There are many different kinds of portable drinking water filters, but they all have one thing in common – they all cost money.  Some cost a lot more than others.  But why bother at all with any kind of portable water filter comparison when we can get water out of our home and public taps?  We already pay our pubic water company for that.  This is because the quality of pubic drinking water is getting worse and worse.

Shaken Not Stirred

Over decades of pollution, agricultural run off and lax government regulations about dumping waste into the sources of our public water supply, tap water has become an unappetizing cocktail.  Included in this brew are carcinogens, chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, heavy metals, bacteria and even prescription medications.

Our under-funded and overworked water utility companies do not have the technology to filter out all of these pollutants, so until they can, we have to do it ourselves with the use of portable drinking water filters for our homes, RVs or vehicles.  Because more and more people are concerned about their water, portable drinking water filters are getting easier to find and are steadily coming down in price.

Pollution Solution

Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies pollutants into two categories?  They call things that can kill you “life-threatening pollutants”.  Everything else that can get you sick are known merely “nuisance pollutants.”  Over time, they really are the same kind of pollutant.  If you are sick, your body does not have the energy to defend against disease and illness.

One of the most common nuisance pollutant found in your tap water is chlorine.  You don’t have to be able to smell it in order for there to be too much in your water supply.  If your skin has problems and your hair is becoming brittle and thin, then you could be having problems with chlorine in your water. (Be sure to see your doctor for a proper diagnosis, though!) The use of a portable drinking water filter and a shower water filter can help your skin, hair and overall health.

No Bottles

Although millions of people fell for the promise of getting pure and healthy drinking water from expensive bottled water, this has proven to be nothing but an elaborate scam.  ABC News sent several famous brands of bottled water to a professional chemist in order to analyze what was different about bottles water compared to tap water.  The study found no differences at all.  And bottled water, in the long run, is far more expensive than using a portable drinking water filter.

If you hear or read about portable ceramic water filters, you may wonder just how heavy they are, even if they are described as portable.  Ceramic is a lot heavier than plastic or even a family-sized Brita portable water filter unit.  But you don’t have to worry about having to take a bodybuilding course in order to be able to lug around a water bottle claiming to have a portable ceramic water filter in it.  Not all of the bottle will be made of heavy ceramic.

Not Lightweight In Filtration

The only part of a water bottle or device (or cartridge) that has ceramic in it is the actual filtration unit.  Ceramic is considered a better holder for water filtration media than the sturdy plastics that most portable water filters are made out of.  Ceramic is considered to be sturdier than even the toughest plastics and doesn’t need to be replaced as often as a plastic cartridge.

Portable ceramic water filters inside of water bottles, canteens or thermos-like containers will feel a little bit heavier than their all-plastic cousins, but it won’t be so heavy as to make a very noticeable difference.  For example, the Katadyn ceramic pocket Micro-filter, a portable ceramic water filter inside of a camping water, weighs in it’s entirely about 21 ounces.

It Costs How Much?

Because portable ceramic water filters are longer lasting and excellent in filtering out dangerous water borne bacteria, they cost a lot more than their plastic cousins.  In the long run, you will spend less on the portable ceramic water filters than the plastic ones, just because you have to replace the plastic ones a lot more often.  But be prepared for sticker shock at the initial purchase.

Makers of portable ceramic water filters will not only make the bottles or containers, but the replacement cartridges for those containers.  There doesn’t seem to be an expiration date for water filtration media, so you are encouraged to buy a replacement cartridge as soon as you know that you want to keep your portable ceramic water filter.  This is just in case the company that makes the cartridges suddenly goes out of business.  In today’s economy, you never know if that’s going to happen.

You are encouraged to get some kind of water filtration system to use in case of emergencies or natural disasters.  They are also good for hiking, camping and trail riding, when you find a good but suspect body of fresh water.