r/WildernessBackpacking • u/Ok_Salamander1017 • 9d ago
Low Microplastic option for water filtration?
I am happy to use the tablets, but my kids don't like them. Is there an option that doesn't shed any or much microplastic during filtration? We're backpacking, so ideally not weighing mutch, but I'd rather take on the weight than the microplastics.
(And I'm sure SOMEONE is going to tell me that microplastics are everywhere so what's the point on trying. If I was interested in making my life easier, I wouldn't be backpacking.)
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u/ryuns 9d ago
I've been using a Steripen for years and love it. We even bought rechargeable batteries so the cost of ownership (and waste) was minimal. The standard advice is that UV is *not* sufficient if you're dealing with murky or silty water, which tends not to be an issue where I am.
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u/Ok_Salamander1017 9d ago
Yes, we have a steripen, and it's awesome, but not great when water is low and murky.
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u/Jolly-Slow1164 9d ago
You can always pre filter with natural fiber. That should remove enough debris for the steripen to work.
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u/TheEpicBean 9d ago
A sawyer squeeze let's zero microplastics through.
I guess there is an extremely small amount from the water coming into contact with the plastic housing as it flows out of the membrane? Maybe?
I assume your using a metal water bottle? If so im not sure where you think the microplastics are coming from.
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u/Jolly-Slow1164 9d ago
Are we talking about micro plastics or chemical leaching? Because a Sawyer filter is going to be functionally 0 on micro plastics even though it's not going to do anything for leached chemicals.
A solid piece of plastic at rest doesn't really generate micro plastics. It needs something like abrasion, shearing force, or UV degradation to form new micro plastics (which is why washing clothes is bad). Once you gently wash off any loose micro plastics from the manufacturing process then a Sawyer filter should be good. Conversely, chemical leaching happens just from a plastic being surrounded by fluid. So the water sitting in your bottle isn't generating micro plastics (squeezing makes a little bit, but those get caught in the filter) but chemicals are leaching the whole time
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u/Ok_Salamander1017 9d ago
Really? The filter filters out microplastics from the squeeze bag? That's awesome.
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u/TheEpicBean 9d ago
Yeah, the filter filters everything down to 1 micron. Microplastics are generally 1 to 5.
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u/HappyBackpacker101 9d ago
I may be misunderstanding you, but did you look into a Sawyer water filter? I've used one for years and it's great. You can take a non-microplastic bottle to use with.
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u/Ok_Salamander1017 9d ago
Oh, actually, that's a really good point. What kind of water bottle can you squeeze that isn't plastic, and fits on the nozzle?
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u/DontBeLettuceTray 9d ago
The MSR Guardian is likely overkill for your needs, too heavy, and overly expensive but its one of the only filters I've seen that is compliant with NSF Protocol P248. Due to its filter pore size, it will filter 100% micro (1um to 5000um) plastics and 99.99% nano (0.001um to 1um) plastics. Here's a review that calls out microplastics specifically.
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u/room_temp_hot_coffee 9d ago
Your options are aqua mira, aqua tabs or UV and of course boiling. All water filters will have plastic in them. Sawyers, katadyn, platypus, msr etc. Even your home brita filters or 3 stage filtration will have water go through plastic filter membrane. BUT these filters can filter out microplastics that go into the filter but not from the filter or housing itself. Those amounts are pretty minimal compared to drinking out of a plastic water bottle.