Who uses Water Filters when travelling remote

[Batts88]

oh AND ....

How many times have you smelt that gungy off smell from your own car air conditioner?

Call me fussy, I try to shut it off before [nominal time in minutes = 2 or 3] coming to a stop, with the fan on fresh/high to evaporate the condensation out. Works for me, no gungey smell, no organisms?

Don't get that smell in my 1993 GQ a/c on most of the time. Depending on the age of your vehicle it may have a pollen filter has it been changed, check the drain hose is not partially blocked blocked letting water escape properly or buid up or lay somewhere.

 

[MrPoopypants]

I always liked the old Lonely Planet guide to Nepal. Giardia makes you do sulphur farts. So it said, "Giardia won't kill you, but your friends might".
PP

 

[littleGem]

Not sure if been mentioned I'm at work so couldn't read fully, I carry personally a sawyer mini and some water tablets, however if they would be a pain for bulk water (water purification tablets, prob not just need a few) however the Lifesaver stuff is pretty good, they won't work with your tank but I'm contemplating 2 jerry can holders and just use them, can fill them up from pretty much anywhere and it'll be safe https://iconlifesaver.com/products/shop/

 

[Drewswb]

Of find a tame Chemist and get some Potassium Permanente (condys crystals) and add a couple to each jerry can for 1000th of the cost. Not telling all its other uses but some are a lot of fun

 

[SirDrinksalott]

This guys system seems what you may be after:

 

[Colly18]

Another thread I'm enjoying as I ponder the lengths many of us go to these days to try eliminate any possible danger (or inconvenience, for that matter) to us, that may eventuate if/as we move from our current 'safe' home location. It is a pity we have become so risk averse IMO. Sort of makes life boring!? (Maybe? Well, I think so!)
As others have suggested, it's a wonder we've made it to 50+ years of age (in my case drinking untreated rain water tank water for most of my childhood and much of my adult life)!?
And as for touring in the 4X4 - well it's always been the K.I.S.S. principle for me/us (for drinking water and most things). First around Oz trip with 2 babies 30 years ago, and a lifetime of touring Oz since. Often it was a week to a fortnight between water 'fill-ups'. If one ignores the fact that on very rare occasions, we did pick up a batch of over-chlorinated or dirty (clay ridden?) water from the town/council potable water supply; then what has worked for us is simply topping up/relying on the various town water supplies for top-up's en route. After all, local governments are obliged to treat water to a potable standard, and in Oz how lucky are we that they do? I've never had a related health issue in 30 years.
I figure one can carry two weeks potable water supply OK on board most 4X4's (?) Which raises the issue of longer times away from water top-up opportunities. That's where I'm no help with ideas. I do however, fondly recall meeting a Scottish guy and his wife in 2010 on a remote WA beach, where he proudly showed me a reverse osmosis system he had installed in the rear of his 4X4 ute, which enabled him to convert sea/estuary saline water to potable. I saw value in this because he and his wife had a lifestyle where their vehicle and caravan was their home and they spent weeks on end camped in remote locations.
But for the majority of us I suggest K.I.S.S. ( )

 

[Drewswb]

I particularly enjoy the "Enthusiasts" who pack there 4wheel drives with Dehydrated Meals to save weight

 

[Petunia]

Potassium Permanente

Permanganate is the word you are meaning, and unless you give quite clear concise instruction on the use of said substance? I would not recommend use of said substance because of the likelihood of lack of caution, both handling, storage, and dosage. The substance is a highly reactive oxidiser prone to spontaneous combustion when in contact with other certain substances, cause severe skin discolouration, turns water pink [visually disturbing] and doubt you can get it without a letter from you grandmother signed in triplicate.

 

[Petunia]

This guys system seems what you may be after:

one comment? After fourty meters of lead, no way Jose is 12 volts coming out the end of it. His system works? Obviously? but how?

 

[Perth Pioneer]

I carry a crap ton of water when we take our camper but its usually 2 weeks or more of bush camping and 1 tank is for washing and showers for 4 people and the other tank is drinking water. The drinking water tank I use a Best water filter when filling and have another Best filter hard mounted off the pump. I've lived and worked overseas and had some dodgy water supplies but don't want to subject my family to it and especially not during a camping trip. Its also a bonus to not have any funny tastes in the water and not need cordial to fix it.

 

[Batts88]

This guys system seems what you may be after:

Bit of a distance but it still has good water flow which is surprising and they can keep the tank topped up for extended stays which is a bonus. Would be careful setting it up north with crocs around.

 

[MrPoopypants]

I carry a crap ton of water when we take our camper but its usually 2 weeks or more of bush camping and 1 tank is for washing and showers for 4 people and the other tank is drinking water. The drinking water tank I use a Best water filter when filling and have another Best filter hard mounted off the pump. I've lived and worked overseas and had some dodgy water supplies but don't want to subject my family to it and especially not during a camping trip. Its also a bonus to not have any funny tastes in the water and not need cordial to fix it.

Yeah, after the cordial treatment to get rid of the original hideous taste, we use a B.E.S.T. filter to fill the tanks. Excellent, thoroughly recommend them. Would be worth carrying just to improve the taste from local water supplies.
Yes, I can vouch for the fact that giardia and constant diarrohea do nothing to improve a holiday!!
PP

 

[SirDrinksalott]

I do however, fondly recall meeting a Scottish guy and his wife in 2010 on a remote WA beach, where he proudly showed me a reverse osmosis system he had installed in the rear of his 4X4 ute, which enabled him to convert sea/estuary saline water to potable. I saw value in this because he and his wife had a lifestyle where their vehicle and caravan was their home and they spent weeks on end camped in remote locations.
But for the majority of us I suggest K.I.S.S. ( )

I was under the impression that reverse osmosis makes the water so pure you need to put stuff back into it or else it draws these out of your body?

