International Water Filtration Suggestions

[pwc]

I've tried searching but I can't seem to find what I'm looking for.

I'm trying to figure out a good filtering system to put in a Defender 110 with the rear seats removed. my requirements are:

1. cleans any crud that might give me the crud when south of the border
2. works with pressurized water input (no hand pumping)
3. easy to maintain
4. mountable
5. dispenses from a tap

I'm thinking right now of something like an undersink unit for houses but need to make sure it'll take care of the right bacteria. Ideally, if I have the space, I dream of just using something like the GE reverse osmosis and the 2 gallon tank. My reason for that is so I can run the water pump from my internal storage, filter it and store it in the 2 gallon "clean" tank. Then put a check valve in the right place and I'll always have 2 gallons fresh and ready when on the trail.

I've already decided my storage in the truck will likely be 6 2.5 gallon Scepter cans. They fit perfectly on the floor behind the front seats, can be lashed down easily and I like the concept of distributing the load in case one springs a leak....I only lose 2.5 gallons. These will always be filled with non-north-of-the-border-potable water and keeping them small means ease of transport to the water source if need be. With these always being non-potable, I never have to worry about getting things mixed up and I like simplicty.

 

[mountainpete]

I only have a second because I have to run. But I have enought time to say this:

For international use where viruses are a factor the only choice IMHO is Katadyn, katadyn or katadyn.

 

[Andrew Walcker]

The Katadyn Expedition unit.

 

[gjackson]

This is what I'm putting in my 110:

http://doultonusa.com/HTML pages/ip100SC.htm

Basically the same unit that brownchurch sells in their water system, but without the tap (because I want my tap elsewhere.) The filter is removable and can be cleaned in the field.

cheers

 

[pwc]

Graham, I came across that exact page when doing some research. And that might be the way I go.....I just wasn't sure if it will handle all the viri I'd come across.

The only problem with the Katadyn Expedition is it fails the second item on my list.....no hand pumping. It needs to be in the truck and that unit just wouldn't work. I will be bringing the water to the pump and let electricity do the work for me.

 

[Robthebrit]

Camper mog has a Katadyn expedition followed by a charcole filter to remove any chlorine, the filtered water comes out from a seperate tap on the kitchen sink. When things got bad the previous owners used to put the chlorine tabs in the holding tanks so it got a good long time to work. The filters would do the rest and remove the chlorine taste. All none filtered water would have a little chlorine in it.

After the water pump it splits into three, one for the filter, one for the hot water and one for the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower and outdoor shower.

I have no holding tank for filtered water other that whats in the filter itself.

Rob

 

[gjackson]

I'm pretty sure you won't find much that the doulton can't handle. The filterbed itself is impregnated with silver to make it bacteriostatic, which was important for me. Also the field servicability. I travelled with someone in Africa who had the brownchurch system, and it was awesome. If you suspect that the filter may have touble with the water, I'd do what Rob said and put some chlorine in the tank. The filter will get rid of the taste. I wanted to avoid hand pumping as well, and also wanted a filter I could mount in a hard to access location.

Doulton does have the megacarb candle as well, but that would only be of use if you camped next to a superfund site!!

http://doultonusa.com/HTML pages/popup Supercarb_Ultracarb comparison table.htm

cheers

 

[Allen Bosely]

This is pretty nice. Check out the Responder by Fist Water thier web site is URL="firstwaterinc.com"]firstwaterinc.com[/URL]. A bit spendy though.

Allen

 

[Allen Bosely]

Ok I guess I don't kniw how to post a link! It's www.firstwaterinc.com

 

[jeff@work]

I have the daulton filter that Graham mentioned and it works great with my aquajet es pump. I haven't tried using it with any questionable water yet though. So far i'm pleased with it and I would recommend it.

I think this is where i purchased it from but when i bought it they were offering a free replacement filter with it. http://www.doultonfiltersusa.com/page3.html

 

[Robthebrit]

The daulton seems pretty good, its certainly a lot cheaper than the katadyn expedition units, filters are cheaper too although the katadyn lasts for 20,000 gallons. One problem is the katadyn needs a minimum pressure of 20psi which my pump only just makes so the flow rate is not stellar, the second filter doesn't help the flow rate either.

With all of these systems install an inline filter between the ceramic filter and the holding tank to stop all the big crud otherwise the micro ceramic filter is going to get clogged.

Rob

 

[Nonprophet]

I transport private yachts quite a bit through the Panama Canal. Some boats have RO systems (watermakers), but other's don't. The cheapest, easiest way to filter water is to go to a hardware store and get to plastic filter holders (cylinders with threaded lids) along with a .25 and a .10 micron filter. Use a small plastic piper nipple (4" or so) to attach the two filter bodies together. Then attach a length of hose to the larger micron filter housing for your intake, and attach another length of hose to the smaller micron filter housing for your out flow. Using this set up (which costs about $75) we can fill 500 gallon water tanks in about 1.5 hours. No pumping is required--the water pressure alone is enough to push the water through the filters. This set up can be installed in a variety of positions. The life of the filters is about 2,500 gallons.


NP

 

[pwc]

but will that filter out bacteria and viri?
I'm not so concerned about least expense as I am about getting sick 6000 miles from home.

 

[Nonprophet]

but will that filter out bacteria and viri?
I'm not so concerned about least expense as I am about getting sick 6000 miles from home.

Yes.

.25 micron filters will get just about everything that can be "got" see:

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/filtration/filtration.htm

and

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/08/supercheap_water_purification.html

Katadyne filters are only 1 micron, so they don't get "everything" either, but they do get most of it. While nice, they are also VERY expensive for what you get (and realtively fragile unles you're getting their top of the line series) --you can make your own for a fraction of the price.

 

[Robthebrit]

I thought katadyn's were 0.2 micron?

Rob