I just found out about a completely new type of water purification device that may be a really good deal for people on this forum. It is called the steri-pen, and uses the same sterilization technology used to kill germs in operating rooms. It supposedly kills all bacteria and even viruses, so it should be good for anything in US water. It wouldn't do anything for heavy metals, or organic matter, so basic filtration-even through a sand medium- might still be necessary, but this sounds really good. It is a hand held gadget that uses a ultraviolet light that you 'stir' in a glass of water for 30 seconds. It is smaller, faster and more effective than a filter ( they say), and it doesn't use chemicals, such as bleach, iodine or chlorine. You also wouldn't need to bother with replacement filter elements. It does use a rechargeable AA battery, that could be recharged with a solar battery recharger, i imagine. They say it will sterilize 30 glasses of water on 1 charge. It isn't available yet, but will be 1Q of 1999. It will be 190$, the thing says. The web page for those interested is www.hydro-photon.com. As the usual disclaimer, i have absolutely nothing to do with this company, and simply found it an interesting alternative.

-- Damian Solorzano (oggy1@webtv.net), January 19, 1999

Answers

Hi Damian I have wondered about what will happen when I am looking at my last bottle on the shelf in my water inventory room. I have researched the net for a good water filter and have successfully found one that will filter rain, snow and swimming pool water.

The site http://www.atkinsid.com/bottle.htm and you will receive a 5% off for all Y2Kers if you enter my name "Duane" anywhere on the form. Obviously, the concept that you are mentioning is different fron the filtering concept but this filter is half the price. What does the ultraviolet light use for it's operation? It is amazing what concepts and technologies are available for the consumer. I wonder if this ultraviolet light pen would work on foods. I love thinking out of the black box.

-- Duane (Duane24062@aol.com), January 19, 1999.

THis would be GREAT if, IF, it were true. However, as an ex- OR transporter/orderly I can assure you that what sterilizes the OR in most hospitals is a SERIES of chemical applications which would remove even stuborn skin!!

Many many moons ago, we had this in two of the five ambulances we had in the North Country. We eventually removed them as we saw NO DIFFERENCE in the squads, and we were mis-describing patients to the hospital as shocky when they were fine, based on the patient's skin color!! (lol but sometimes serious).

I would have to read the documentation on the pen, see which labs had done the testing, and check with the labs as to what they really found, in terms of REALLY contaminated water (eg: mud puddle, dead moose upstream, etc.)before trusting myself and family to this particular technology.

CR

PS If it were true, backpackers would NOT be paying 200-500 for the Katahdin, etc. filters. Nor would they be lugging the couple pounds around with them.

(Here's a "y" for the Kat... filter, put it in where it belongs! Oh for a spell checker early in the morning!!)

-- Chuck, night driver (rienzoo@en.com), January 19, 1999.

Chuck: I agree with you in some respects. I think no matter what method you use, you should be carefull first of all where you get your water. I would be very careful about water from any stagnant source, such as mud puddle etc, and if i knew there was a dead moose, nuclear power plant, dow chemical company, upstream, i probably would not use that source-Katadyn, UV purifier, or any other device. I have also worked in hospitals as a nurse, and have been a paramedic for 10 years, as well as years of camping and using standard filters, so i do have some knowledge of sterilization/filtering techniques, and health precautions. You asked some good questions, that i wanted to know myself. I think, though that there are some differences in sterilization techniques that are not applicable between OR and simple water purification. Differences in organic matter, etc. Water purification with UV light is actually standard for water bottling companies, and has been for 50 years. The web site for this company states that the steri pen meets requirements of the national sanitation foundation standard for class B microbio systems (yeah, i know what ever that is:)), and neutralizes all viruses and bacteria. In addition, it weighs 4 ounces, and would not need to have replacement filters or anything. It lists that it has had tests for effectiveness done on it, and i'm sure you could e mail them and get more info on it. I am not particularly endorsing it, but it does sound as if it might be a very good thing for people preparing for camping trips, overseas travel, or survival post y2k. Since many people buying filters are paying more than 190.00 for a good one, plus more for extra filter replacements, it seems like it might be worth looking into. Damian

-- Damian Solorzano (oggy1@webtv.net), January 20, 1999.