Hydration Without Harm: Why Water Purifiers or Filters are a Must-Have for Eco-Conscious Travelers

Have you ever found yourself wondering if it's safe to drink the tap water when you travel to a new country? Maybe you've even bought plastic water bottles instead of investing in a reusable one (I know I have!). But after learning the shocking fact that almost 1 million plastic bottles are purchased every minute worldwide, it's time to reconsider your choices. Take a look at the graphics that illustrate this staggering amount – it's almost too much to comprehend!

I used to buy plastic water bottles when traveling because I was skeptical about the safety of tap water, even when CDC stated it was safe. But in reality, constantly buying water bottles on the go is often tempting and cheap, rather than investing in a more expensive reusable bottle. However, once I did the math, it turned out to be more costly in the end.

For example, let's say you and your travel companion each buy an average of three water bottles per day during a two-week trip at a price of $2 USD per bottle. That's $6 a day or $84 in total. You could purchase an excellent reusable water purifier for that amount of money, which will last for all your future travels. It may seem like a crazy amount of money for a reusable bottle, but it's both an environmentally and budget-conscious investment.

Know the difference between water purifiers and water filters

When it comes to clean drinking water, there are two main options: water purifiers and water filters. While both are designed to remove impurities and contaminants from water, they work in different ways.

Water filters typically use a physical barrier to trap particles and impurities in the water. This barrier can be made of materials like activated carbon or ceramic, and can be designed to remove specific contaminants like chlorine or heavy metals. Water filters are effective at removing many common impurities, but may not remove all contaminants, such as viruses.

Water purifiers, on the other hand, use a combination of physical and chemical processes to remove impurities from water. In addition to a physical barrier, water purifiers may also use chemical treatments like chlorine or ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and other microorganisms. Water purifiers are typically more effective at removing a wider range of contaminants than water filters.

Whether you choose a water filter or a water purifier depends on your specific needs and the quality of the water you are trying to purify. Both options are more environmentally friendly than buying plastic water bottles, and can provide you with clean drinking water on-the-go or at home.

My suggestions for water purifiers and water filter bottles

I want to make it clear that I am not affiliated with any of the brands I'm about to recommend, and I won't be making a penny if you decide to purchase them. My selections are purely based on my own experiences with the brands, my evaluation of their technology, pricing, and overall aesthetic.

Water filter bottles:

LifeStraw Go 650 ML: Membrane microfilter removes 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999% of parasites, 99.999% of microplastics, silt, sand, and cloudiness. Activated carbon filter reduces chlorine, organic chemical matter and odors for improved taste 

LARQ Bottle Filtered: Two layers of Nano Zero to trap contaminants like chlorine and VOCs while zerovalent iron grabs onto heavy metals for pure, great-tasting water. The filters remove Lead, Chlorine, PFAS/PFOA, Heavy metals, VOCs, Pesticides, Mercury, Cadmium, Particulates, Herbicides, Chemicals and Micro plastics.

Water purifier bottles:

GRAYL Geopress 710 ML: Removes waterborne pathogens (99.99% of viruses, 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.9% of protozoan cysts), including Rotavirus, Hepatitis A, Norovirus, Giardiasis, Cryptosporidium, E. Coli, Cholera, Salmonella, Dysentery and more. The filter particulates (i.e. silt, microplastics, etc.); activated carbon effectively adsorbs chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, flavors, and odors

LARQ Bottle PureVis: The LARQ Bottle PureVis™ is the world's first self-cleaning water bottle and water purification system. It uses PureVis technology to eliminate up to 99%* of bio-contaminants such as E. coli from your water and bottle.

Please let me know your personal experience with these or maybe other brands in the comments below. Let’s help each other!

Wander the world, tread lightly.