A drinking bottle with a filter for on the go: what works and what is important to know?

Why filter on the go?

Tap water in the Netherlands is safe according to government standards, but its quality differs by region and period. When travelling, exercising, camping or cycling, you sometimes end up in situations where you would like to purify the available water. A drinking bottle with a filter combines hydration with a built-in purification system. The biggest advantage is that you have safe drinking water straight away without plastic waste.

How does a drinking bottle with a filter work?

Most reliable models use filters that are also used in larger water filters, but in a smaller size. This technology often works by gravity or by gently squeezing the bottle in combination with sucking. The filters apply microfiltration, in which the water has to pass through a micro-porous structure that holds back sediment and particles. This happens in combination with adsorption, in which certain substances are bound to the surface of the filter medium (e.g. heavy metals and other contaminants).

What does a filter element remove and what not?

Of course this differs per brand and type of drinking bottle with a filter. Most reduce a wide range of unwanted substances in the water, including heavy metals, pesticides, organic chemicals, chlorine and chloramine, medicine residues and petroleum/fuel-related contaminants. For many of the substances tested you see reduction percentages of 99% to 99.9% in official test reports. Fluoride is usually not reduced, and often no claims are made about bacteria and viruses either. Bear in mind that filter capacity is limited, because it is a small version. As the element is used repeatedly, the flow rate drops and the degree of purification decreases. So replace the element in good time.

Practical use and maintenance

A drinking bottle with a filter is ideal for day trips, sports activities, cycling holidays or camping. The capacity is usually between 500 and 750 millilitres. The filter element is replaceable and can often be cleaned by backflushing with clean cold water. The bottle itself with warm water and a little washing-up liquid. Preferably store the bottle empty and dry when you are not using it, so that no bacteria or mould can grow in the damp filter.

Which bottle should you choose?

The Sport Berkey drinking bottle uses the same filter element as the large Berkey water filters. The technology is proven and delivers a high degree of purification. The filter elements can be detached, as can other parts of this drinking bottle (think of the cap and straw). It is handy like a normal sports bottle, but do bear in mind that it is not an ordinary bottle. The water is purified instantly, so a combination of lightly squeezing and sucking on the straw is important for the best experience.

In short. A good drinking bottle with a filter uses roughly the same filters as large water filters. Among other things, it removes heavy metals, pesticides, organic chemicals, chlorine and chloramine, medicine residues and petroleum/fuel-related contaminants. Replace the element in good time and store the bottle dry. For on the go, a model with a replaceable element and a capacity of 500 to 750 ml is the most practical.