Posted on 10/05/2012 8:10:40 AM PDT by dangus
I recently came across (via a Facebook post) an article about Lifestraw, a device for making biologically contaminated water safe to drink. The marketing and publicity around this product seems exclusively geared towards the third world, as a way of preventing diarrhea-causing infections, which are the world's #1 cause of death.
One Lifestraw can supposedly filter enough water for one person for one year, before the filtering capacity diminishes. Such filtration removes bacteria, viruses, protists, and just about any other form of biological contamination. Presumably, it cannot remove salt, chemical pollution, or other substances which are truly soluble, since filters can only remove suspensions, not dissolved substances.
Despite its limitations, it seemed to me to be a useful tool for surviving many types of catastrophic infrastructure failures, so I was very surprised that its marketing omits any such references. Are there any Preppers, Survivalists, SHTF types, or simply anyone interested in observing such people, who might have an opinion on the usefulness of Lifestraw?
Ping.
I saw a commercial for this on DISH 212/The Blaze TV. Looked interesting as a possible addition to the bug-out bag.
Seen it, like the concept, not sure about it
Sounds like it would be good if you have plenty of water available to drink from and not have to filter water to take with you.
Note: It does not remove viruses. Hepatitis and other dangerous diseases are caused by viruses.
It also does not remove chemicals.
Nevertheless, it could be very useful under certain circumstances, such as survival scenarios.
This is what I found here: http://eartheasy.com/lifestraw?gclid=CMb56t-W6rICFQgGnQodyBkAoQ
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
ITEM #: LSPHF017
List price: $22.95
Our price: $19.95
Please note: The LifeStraw currently does not filter heavy metals or viruses, and will not desalinate water.
Note: It does not remove viruses. Hepatitis and other dangerous diseases are caused by viruses.
It also does not remove chemicals.
Nevertheless, it could be very useful under certain circumstances, such as survival scenarios.
This is what I found here: http://eartheasy.com/lifestraw?gclid=CMb56t-W6rICFQgGnQodyBkAoQ
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
ITEM #: LSPHF017
List price: $22.95
Our price: $19.95
Please note: The LifeStraw currently does not filter heavy metals or viruses, and will not desalinate water.
There are several of these types of devices on the market. As water filtration goes, there are three basic types; personal use / portable units (straws, hand pumps, backpacking etc), general use (1 to 4 people, usually hand pumps) and stationary high volume (several gallons, usually gravity fed).
So, the straws generally work for their purpose, though the water is rather nasty tasting. If you are looking at a bug out scenario, the straw may be a viable option. The other major drawback, is the fact that you cant make several quarts or liters at one time.
If you are looking to bug in, then you will want to have the stationary high volume located at your site. These can also be home made by having a 55 gallon drum, with alternating layers of sand and charcoal, with holes drilled into the bottom to drip. This will filter a LOT of water and is very inexpensive to pre-purchase (charcoal, sand, clean 55 gallon drum and water storage tank). Down side is that it is HEAVY, and will need to be elevated to drip. This also means that you will need to get your brackish water to the top so a hand pump might be a good idea. Understand, that this does not sterilize the water, only filters it. The next step to sterilize is to build a parabolic trough that is at least nine feet long and 3 feet wide, with a water tube at the focal point and run the water through at a rate where the water still boils or turns to steam when placed in the sun. At the other end, a water cooler / condenser and a collection barrel. This will provide you with filtered, sterilized water that is safe to drink, cook with, just about anything. And it will provide a large volume assuming that you have a supply of water.
There was an article in National Geographic maybe a year ago which explained how one could purify water simply by putting it in a certain type of plastic bottle and leave it sealed and undisturbed, in the Sun for a day.
I think it would be OK but I personally would filter it first.
“So, the straws generally work for their purpose, though the water is rather nasty tasting. “
The taste depends on the source, not the filter. Not all water will taste bad.
I think it is based off the LifeSaver water filter invented by Michael Pritchard.
In this TedTalks video Pritchard explains his invention.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXepkIWPhFQ
Don’t conflate removing stuff from water vs. killing stuff living in water.
UV light is good at killing microorganisms. Sunlight is sufficient, given a container transparent to UV and enough time for that level of UV to do the job.
The “straw” in question is a filter for removing particles from water, enough to strip out bacteria but not much smaller viruses.
Use both when possible.
Filter out what you can, then use UV to kill anything that got thru the filter.
I’m surprised nobody has made a combination filter & purifier in a single personal water bottle. Ceramic filter used when pumping water into the bottle, UV light for once filled, would be nice.
You are correct sir and I should have mentioned that I was assuming brackish water.
I swear by the Lifestraw.
It works really really well.
I’ve used it to drink out of rivers that make sewers look clean.
It’s light weight.
It’s simple to use.
As long as you blow it out every time you use it, it’ll will last around 5 years.
It’s cheap.
The Rotary Club has donated thousands of Lifestraws to schoolchildren in Africa and Haiti.
http://fllrotaryclubwaterprojects.org/shortterm.html
Somebody has made a combination filter/purifier in a water bottle:
http://www.nitro-pak.com/steripen-sidewinder
The Lifestraw Family model will filter down to 20 nanometers, which is smaller than most viruses.
Not one mention so far on this thread ‘bout Reverse Osmosis filtration. It is bug-in, permanent system, acts like the human kidney and is our everyday device in our home.
Comments on R/O please ?
Looks like it would be useful in a BOB, but then if you are bugging out of a metropolitan heavy metals and chemicals will most likely be present in much of the water that you would find.
“Don’t conflate removing stuff from water vs. killing stuff living in water.”
Boiling works when fuel and equipment is available. Does North America have any viruses in the water supply?
When searching for backbackable filter units, ceramic (refurbish with a 3m scratch pad) with a pre pickup to pull the big particulate at the source, and either boiling or treatment tabs to kill off any gribblies.
If the straw is a charcoal type, it might go a long way to fix the “halizone bite” taste common after tablet treatments.
YMMV
Cheers
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