UV and Chemical Treatment

Chemical Tablets & Solutions
Iodine or chlorine dioxide can be added to suspect water to disinfect the water of biological pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses.

Pros: Extremely lightweight and compact. Most kill viruses, in addition to bacteria, cysts, giardia and cryptosporidium. Good for emergencies and for use in your hydration pack.

Cons: You must plan ahead, as it can take up to 4 hours to completely disinfect water. Requires a relatively clear water source (such as a running stream), as chemicals obviously do not get rid of sediment or mud.

Ultralight Violet Light Purification
UV light purifiers use ultraviolet light to quickly and safely destroy the DNA of microbes.

Pros: Proven technology. Lighter weight and more compact than hand pump filters. Destroys the DNA of virtually all microbes.

Cons: Requires an external power source -- i.e., batteries. Requires a water source that is relatively free of sediment and mud (unless a pre-filter is used). Process is relatively quick, but yield-per-minute is still about one-half that of a compact hand pump filter. More fragile than hand pump filters.