Portable Water Purifier
An Ideal Travel Accessory

A portable water purifier is an ideal travel accessory whether you are hiking in the wilderness or want clear water for mixing baby formula.

According the U.S. EPA, approximately 90 percent of the world’s water supply is contaminated.

Since water supplies, even within many cities, may not be safe for drinking, it is essential to have a method for purifying the water.

Why Use Portable Water Purifiers?
Water can contain different contaminants. Biological contaminants are microorganisms, bacteria and viruses, while chemical contaminants are actual chemicals in the water.

Boiling water will kill biological contaminants, but does nothing to chemicals. A water purifier, on the other hand, eliminates both types of contaminants in one step, creating safe, clean drinking water.

A travel water purifier is portable, so it can be taken anywhere that may have a less than perfect water supply.

How Do Travel Water Purifiers Work?

Basically, the two categories of water purifiers available are chemical and non-chemical, and those come in different types:

1. Iodine – Iodine water purifiers are in the chemical category. Iodine is more effective than other chemicals, but it is light sensitive so it is essential that it be stored in a dark container.

In addition, some people have iodine allergies, and people allergic to shellfish can be allergic to iodine. For those people, iodine is not an option for treating water.

Purifying the water requires adding iodine and allowing it to set while the iodine cleans the water.

2. Chlorine – Chlorine is another chemical treatment, and it is an excellent alternative in water purification for those who cannot use iodine. As with iodine, chlorine is added to the water and allowed to set while it cleans the water.

3. Non-chemical – There is a variety of non-chemical water purifiers on the market. Some claim to use a special type of filtering system, while others rely on ultraviolet light to purify the water.

Because there are so many, the best way to determine how a specific filter works is to check the manufacturer’s information for that filter.

Buying a Portable Water Purifier

The first thing to remember when shopping for portable water purifiers is that a water filter is not a purifier.

A water filter removes particles from the water, with the size of the filter determining how large or small the particles must be before the filter can catch them.

Water filters do not remove chemicals or most microorganisms.

Buyers should also be aware of similarities in product names.

For example, the PUR Exstream Orinoco, made by Katadyn, is not the same product as the Katadyn Exstream. The PUR Exstream does not remove lead, herbacides, pesticides, or suspended particles, but the Katadyn Exstream does remove them.

The best way to choose a portable water purifier is to first determine your needs.

If you have limited room when traveling, or need a purifier that is lightweight, a small purifier like the SteriPEN is the best option.

On the other hand, you may feel safer using a chemical, in liquid or tablet form, such as the Katadyn Micropur Purification Tablets.

In addition, treated water may not have a pleasant taste, so you may prefer using a container that allows you to add flavored drink mix, salt or sugar.

Finally, when buying travel water purifiers, it is important to check independent ratings. Some water purifiers are certified to meet EPA standards for removal of microorganisms.

In addition, those who actually use the purifiers in situations where they are necessary are most likely to know which products work well and which fail the test. By looking at independent reviews, buyers have the opportunity to avoid buying items that do not live up to manufacturer’s claims for cleaning the water.

Contaminated water can cause serious illness for those unlucky enough to drink it. For anyone who is interested in traveling to exotic locations, whether it is a hotel in another country or a secluded mountain retreat, it is necessary to know exactly where clean, safe drinking water can be found.

With a portable water purifier, travelers can take their own source of clean water with them on every trip.

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Portable Water PurifierAn Ideal Travel Accessory

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Portable Water Purifier
An Ideal Travel Accessory