Portable water filters for travel

Hi, there! As a long-distance hiker, we carried Sawyer Squeeze filters long before I ever found out I had bronchiectasis and MAC. They do require a little hand strength to squeeze the water from the catch bag to through the filter, but they work beautifully.

They do make a filter for attachment to a tap, which would be probably what you would want. We've not personally used it, but I can attest to Sawyer being quality stuff, at least the versions we've used for years on trails.

Laurel

@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?

@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.

@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.

@clynnp I do filter spring water in my large dispenser as I like the taste better. If you want to drink spring water I would still recommended filtering it. Spring water isn't bacteria free either.
You can print the testing results from their website for all that's filtered and to what %

@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.

@ana323 - Did you see this post?

@laureltn which one attaches to a tap? So I can check it out. Thanks.

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.