Water Purification Devices for Zero-Waste Drinking Water

Consuming pure and clean water is so important not only to satisfy our thirst but also is important to maintain our health. Impure water can make us sick and cause many diseases like cholera and diarrhea. Plastic water bottles are very expensive compared to water from the tap, there is also some evidence to suggest that the plastic in water bottles poses health risks and we all know by now that single use plastic is a scourge  for nature and creates many unfavorable environmental hazards.  ​

World Vegan Travel provides water purification tablets when traveling to a location where water from the tap is not potable. We also work with hotels and restaurants in order to provide large gallon tanks of water so that our travelers can refill their own water bottles. Recently, Akagera Game Lodge in Rwanda decided to change their policies regarding providing water to their guests.  Between our first visit and our second visit, they changed their policy from only selling drinking water in bottles to offering free refills. 

World Vegan Travel also offers a SteriPEN for travelers to borrow during the trip on request. 

​So, what choices do we have when it comes to drinking potable water if we are traveling to places where our only choices are to buy bottled water? Well, we have the low-down on some options for you.

Water Purification Methods 

SteriPEN

SteriPEN uses a short wave germicidal UV light to purify water. The UV light disrupts the DNA within bacteria, viruses and protozoa, rendering them unable to reproduce, and therefore harmless. In clear water, the SteriPEN will destroy over 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.99% of viruses and 99.9% of protozoa.

SteriPEN purifier neutralizes biological organisms, effective in cold or freezing weather, does not affect the taste and works very fast by swirling the pen in water for 90 seconds. It is rechargeable through a USB but has quite a long life , should be used with wide-mouthed bottles and does not neutralize larger organisms, for example worm eggs. (Read more Pros and cons of SteriPen purifier) from here. 
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​We have personally used the Steripen for two years now with only one small problem that was fixed by ourselves with the help of the Steripen support

LifeStraw

LifeStraw makes contaminated water safe to drink by removing bacteria and parasites, preventing the majority of waterborne diseases. It could be used to drink directly from streams and lakes, or you can fill up a container and use  LifeStraw to enjoy clean water on the go. The microbiological, hollow fiber membrane filters to 0.2 microns and removes 99.99% of bacteria, 99.99% of parasites and 99.99% of microplastics.

The LifeStraw water filter device is easy to use, reliable, cost-effective, travel-friendly and tastes like purified drinking water. However, the device does not filter everything such as heavy metals, chemicals and viruses. In the case of sewage-contaminated or saltwater, the filter would not be able to serve the purpose. 

LARQ

LARQ Bottle is the world’s first self-cleaning water bottle and is the new shiny product on the market. It uses the UV-C technology which is built into the lid, eradicates up to 99.99% of bacteria and 99.99% of viruses. The bottle also intelligently turns on every 2 hours to purify the water as well as the bottle surface itself. 

The LARQ water bottle is highly effective, saves money in the long-term, and works to clean non-potable water in 180 seconds. Besides that, it also has long battery life and it provides a high level of insulation. On the other hand, the bottle is not cost-effective, a bit heavy to carry (according to user experiences), and only one size option is available at the moment.This problem can be fixed for those people who are heading out for a day of hiking and will need more water than this can carry just had an extra water bottle and as you drink the contents of your Larq bottle, you can simply refill it! Super simple. 
We do recommend that you carry an alternative method of water purification if you are relying on methods that require battery power to work and you will be heading out in the wilderness for some time. ​

Aquatabs

Aquatabs are one of the world’s top-selling water purification tablets. The tablets are renowned for their ability to kill microorganisms, Giardia cysts, bacteria, and viruses in water to prevent water-borne diseases. Aquatabs is the only brand to have both NSF 60 certification and WHO approval. Aquatabs is super easy to use, lightweight, cheap in comparison to other filters, and it will take a packet of aquatabs only 40 minutes to work. Although according to user experiences, aquatabs is more expensive than other chemical treatment, it has a chlorinated taste, and does not kill Crypto.(You can read more about the pros and cons of Aquatabs from Here)  

No matter what water purification method you choose we do recommend that you carry some Aquatabs which are lightweight and cheap in case batteries run out of your Larq or Steripen or there is a fault in your water filter. This is only really important if you are heading to the wilderness where you can’t get purified water. 

In conclusion, there are some really easy and ways to drink purified water when traveling to places where the water is not potable. Yes, there are some upfront costs associated with these products, but depending on how often you travel in these kinds of places they pay for themselves in just a few weeks. Just be really careful not to lose them and treat them with care.

The planet asks you to give it a try!

Which of these devices appeal to you and why?