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Portable water filters for travel

Posted by kathyhg @kathyhg, Oct 28, 2024

I have a number of Lifestraw products and I feel pretty confident in them filtering out the mac from drinking water. One of the things that lifestraw doesn’t do is filter out minerals; I tried using a Lifestraw gravity filter to filter water before boiling my equipment and everything was covered with a fine white film, almost like powder. I emailed Lifestraw to see if any of their filter systems filter out minerals and they’ve said that they do not.

I’ve just heard about Sawyer water filter products and I read that they filter to 0.1 microns. Wondering is anyone has tried Sawyer filters? The benefit of filtering out the minerals is that the water is better for boiling equipment so that there is no film on everything, as a result of minerals in the water.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has experience with this (or other filtration) systems,

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Nov 1 11:14am
In reply to @ana323 "I have a Lifestraw pitcher and straw but was informed after an AI google search that..." + (show)
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I have a Lifestraw pitcher and straw but was informed after an AI google search that Lifestraw does not include MAC in terms of guaranteed removal. I have MAC so I discontinued using them. 😒

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@ana323 Did you check the Lifestraw site? AI is not necessarily a reliable source.

From the Lifestraw website:
"The first, most common filter used in LifeStraw products is a membrane microfilter capable of blocking particulates and pathogens larger than 0.2 microns in size (effectively removing microplastics based on size exclusion). In general, nanoplastics are too small to be blocked by this filtration pore size. " (https://lifestraw.com/blogs/news/filtering-microplastics-and-nanoplastics-from-drinking-water)

Based on this statement, and on the recognized standard for filtering out mycobacteria (.2 micron filter) it looks to me like LifeStraw meets the criteria. Remember, they cannot list every bacteria removed.

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clynnp | @clynnp | Nov 1 11:18am
In reply to @coffcoff "I have a Lifestraw pitcher for every day use and a Lifestraw Go water bottle for..." + (show)
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I have a Lifestraw pitcher for every day use and a Lifestraw Go water bottle for when I'm out and about. My question to the group is, how often should I disassemble and clean the pitcher and bottle? And what do I do with the filters during cleaning? Thanks!

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@coffcoff I use these maintenance instructions for the Lifestraw pitcher.
https://help.lifestraw.com/article/306-how-to-clean-and-maintain-the-lifestraw-pitcher-and-dispenser

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scoop | @scoop | Nov 1 11:19am

I recently attended a presentation on AI. These are some recommendations when using AI. In other words, you cannot believe everything you read and need to take steps to verify, etc.

As it relates to the life straw, when I researched it in a side-by-side comparison of Life straw products my recollection is that NTM was eliminated.

1. Verify EVERYTHING independently.
2. Disclose all AI use.
3. Understand limitations deeply.
4. Question all digital evidence.
5. Consider bias constantly.
6. Advocate for transparency.
7. Pursue continuing education.

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ana323 | @ana323 | Nov 1 11:54am
In reply to @sueinmn "@ana323 Did you check the Lifestraw site? AI is not necessarily a reliable source. From the..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

@ana323 Did you check the Lifestraw site? AI is not necessarily a reliable source.

From the Lifestraw website:
"The first, most common filter used in LifeStraw products is a membrane microfilter capable of blocking particulates and pathogens larger than 0.2 microns in size (effectively removing microplastics based on size exclusion). In general, nanoplastics are too small to be blocked by this filtration pore size. " (https://lifestraw.com/blogs/news/filtering-microplastics-and-nanoplastics-from-drinking-water)

Based on this statement, and on the recognized standard for filtering out mycobacteria (.2 micron filter) it looks to me like LifeStraw meets the criteria. Remember, they cannot list every bacteria removed.

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@sueinmn This would be great! I sent email to them to confirm....because I'm neurotic. Thank you so much.

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linda1334 | @linda1334 | Nov 1 1:12pm
In reply to @sueinmn "@ana323 Did you check the Lifestraw site? AI is not necessarily a reliable source. From the..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

@ana323 Did you check the Lifestraw site? AI is not necessarily a reliable source.

From the Lifestraw website:
"The first, most common filter used in LifeStraw products is a membrane microfilter capable of blocking particulates and pathogens larger than 0.2 microns in size (effectively removing microplastics based on size exclusion). In general, nanoplastics are too small to be blocked by this filtration pore size. " (https://lifestraw.com/blogs/news/filtering-microplastics-and-nanoplastics-from-drinking-water)

Based on this statement, and on the recognized standard for filtering out mycobacteria (.2 micron filter) it looks to me like LifeStraw meets the criteria. Remember, they cannot list every bacteria removed.

