Several months ago I talked about the importance of water filtration. I shared the portable water filtration system that our family uses and loves, the Berkey Light.
Much as I love my large counter-top filter, and it is light and portable enough to use for emergencies or even to bring camping if I wanted to, there are times when it simply isn't helpful or practical. Like travelling somewhere with a questionable water supply, or a hiking trip, or even a full day summer outing where you will want to refill water bottles and not have to lug around a huge jug of pre-filtered water.
This is the Sport Berkey Water Bottle that I have been trying out from LPC Survival, one of this blog's fantastic sponsors and a retailer of Berkey Water Filters.
I know, first thought is that it's plastic and I don't love that fact any more than many of you do. It is BPA-free, though, and the website states that it does not leach plasticizers into the water. I haven't noticed any plastic taste in the water at all, and since I am a stainless steel gal, you would think that if it was in there, I would notice it.
What makes these bottles really unique is not whether they're plastic or BPA-free, but rather the fact that they have a built-in, heavy duty water filtration element. It is a miniature version of the filter elements used in the larger Berkeys.
We have a Berkey Light filtration system in our kitchen, and we love, love, love it. The water tastes pure and fresh, but without the minerals being stripped from it. I feel good giving this water to my kids, the science behind these filters gets a thumbs-up from me, and guests regularly comment on what clean tasting water it is.
The same filters in my larger system are exactly the same as the smaller filter used in the sport bottle. Here's what the website says about the power of these little filters:
The Sport Berkey Portable Water Purifier Eliminates or Reduces up to 99.9% of:
Unpleasant taste and odors, cloudiness, silt, sediment and chlorine.
Toxic chemicals: Trihalomethanes, VOCs, detergents, pesticides, etc.
Harmful microscopic pathogens: Cryptosporidium, Giardia, E-coli 99.99999% and other pathogenic bacteria.
Heavy metals: Aluminum, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Lead, and Mercury.
Radiologicals: Radon 222
How Does it Work?
Basically, you just fill it up with water. Any water- from a kitchen tap, from a water fountain, even from a mountain stream (because yes, the filter can handle bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc.).
As you suck up the water through the straw, it goes through the filter and you get only fresh, clean tasting water.
Just like the larger filter elements, these smaller ones can be used over and over again for years, and washed with a dish scrub pad when they begin to show sediment on the outside or the filter speed slows down.
The bottles have an easy-to-use flip top that covers the straw (which is attached to the filter). When you first see and feel the bottle, it seems a bit bizarre to have the filter dangling like it is, but once the bottle is full of water you don't really notice that it's there anymore. I've also been able to carry the bottle in my purse and haven't noticed any leaking issues to this point, a definite plus for me.
Aside from regular use as a water bottle, they are also an idea thing to have on hand for emergencies when a larger system would be impractical. Although I am not willing to test it out for the sake of product review (bloggers do have their limits, you know!) the idea is that with such a thorough filtration system you could feasibly use water in any survival situation, dirty, contaminated, etc. and expect to be as well-protected as possible rather than putting yourself or your family at risk by drinking unsanitary water (which, by the way, is a major cause of much of the disease and death in developing nations or during natural disasters).
Would You Like to Win Your Own Sport Berkey Water Bottle?
I have 2 bottles ($49.98 value) to give away to each of two winners! Here's how to get entered:
(Please leave each entry as a separate comment)
1. Check out how the Berkey filters work and tell me why you'd like to win these Sport Berkey bottles!
2. Subscribe to Keeper of the Home by RSS feed or by email (and be entered to win our monthly email subscriber-only giveaways!).
3. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media, or follow LPC Survival on Facebook, Twitter or on their blog.
Giveaway is now close. Thanks for entering!
Disclosure: This giveaway was generously sponsored by LPC Survival, retailers of Berkey Water Filters and other survival products. I also received Sport Berkey bottles for the purpose of review.
Our tap water is so full of chlorine that it tastes like pool water! We've purchase three water filters (tap connected) and all have broken in as many months. I'm tired of buying junk filters, so I'm drinking straight out of the tap and I"m afraid I'm doing so much harm and counter acting all the good I do in other ways.
