Looking out over a calm, serene lake in your perfect campsite is a dream come true. You look towards the pristine blue sky and green treetops beautifully outlined against the horizon, and wonder if life can get better than this. Nothing could ruin this perfect moment. A cool, fresh drink of water sounds lovely and you look at the lake, wondering if the water is safe to drink. This is the moment in time when hopefully you considered and decided on one of the many camping water purifiers available on the market today.

The use of a camping water filter can make all the difference between the ideal experience and one in which an unfortunate event takes place - such as illness. It is no surprise that many natural waterways are contaminated by a variety of pollutants and chemicals. For example, Giardia and Cryptosporidium are unpleasant illnesses caused by microscopic parasites often found in natural waterways. E.coli is a dangerous parasite found in human and animal feces, and when there is heavy rainfall or snowmelt, this parasite can make its way into lakes, creeks or rivers causing severe illness or even death. Other causes for concern include grease, heavy metals, herbicides and pesticides that run off nearby farms and fields. These potential health risks can be eliminated by choosing the most convenient water filtration device for you.

Different Types of Water Purification Systems

There are many forms of water treatment products available for camping, but probably the most popular by far are portable reverse osmosis units and water filtration systems.

· Portable Reverse osmosis units are a popular choice. While this method of water treatment can be used successfully in the home, it is a viable option in the outdoors as well. Most contaminants are removed during the process of reverse osmosis including E.coli, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. This enables your water supply to be clean and free of hazardous material.

· Water filtration systems are another viable option, but it is essential to find a water filter with a pore size of 1 micron or smaller and is tested and certified by NSF Standard 53 for cyst removal. This will ensure that Giardia and Cryptosporidium are removed from your water supply as well as many other harmful contaminants.

Water filters come in a range of models, from specialized camping filters to pitcher filters and even sports water bottles. It is imperative, however, that you research exactly which contaminants the filter will remove from your water supply BEFORE making your purchase. Some water filtration systems will only remove chlorine, bad taste and odor - which simply isn’t enough to safeguard you and your family from serious illness.

For the safety of your family, a water purification system is an absolute necessity. They are inexpensive, easy to use, and eliminate the complications of possible water borne illness. Camping water filters are also simple to find online, and are easy to add to your camping gear. Considering they don’t take up a lot of space, water filters are one thing you don’t want to leave behind.

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