifestraws, Sawyer Squeeze, and the much-loved Katayden Pocket. These all work to get rid of MOST things out of the water you will come across in the US. If you are near springs and unpopulated areas, this might be all you need to operate and live; if not, all filtration systems will require chemical or UV treatment. The USMC sent filters and the above MIOX system to ensure people didn’t get sick, but many just lived off the filters. That said, if your river has turned into the local washing and shit removal system, or you have farms higher above you, and they use no chemicals, viruses can be very prevalent. Dead bodies, be they human or animal, can be upstream, and you will never know. In addition to that, purifiers will need to be cleaned periodically to work well. Mind you, I had to use an MSR Trailshot to refill water when our PL got us lost with no ill effects, but it took forever to filter water for a bunch of guys. The point is don’t count them out if you already own them. Just bring some chemistry to the party, and you will be fine.

MSR Squirt next to a MSR Hyperflow and the prefilter

To be clear, most filters will tell you how much water they can filter and how many Liters/gallons per hour, which can help you decide what you want. You must remember that regardless of which one you buy, they can be easily compromised if they freeze. They, however, make the cleanest tasting water along with solar purification, and most will take out the dirt and debris, but I recommend putting a pre-filter to extend your filter’s life.

WARNING – DO NOT FILTER WATER AT THE SOURCE – Grab it in an alternative container. If you hunt animals, you know water sources are a great spot to watch for obvious reasons, and if you don’t think this is true for humans, you are wrong. There are articles on this subject, but god help me; people will filter away like idiots at the source when it is better to grab and go. That is why gravity systems aren’t a bad option; fill your bag and filter/purify later.

PURIFIERS

Purifiers are classified as filter system that removes bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. Some are even capable of removing some chemicals and heavy metals. There are many, but I will list a few, along with their service life, assets, and drawbacks where important.

Grayl GeoPress – 66 gals

This product purifies and removes chemicals and heavy metals. It is about the size of a Nalgene bottle. If I was near a major city or my water was a major riverway, this would be my go-to to help me get out of town. I wouldn’t rely on this without having a not-so-cost-effective stockpile of filters. It is a great product, but the limited 66 gal lifespan/use makes it less valuable in my book.

MSR Guardian system – 2642+ gal, depending on how you treat the filter (some places has 10K, but I will use the low number)

Purifies only. Several MSR Guardian systems exist, from the standalone pump system to the gravity filter. The pump is bulky, but it is my preferred device. It screws onto Nalgene bottles, but you can use it without one, and you can pump a lot of water.

Lifesaver Jerrycan – 5280 gal (optional carbon disks remove chemicals for 132 gal)

While this is technically man-portable, it’s the biggest setup. You fill it, start pumping the integrated pressure/filter system, and use the tap. I haven’t worked with this item, so I can’t tell you how good or bad it is. Buyers should be aware, but this might be nice for vehicles and is built for off-roaders who seem to love it.

Honorable mention -Filters

Katadyn Pocket – 13208 gals

This doesn’t remove viruses but can be beaten up and works well. Plus, the lifespan of this device is excellent, and it beats all other filters in durability and longevity of use per gallon. Preppers recommended this for ages, and it is still a good choice if paired up with a chemical additive. I have friends who swear by these and must admit they are pretty durable.

MSR Miniwork EX – 528gal

This was the workhorse for the USMC and the MIOX combo. They aren’t bad but mentioned more for their previous life than their capabilities. Their price point and common appearance make it worth a look, especially for a chemical/filter setup.

Gearskeptic on filters – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJOiCztnXfY
Gearskeptics on Ultrafiltration (filter purifiers) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyGLdVOmtxI

PAIRING PURIFIERS AND FILTERS

Everyone wants a multifunction do all in one product. The problem is water is very important after shelter, and sometimes you need to diversify your gear. Filtration style systems, can fail, fill up with sediment, etc. H2g0 or MIOX can run out of batteries or get damaged. Size can also be a big issue. I preferred the MSR Hyperflow along with the MIOX system for years as it is fairly compact. Throw in some backup tablets, and the weight wasn’t much; I had 3 ways to make water. Sometimes, a few tablets in a med kit and a filter work as well; make sure you replace tablets as you use them.

Older MIOX setup, which fit in the bag the Hyperflow came in.

The other major issue is your location and the American thought process that goes with water in the field. This means many people bring a filter, and that is it. While this will most likely be fine for hiking and camping, please keep in mind events in the future and who might be dead upstream, be it animal/human. Overall, I say pair things up for two reasons. First, filters or purifying filters work but aren’t what I would call a team product. If you get stuck in the field long enough, having both will be better than having one, especially if one breaks. I know people who swear by carrying a pistol in case a rifle goes down, but I personally think this is a better use of weight.

Newer setup which I separate with the Hyperflow going in my ruck, and the H2g0 ending up on my person or rig.

Just for size comparison, the MSR Squirt, H2g0, and the MSR Guardian

CONCLUSION

First, my interest in MSR isn’t because they are better than others; I just ended up with them, and my friends and I have extensively fielded other systems. Because many are basically the same but in different form factors, it is a pure choice of economy and water per hour that should dictate purchases. I suggest getting a chemical treatment that suits you, be it tablets, stockpiles of pool shock, or the H2g0 purifiers, and couple that with a decent filter, if not a purifier.

If pushed and money wasn’t an issue, I would say the H2g0 is a must, followed by the guardian, then the Katadyn. Figure out your water sources for your operational area way ahead of time, and note all the possible issues you might have by doing an area study. We didn’t go over storage systems, but army canteens work great; Nalgene bottles are fine but bulky, and water bladders can do well; all must be maintained.

If there is an interest, I can review SOME of those items, but use what you have, from plastic bottles to whatever you can get. Overall, it doesn’t matter which one you buy as long as you know the strengths and weaknesses and plan accordingly. These should be a force multiplier and range extender, but not your primary water source. For that, we will have to do another article.