I suscribe via google reeder.
oh...i'd love to win it! saves from spending $ on water bottles and easy to take anywhere! love the filter!
blessings~
I'm also an email subscriber!
I would love to win one of these sports bottles because it would just be nice to have one! Very handy!
I shared this giveaway on my blog!
http://this-precious-life.com/2011/06/27/sport-berkey-water-bottle-giveaway/
I would LOVE to win this water bottle because I hate emptying our entire fridge pitcher of filtered water into my water bottle. Plus I could refill it on the go! ;)
Can the filter in the berkey sport really last for one year or more? I thought I read somewhere else that the filter needs to be changed more often than once per year.
And, is it easy to order a replacement filter?
I'm an email subscriber!
I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to win this water bottle! I just got back from a vacation with my husband, and over the 4 days we were gone I hardly drank any water because the hotel water was disgusting. I should have just bought bottled water. Having clean, filtered water at all times while I'm away from home would be great!
I subscribed!
I would love to use these for camping and traveling this summer!
I'm a subscriber and I "liked" LPC Survival on Facebook. =) I would love these for camping, hiking and just normal days out for my family! Thank you!
I subscribe!
I would love one of these---just to know the water is safe because we do so much traveling.
I am a subscriber!
I would love to win a water bottle..... this would complement my Filtrete system since our fridge filter doesn't work!
I subscribe via RSS feed.
Thank you!
I would love to have one of these to filter out all of the bad stuff when we are on the road. How handy to have the filter connected!
I like LCP on FB
I am subscribed to KoftheH via RSS
I'd love to win one of these bottles because a) we enjoy hiking a lot and it would be great for that, b) incase of an emergency it would be nice to know we have at least some source of clean water c) perhaps if my hubby could use one of these bottles he'd be more inclined to want to get the large system!
I am a subscriber!
I would love to have this to drink when I am out and about! I refuse to buy water bottles but sometimes you are just thirsty y' know!
I would like to win a bottle so that my kids and I could have clean water when we go on vacation. Thank you!
I subscribe via rss and email!
love the portability of these!!
I was just looking at the Berkley water bottles a few days ago! Our water is fairly tasteless in Erie, PA(not sure that's it's pure by any means) or maybe I'm just used to it... but every time we travel my husband and I become water snobs and won't drink anything other than bottled. I was looking to get one or two of these for our upcoming trip to Disney - thier water is horrible!!!
I posted on FB! http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1369447806
I just subscribed before I even saw this!!!
ooh! Thanks I'd LOVE a filtering water bottle - esp. one that filters SO MUCH of the 'junk' out.
I also subscribe via Google Reader (just this morning as a matter of fact),
and I would love to have filtered water bottles. I recently bought a camel back bottle with filter but the filter has to be replaced every 3 months and I don't taste a difference between plain tap water and water sucked up through the filter and straw - so that was a waster of $30 for me. These bottles seem like a better deal and like that vital minerals aren't stripped out. Off to check out their website and see what else I can learn.
Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway. These bottles would be great to have in the event of any emergency!
I also subscribe to your emails =o)
I love that the filters remove all pathogens but keep the good minerals! These would be awesome for hiking and camping this summer!
tweeted the giveaway: http://twitter.com/SoapsbySonia/status/83913410827390976
I subscribe via email.
The micro-pores within the self-sterilizing and re-cleanable Black Berkey™ purification elements are so small that pathogenic bacteria are simply not able to pass through them. I'd love to win one so I could refill my bottle anywhere instead of just at home.
@Sonia, Sorry I just realized I didn't put the same email I subscribe with so my following comments will be with that email.
Tweeted!
I would like to win a water bottle so I can feel confident that the water I'm drinking is safe for me and my nursing baby!
I'm a subscriber!
I would love to be able to send this with my son when he goes to his sporting events. He actually told me he doesn't drink the water when he is out because the water tastes bad and he knows what is in it. We have a Big Berkey at home and LOVE it, so he knows what good water tastes like.
I subscribe via google reader.
I would love to have one of these for my bug out bag.
I shared on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/LPC-Survival-Ltd/153908811306053?sk=wall#!/andrea.k.smith/posts/124452590974179