Water Purifier

[Lex]

Any system you guys recommend for emergency use only? Pros and Cons please.....

[XYZ]

Katadyn Hiker Pro or First Need
Steripen
Tablets

Those are the three I have in case the big one hits and I need to purify water.

[emc002]

As a California Registered Professional Civil Engineer (not as impressive as it sounds, but I never get to through that title around!) who works for a water district:

Steripen for safety. Note that it does not remove taste/odor/sediment issues, but makes the water safest to drink of all the options out there.
I usually filter the water first through cloth to remove the sediment then Steripen it. Just a few minutes (depending on quantity of water) and you're GTG.

Katadyn (and most other filters really) is a pretty good product too, but filters fail and they don't stop all pathogens.
My water district runs various membrane(filter) plants and we still chlorinate or UV on the back end to get sufficient "log removal credit" which is a fancy way of saying making sure we kill everything in the drinking water.

Tablets are ~ok~ if you're drinking the water relatively quickly. If not, the chlorine can react with the organics and other components in the raw water to create carcinogens.

[Got Stuff?]

I use the First need all the time. Great taste and filtration. Steripen is good too but the taste is not as desirable.

[odysseus]

Most of the top filter products are very good. You can add chlorine solutions as a final treatment to your filtered water to rid of all micro pathogens (meaning any possible virus you might be concerned about that might pass through filtration products) if you are concerned about the source having virus.

Steripen is good. However a couple of issues for emergency use - they require power (batteries), you are more dependent on electronic circuitry and UV amplification possible failure rather than simple manual brute or gravity force in filtration systems, the portable type only can sterilize small amounts at a time versus filtration, you still need to filter water if the source needs it, and cloudy dirty water needs more time of UV exposure because obviously pathogens can cling and "hide" on sediment, so you need to assure good exposure time to from the Steripen.

[stitch_paradox]

I have the First Need XL, and I have been completely happy with it. I was in the same boat when I was searching for the right water purifier. I read reviews and although Steripen is a neat little water purifier, it has a share of bad reviews. Some said it malfunctioned on them and gave them bad diarrhea, due to its electronic components and battery reliance. However I have never read any bad review for the First Need XL, so I went that route and like I said, I'm happy with my decision. The Katadyn pocket water filter is also nice but to expensive for me right now.

[XYZ]

The Katadyn pocket water filter is also nice but to expensive for me right now.

I consider the Katadyn Pocket Water Filter as the high end, top of the line filter. Cost wise it's expensive but has some of the best reviews.

First Need would be my second choice as the cost is much better and then I'd go with the Hiker Pro as it's priced right.

Hmmm. I may just get a belated Xmas gift .

[toyrobot]

First Need XL for me. I am an avid backpacker and have never had a problem with it. In fact, I purchased mine several years ago and haven't needed to change the filter yet.

[223556]

Katadyn Mini Ceramic is what rides in my Go Bag/BOB. Very compact and light. Filter will last awhile too.

[JCavSD]

Odysseus said it well. I run a potable water UV & chloramination facility, and the makeup of the water can have a dramatic impact in the the ability of UV to disinfect. I wouldn't use it as my sole means of disinfection. I like my chemicals and will always add something after filtration (or after UV if I chose to use it).

[rudigan]

I've gone through a couple of PUR/Katadyn Hikers over the years and they worked fine. Now have a PUR/Katadyn Guide and love it as it blows the Hiker away in volume per pump and weighs just a little more, don't think they make this model anymore though. Lots of good ones on the market now. MSR makes some nice ones now also. If your going 3rd world make sure to supplement with purification of some sort.