In Adelaide, at the West End brewery (I hesitate calling it a brewery) they have a free well to fill up on what I imagine is RO treated water but assumed people were using for home brew?

 

[SirDrinksalott]

I carry a crap ton of water when we take our camper but its usually 2 weeks or more of bush camping and 1 tank is for washing and showers for 4 people and the other tank is drinking water. The drinking water tank I use a Best water filter when filling and have another Best filter hard mounted off the pump. I've lived and worked overseas and had some dodgy water supplies but don't want to subject my family to it and especially not during a camping trip. Its also a bonus to not have any funny tastes in the water and not need cordial to fix it.

What are your tanks and where are they (size etc.) any photos of the setup?

 

[Perth Pioneer]

Its a Pioneer Mitchell with the standard stainless 120ltr tank for the kitchen/shower mounted underneath at the very back. I got a 2nd heavy duty plastic tank made to fit under the floor, above the suspension. Its tapered front to rear to give me as much capacity as possible, another 120 ltrs. I put a 3 way ball-valve into the original filler hose so I can select which tank to fill. The frame holds the tank plus the water pump and filter and ran a hose to the front with a tap. Added a dual water level gauge to the side control box where the switches and BMS display are. Works a treat and the water quality is excellent with the Best filters. No taste, nobody got sick. I'll try to get some photos.

 

[andrewjp]

I recommend Sawyer Products MINI water filtration, this filter performs admirably. It is simple to clean, light in weight, and simple to operate. I adore the small / compact size, which offers great efficiency and filtering capabilities comparable to the best units on the market (down to 0.1 micron). I like the device's flexibility, which allows me to drink directly from the water supply, fill the water bladder and then filter the water to fill a water bottle, or drink filtered water from the bladder. Using the plunger / syringe given, you can easily backflow the filter. This is a fantastic device that will see a lot of use.

 

[malJohann]

SODIS works, but who wants to wait? A beer shower might be interesting, but such a waste of good drinking beer.

Sawyer is excellent for individuals, but that’ll be drinking water only. I challenge you to provide shower water to a group with a Sawyer Squeeze without dying from boredom. I have a couple of those, but suffer no illusions around flow rate (even with pressure on the bag).

I also have a GRAYL bottle, which filters quickly and efficiently, but I kind of want to keep that one for emergencies as each cartridge only does 150L.

IMHO for 4x4 use, you’d have to go far to beat the capability and adaptability (to circumstance and access to water sources) of a Lifesaver Jerrycan.

Lifesaver - Buy Lifesaver Jerrycan Water Bottles | Wild Earth

Shop our range of Lifesaver Jerrycan water filter bottles that removes bacteria, viruses, parasites, and cysts from contaminated water sources. Visit us today!

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[Bru9]

One area that is clearly overlooked here is that you can have all the filters you want, even down to removing viruses in real time (albeit slow). But there are water sources that are simply not safe to get drinking water from because they can contain a whole cocktail of chemicals not even an active charcoal filter will remove. Like built up areas, farmlands etc. Also despite the fact Aus water treatment is top, the infrastructure it travels through is old and decaying and could harbor all kinds of stuff that could have longterm effects, but then stuck in traffic each day also does you longterm harm...

Dealing with water is dead simply, first you clean it with a 5 and 1 micron filter (I use a cheapy sediment and a BEST)
This takes out the dirt, sediments, microplastics, some metals and chemicals and probably some bacteria.
Then you disinfect the water either by boiling, added chlorine ( best to add another best filter right before tape), or other options.
However I have a portable setup that lives with my portable joolca setup and I rigged up multiply sawyer squeeze filters in parrelle (each Sawyer looks to handle 1.8L/min safely from my test), added an inline stainless tape and pressure regulator (sawyers can only handle small psi) to mimmick gravity feed, so I can filter out all bacteria without burning alot of pump power with just one slow filter. I use a industrial grade pump ($$$) as most pumps are low duty cycle and I got up to 250L to fill... feed by a small lithium and the whole shebang is rain proof.
Finally if the water source is really suspect with viruses I break out the lifestraw mission gravity feed setup.
It uses two 12L missions hooked up to a sturdy camera tripod (15kg ball weight limit alone!) That can feed down to a 20L jerry, water bladder, or just a stainless drink bottle, all sealed connectors to prevents stuff crawling in. Sadly no one makes a good collapsible 20-30L bucket with outlet, no room at all to carry a solid one. 0.02micron=really slow rate. How do I know these work? Because these kinds of filters are sold to third world countries with poor water.
Overkill? Maybe. viruses are said to be an issue only in developing countries and dont last long in open waters in developed countries.
Years back we used a 60L stainless keg to boil up river water, a lot of large stuff, nowadays much better lighter options available.

 

[discomatt]

Also despite the fact Aus water treatment is top, the infrastructure it travels through is old and decaying and could harbor all kinds of stuff that could have longterm effects, but then stuck in traffic each day also does you longterm harm...

You mean like chlorine and fluoride, yes yes I know its only minuscule amounts, just like the toxic chemicals in soap and shampoo right .
Most things in modern society slowly but surely poison us, it mostly causes gut issues and inflammation, oh hang on all illness is just inflammation at a cellular level

 

[andrewjp]

My family has been using the Survivor Filter Pro X for our monthly camping trips, and instead of carrying large water bottles, all we do is carry this water filter, use it to filter The water in the nearby creek is very clean and delicious. Works very well.