Do you need a water filter or water purifier?
- Filters: Remove protozoa (Cryptosporidium, Giardia) and bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella)—main concerns in the U.S. and Canada.
- Purifiers: Also combat viruses such as hepatitis A, rotavirus and norovirus.
Types of water filters
- Straw: Light and easy to use, but only works when you're at a water source.
- Bottle: Lightweight, quick and affordable. Water volume is limited by bottle size.
- Gravity: Easy to use, handles large quantities of water, and has a replaceable element.
- Pump: Precise, works in shallow water sources and has a replaceable filter but bulky and requires cleaning.
- Ultraviolet light: Fast, no filter to replace; requires batteries and prefiltering for cloudy water.
- Squeeze: Compact and affordable; water quantity is limited by reservoir size.
- Chemicals: Inexpensive, ultralight backup method; long wait time and don't taste great.
Read full article: How to Choose a Water Filter or Purifier