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@sueinmn I found a research article on PubMed Central published by Dr. Falkinham, Dr. Honda and two others with in depth details of their study of water purification methods and the results. It does state that there was total removal of NTM by the LifeStraw Go Bottle they tested. It also had results for the SteriPen which was not quite as effective but more effective than the Mountop system. It's a very detailed article and for those that want to get right to these findings, you will need to scroll down into the results area for the specific headings for the LifeStraw and SteriPen products. Hopefully it's okay to post this link:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7304319/.

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coffcoff | @coffcoff | Nov 1 1:53pm
In reply to @sueinmn "@kate2025 When you say "Other groups have suggested to remove the carbon filter on lifestraw products..." + (show)
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@kate2025 When you say "Other groups have suggested to remove the carbon filter on lifestraw products because "carbon filters are known to harbor bacteria growth..." would you mind telling us who this is, and whether they have the qualifications to make such a recommendation? There are a number of NTM/MAC/Bronchiectasis groups that take a general idea about something (eg bacteria in carbon water filters) and generalize it to all filters containing carbon.

There is a danger in not recognizing the difference between single-stage filtering through a carbon filter and dual-stage filtering through carbon first and a .1 or .2 micron filter second. The dual filter catches anything that might be released by the carbon filter in the second one.

We use a 2-stage filter at our kitchen tap to eliminate the need for boiling all of our water. It is used for drinking, cooking, washing nebulizer equipment, washing food and cleaning water bottles.

To all - as for the "white" or mineral residue, the only way I know to avoid it is to used distilled water for steaming/boiling equipment.

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@sueinmn Could you please share the name of your kitchen filter, ie, manufacturer? Thanks.

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Nov 1 3:19pm
In reply to @coffcoff "@sueinmn Could you please share the name of your kitchen filter, ie, manufacturer? Thanks." + (show)
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@sueinmn Could you please share the name of your kitchen filter, ie, manufacturer? Thanks.

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@coffcoff Well...it is not a manufactured setup per se. We use a generic 2 stage filter housing from a big box store, mounted just below the generic "filtered water" kitchen tap in our sink. In that filter housing we place a high-quality carbon filter in the first position (where the water enters) and a dental-grade .2 micron filter in the second position (where the water flows to the tap.) It is attached so that a very short vertical piece of tubing attaches to the faucet, this eliminates the concern of water standing in the hose. I think the current filters are from Blu Technology, but could be from NanoCeram or a dental supplier, I'm not certain.

We replace these every 3 months, or if the flow slows down.

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Nov 1 3:25pm
In reply to @linda1334 "@sueinmn I found a research article on PubMed Central published by Dr. Falkinham, Dr. Honda and..." + (show)
Profile picture for linda1334 @linda1334

@sueinmn I found a research article on PubMed Central published by Dr. Falkinham, Dr. Honda and two others with in depth details of their study of water purification methods and the results. It does state that there was total removal of NTM by the LifeStraw Go Bottle they tested. It also had results for the SteriPen which was not quite as effective but more effective than the Mountop system. It's a very detailed article and for those that want to get right to these findings, you will need to scroll down into the results area for the specific headings for the LifeStraw and SteriPen products. Hopefully it's okay to post this link:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7304319/.

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@ana323 - Did you see this post?

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Nov 1 3:35pm
In reply to @clynnp "@ana323 I have been using the Lifestraw pitcher for almost a year. I thought, from reading..." + (show)
Profile picture for clynnp @clynnp

@ana323 I have been using the Lifestraw pitcher for almost a year. I thought, from reading earlier posts and listening to NTM webinars, that MAC was filtered out. I have MAC, and have already had pneumonia three times this year - still recovering from the latest episode in late September.

I just found a question on Amazon which posted on 12/26/20 regarding this. "Does this pitcher filter out Mycobacterium Avium? If so, for how long?" The response from the Manufacturer stated "Our products do not filter Mycobacterium Avium, but it does filter Mycobacterium tuberculosis."

So, now what? Should we just drink Spring water and forget about the Lifestraw pitcher which is expensive and time consuming to maintain?

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Or, proof that the filters work for removal of MAC?

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@clynnp Dr Falkinham tested the LifeStraw water bottle in the past, and stated it removed NTM. I cannot find the citation.
The study is cited in another post here.

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