What's the best water filter?

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Now that it's almost too late, my son (in another state) called to tell me he wants a water filter and a grain mill for xmas. I bought a Katadyn drip filter for my house, but later learned that they don't filter out chemicals. What kind should I buy my son? I'm hoping for something in the $250 range. I plan to buy him a Back to Basics mill like mine, and would like to get the mill and filter at the same place.

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), November 03, 1999

Answers

I won't gaurantee for certain that it's the "best" water filter, but fopr mobility and/or "bugging out" (which we hope to avoid) I decided that a PUR filter had -- or claimed to have -- all the qualifications and recommmendations neccessary, plus filtering down to ... what was it? .3 microns? Katadyn goes to .2 I believe. I picked up two back- back size PUR filters for I think around $65 -- maybe it was less; plus PUR replacemnt filters for extended useful life. I don't know whether they make a standalone or countertop unit.

For home use, git the British Berkefeld "Big Berkey" if you want "the best" with the most resepcted name, best track-record, used by Red Cross, etc. We did. Haven't had to filter out any cryptosporidia yet....

-- Roch Steinbach (rochsteinbach@excite.com), November 03, 1999.


Pearlie,

Depends on if you want something portable or a filter that will attach to you faucet.

If portable, get PUR "Hiker" or better (such as the "Explorer" model). "Hiker" not only gets rid of Giardia (sp?), but has an attachment that will kill viruses and takes out chemicals (like pesticides). Chemicals are taken out by a charcoal filter. (If you're doing home-made, don't use grilling charcoal, it has too many impurities.) Viruses are killed by using Iodine. Have to be careful with that though, some people are very allergic to it and it's not recommended for children for long-term usage.

Backpacker Magazine (I think it's http://www.bpbasecamp.com) will have a lot more information on the subject, and they're VERY knowledgable.

Hope this helps.

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), November 03, 1999.


Scroll down to Older Messages By Category

Click on Water and Water Storage.

There's a fountain of information about filters there.

-- walt (longyear@shentel.net), November 03, 1999.


Thanks folks. I think I'll join up with Stan Faryna and his group order. The Katadyn combi-filter looks like what I want to get my son for xams.

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), November 03, 1999.

A caveat: carbon filters won't filter out most "chemicals". They will bind up some organic compounds. They won't filter out stuff like lead, mercury, etc. Check out the filter you want carefully, and find the cleanest source water possible.

Al K

-- Al K. Lloyd (all@ready.now), November 03, 1999.



Http://www.911water.com

Received excellent service from this company. (British Berkefeld)

-- Tommy Rogers (Been there@Just a Thought.com), November 03, 1999.


Check out Pure Water Products at pwp@pwgazett.com.I bought style a,which is a small portable type.It has a Doulton Super Sterayl cartride,capable of processing pound water.The cost was $36 for the cartridge+$6 for the tubing assembly,a total of $42 for the unit.I also bought a shower filter and extra cartridges.They carry alot of other filters,including one for the faucet.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), November 04, 1999.

Check out pwp@pwgazette.com.I bought the A style,back pack type,it cost $36 for the Doulton Super Steryl filter cartride+$6 for the tubeing assembly,so for the unit it cost $42.The filter is the type capable of processing pond water.I also bought a shower filter with extra cartridges.They carry other filters units,one being for your faucet.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), November 04, 1999.

Sorry for the double post.I had checked to see if the first post went thru and at the time it hadn't,so I posted again,thinking I had goofed by not hitting the enter button.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), November 04, 1999.

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