SteriPEN offers a lightweight portable device to zap water clean with ultraviolet (UV) light!
Many cities worldwide have used UV light to keep their water safe. And now individuals have the "cleaning" power in a hand-held SteriPEN.
Having the ability to turn contaminated water into safe drinking water is important for backcountry backpacking, travel to countries with poor water sanitation, and home emergency kits, especially for those of us in earthquake country.
UV light can destroy germs' ability to reproduce and make us sick. I am told that it destroys 99.999% of bacteria. 99.999% of viruses and 99.9% of protozoa, including Giardia. What's a protozoa? Giardia? The names alone - I don't want to drink 'em!
Ok. Let's get something straight. I was never a girl scout. No preconceived ideas about how things are done in the wild. Until now, that is, now that I'm researching the hows and wherefores of backcountry backpacking and getting prepared for bugs, varying weather conditions, food, and, most importantly, hydration.
Clean water!
I may hike the Tahoe Rim Trail or John Muir Trail or ? and I'll need to be properly hydrated. Plus I live in earthquake country so having the ability to clean potentially contaminated water coming out of the tap after an earthquake is important.
Since 2001, SteriPEN has offered ultraviolet, handheld water purification systems for outdoor enthusiasts, travelers, and disaster preparedness. I opted for the Ultra SteriPEN, which is part of their three product line-up, including Adventurer Opti, and Classic with Pre-Filter.
There are choices to clean water that include filters and adding chemicals to sterilize "the germs" but when a few friends mentioned using the SteriPEN in South America instead of buying bottled water and using it effectively on hiking trips, I read up and learned the SteriPEN's ultraviolet (UV) light purifies water by changing the DNA of pesky organisms. No chemicals. Charge the battery before using and it's good to go.
Hmmm.
According to Hydro-Photon, makers of the SteriPEN Ultra, the SteriPEN is the world's most advanced portable UV water purifier and is built to be safe. Though the pen has not been certified against parasites like worms due to animal testing restrictions, it has tested well for bacteria, viruses and protozoa.
Always, it's recommended to take a back-up water purification method.
The SteriPEN Ultra is now in my girl scout first aid kit that doubes as an emergency earthquake preparedness kit, and includes tick removal key, tweezers, magnifying glass, a whistle, Aleve, Dr. Scholl's Blister Treatment, and, of course, canned and dehydrated foods at home.
The SteriPEN Ultra weighs about five ounces and comes in an attractive turquoise cotton case measuring 7 1/2 inches. Most models should last about 7 years and be reusable for 8000 liters. To learn more click here.
The road to cleaner air must be paved with clean water or we can't survive.
Hydro-Photon provided the SteriPEN Ultra for review.
Until next time, breathe easy and make life an adventure!
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