A human can go for more than three weeks without food, but water is a different story. More than half of the body is made up of it and every living cell needs it to keep functioning properly. After three days of not drinking, the body starts to shut down. This is why when they have no access to an uncontaminated supply, they need portable water purifiers for survival.
A large percentage of the lakes, rivers and streams in the world are contaminated, even those that may look clear. Sewage effluent, animal waste, parasitic worms and noxious chemicals are just some of these pollutants. Taking even one drink can be deadly due to various illnesses that can be contracted. This is particularly dangerous when in remote situations where medical help is unavailable.
Purification of water can be attempted in various different ways. Boiling is often used and this does kill viruses, cysts and bacteria. It does not deal with noxious chemicals and dirt, often having a foul taste. Filtration is often used too and this can be more or less successful, depending upon the efficacy of the filter or filters used. Using chemicals or UV lights are other options.
When buying a unit for purification purposes, its effectiveness if obviously the most important consideration. One must find out what pollutants are dealt with. It does not make sense to buy one that only deals with certain problems and not others. The best buys offer comprehensive removal of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, noxious chemicals and even dirt and sediment.
Once effectiveness has been established, another consideration is the weight and size. A device may be effective but may be too bulky and difficult to transport. One that is compact and easy to store is preferable, particularly when considering that long distances may need to be covered. There are small compact devices on the market today that have the ability to process up to 500 gallons or so before the filter needs changing.
Some of these units may take a considerable amount of time for purification. This has to be born in mind in survival situations when the individual may have to be able to drink while on the move. Of course if one is able to stay in one spot for a considerable period, this is not a problem.
One needs to make sure that the unit purchased is easy to operate. This is also important in an emergency situation where a unit that is difficult to operate may cause fatal delays. Some are very ease to use and are operated with a manual pump which pushes the water through various filters like ceramic, glass fiber and carbon until it is safe to drink.
These units are widely available, including from many online sources. Making a choice can be difficult but bear in mind that this decision may be a life or death one. Do not compromise on effectiveness for the sake of price. As long as you take all the factors into consideration such as effectiveness, size, weight and ease of use, you can choose a unit you feel does the job properly and suits your budget.
A large percentage of the lakes, rivers and streams in the world are contaminated, even those that may look clear. Sewage effluent, animal waste, parasitic worms and noxious chemicals are just some of these pollutants. Taking even one drink can be deadly due to various illnesses that can be contracted. This is particularly dangerous when in remote situations where medical help is unavailable.
Purification of water can be attempted in various different ways. Boiling is often used and this does kill viruses, cysts and bacteria. It does not deal with noxious chemicals and dirt, often having a foul taste. Filtration is often used too and this can be more or less successful, depending upon the efficacy of the filter or filters used. Using chemicals or UV lights are other options.
When buying a unit for purification purposes, its effectiveness if obviously the most important consideration. One must find out what pollutants are dealt with. It does not make sense to buy one that only deals with certain problems and not others. The best buys offer comprehensive removal of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, noxious chemicals and even dirt and sediment.
Once effectiveness has been established, another consideration is the weight and size. A device may be effective but may be too bulky and difficult to transport. One that is compact and easy to store is preferable, particularly when considering that long distances may need to be covered. There are small compact devices on the market today that have the ability to process up to 500 gallons or so before the filter needs changing.
Some of these units may take a considerable amount of time for purification. This has to be born in mind in survival situations when the individual may have to be able to drink while on the move. Of course if one is able to stay in one spot for a considerable period, this is not a problem.
One needs to make sure that the unit purchased is easy to operate. This is also important in an emergency situation where a unit that is difficult to operate may cause fatal delays. Some are very ease to use and are operated with a manual pump which pushes the water through various filters like ceramic, glass fiber and carbon until it is safe to drink.
These units are widely available, including from many online sources. Making a choice can be difficult but bear in mind that this decision may be a life or death one. Do not compromise on effectiveness for the sake of price. As long as you take all the factors into consideration such as effectiveness, size, weight and ease of use, you can choose a unit you feel does the job properly and suits your budget.
