Before you can decide on the portable water purification system that’s the best for you, you first have to know what varieties of contaminants you are trying to take from the water. You can do this by having laboratory tests done on water samples. These tests will determine which contaminants are in your water and how much of each one of them is there. Once you’ve figured out what you need eliminate, it will become a lot easier job to find the portable water purification system that will work effectively in your application.

The usual types of contaminants that are found in water include bacteria, sulfur, iron, manganese, low pH, and nitrates. In addition, your lab tests might indicate the presence of heavy metals, such as lead, chromium, or mercury, chlorine, fluoride, and sediment. These findings will help you determine the pollutants that are present in large enough amounts to need to be removed.

There are a number of different models of portable water purification systems which you can purchase. Basic portable pump filters are available that will filter out contaminants down to approximately 0.2 micrometers, and micro water filters will take out even tinier particles. Bacteria, however, will not be removed using portable pump filters. Instead, ultraviolet light must be used which will annihilate the DNA in the microorganisms, thereby killing them. There are portable UV filters which, used with a portable pump filter, will rid the water of most dangerous contaminants.

Solar water distillation is accomplished using a portable still. As the name indicates, a solar still uses the energy from the sun to disperse water leaving the contaminants in the original receptacle. The water vapor amasses on a grid and then drips the now-purified water into a second container.

Even though chemicals can be used to purify water, an emergency water purification system does not require that any be used. These devices are compact, lightweight, and field-serviceable. Some models can be purchased that have 4-step water purification processes: pre-filtration, sediment filtration, carbon block filtration, and UV treatment. By having one of these filtering machines on hand, you’ll be prepared to purify water everywhere you go.