Reddit reviews SteriPen Aqua UV Water Purifier
We found 2 Reddit comments about SteriPen Aqua UV Water Purifier. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Compact handheld UV water purifier designed specifically for outdoor/travel useDestroys 99. 9 percent of harmful microorganisms, including Giardia, bacteria, viruses and protozoaTreats 0. 5L in 48 seconds, or 1. 0L in 90 secondsCountry of Origin:China
There are two kinds of problem.
The high end solution, like the LifeSaver, can work with surface water.
If you're dealing with public water that's been processed by the local government's water treatment plants (which might not be to the standard your body is used to), then a filter bottle might be the right solution. If it's a biologic contaminant, then something like a SteriPen could be the right answer.
There are several options to consider for water.
I personally have two setups that I think works for my family. As always, I try to get the most bang for my buck.
The first is using a simple ceramic filter, and then buying a couple of cheap buckets (with lids) from Lowes or Home Depot. You drill a hole in the bottom of one bucket, and a hole in the lid of the second bucket. You insert the filter in the hole. When you are ready to use it, you pour your water into the top bucket, and let it drain to the bottom bucket, ready to drink. You might also drill a second hole in the bottom bucket for a faucet. Start to finish, this system will cost you about $25-30, but is capable of filtering thousands of gallons of water.
A second option is a little simpler. Something like the HydroBlue is a little more expensive, but doesn't require any tool work.
Most water filters will get bacteria and parasites. Filters with carbon will also get heavy metals, though for really bad situations where I'm in strict survival mode, I'm not worried about trace amounts of lead that might be in the water, that will affect me only after a few years of consumption.
Most filters will NOT get viruses, but those that do are a LOT more expensive. I would still argue that viruses aren't nearly as much of a concern as bacteria and parasites, but if your still worried about viruses, a cheap way to deal with them is to use bleach or pool shock. (Bleach doesn't have a very long shelf life, but pool shock does.) You can also use a UV light to neutralize viruses, though this option is somewhat more expensive.
The gold standard for water filters would be a Berkey, though these are very pricey.
All in all, I'm condensing this to keep from overwhelming you. I've done lots of research on this, so if you have any more questions, I'd be happy to elaborate further on anything.