Most of us don't give very much thought to our water supply until there's a problem. In light of the Irish Government sending out the 'Be Emergency Ready' Booklet this month we thought it would be handy to pull together some information on this as water storage, purfication and filtration is a bit of a mind field!

A burst pipe, a boil-water notice or severe weather can quickly make access to clean drinking water more difficult. You don't need to go overboard with emergency supplies, but having a few simple pieces of kit at home can make a big difference.

At Wild Side Sports, we stock a range of water storage, filtration and purification products originally designed for hiking, camping and travel – but many of them are just as useful as part of a basic home emergency kit. 

Start With Water Storage

The simplest place to start is having a way to store clean water.

Vango Square Water Carrier – 15L

The Vango 15L Foldable Square Water Carrier is an inexpensive and practical addition to an emergency kit.

It holds up to 15 litres of water and has an integrated tap for controlled pouring. When you're not using it, it folds down flat, so you can keep one or two tucked away without taking up much storage space.

It's particularly useful if advance notice of a water interruption is given, allowing you to fill additional drinking water before the supply is affected.

Best for: Home water storage, camping and keeping as part of an emergency kit.

Filtering Water

Water filtration is different from simply storing water. A good microfilter physically removes microorganisms and particles as water passes through it.

Platypus QuickDraw™ Filter

The Platypus QuickDraw™ Filter is small, lightweight and extremely versatile.

Its hollow-fibre filter removes 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa, as well as particulates. Originally designed for treating water while hiking and backpacking, its compact size also makes it a very useful addition to a home emergency kit.

It's easy to use, doesn't require electricity or batteries and can be cleaned in the field.

Best for: A compact emergency filter, hiking, camping and travel.

Platypus QuickDraw™ 1L Filter System

For anyone looking for a more complete setup, the Platypus QuickDraw™ 1L Filter System combines the QuickDraw microfilter with a lightweight one-litre reservoir.

Simply collect untreated water in the reservoir, attach the filter and squeeze to filter the water into a clean container or drink directly through the system.

It's compact enough to keep in an emergency kit but is equally useful for hiking, backpacking and camping.

Best for: Emergency kits, hiking, camping and travel.

Platypus QuickDraw™ 3L Gravity Filter System

When you need to filter more water, a gravity system can make life considerably easier.

The Platypus QuickDraw™ 3L Gravity Filter System can be filled, hung up and allowed to filter using gravity – handy when you want to process a larger quantity of water without continuously squeezing a reservoir.

The larger capacity also makes it a more practical option for couples and families.

Best for: Families, camping and filtering larger quantities of water.

Platypus DayCap In-Bottle Filter

For something even more compact, the Platypus DayCap In-Bottle Filter turns a compatible everyday bottle into a water filtration system.

Using Platypus hollow-fibre filtration technology, you simply fill your compatible bottle and drink through the filter.

It's a very neat option for a grab-and-go emergency kit, as well as being ideal for hiking and travel.

Best for: Personal use, day hikes, travel and compact emergency kits.

LifeStraw Water Filtration

LifeStraw is another excellent option for emergency preparedness, with products ranging from individual filter bottles to larger gravity-fed systems suitable for filtering water for several people.

LifeStraw Go Series 650ml

The LifeStraw Go Series 650ml looks and works like an everyday reusable water bottle but has a built-in two-stage filtration system.

The membrane microfilter removes 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999% of parasites and 99.999% of microplastics, as well as silt, sand and cloudiness. A separate activated carbon filter helps reduce chlorine, odours and organic chemical matter, improving the taste of the water.

The membrane filter has a lifespan of up to 4,000 litres, making this a very useful bottle to have for travel and outdoor use as well as part of an emergency kit.

Simply having a filtered bottle ready to go means each member of the household can have their own personal filtration option if required.

Best for: Personal emergency kits, travel, hiking and everyday use.

LifeStraw Peak Series Gravity Water Filter System – 3 Litre

For filtering larger quantities of water, the LifeStraw Peak Series 3L Gravity Water Filter System is a particularly useful option.

Fill the three-litre reservoir with water, hang it up and allow gravity to do the work. There's no electricity or pumping required, making it a practical solution when filtering water at home during an emergency as well as when camping or travelling.

The 0.2-micron membrane microfilter removes 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999% of parasites and 99.999% of microplastics, as well as silt, sand and cloudiness.

The filter lasts for up to 2,000 litres, and the system is designed to be versatile: it can work as a gravity filter, water storage system or with other compatible LifeStraw Peak Series products.

At just 228g, it also packs down small enough to keep with your emergency supplies without taking up much room.

Best for: Families, households, camping and filtering larger quantities of water during an emergency.

A Dedicated Home Emergency Filter

MSR Emergency Home Water Filtration System

If you're specifically putting together a home emergency kit, the MSR Emergency Home Water Filtration System is worth considering.

Rather than being designed primarily for carrying in a backpack, this system was developed with emergency household water treatment in mind.

It uses a two-stage system combining hollow-fibre filtration with activated carbon. The filter removes bacteria, protozoa and particulates, while the activated carbon helps reduce unpleasant tastes, odours and some chemicals.

The system can connect to standard threaded outdoor taps and a range of other household water sources, making it particularly useful where the normal mains supply has been compromised but an alternative water source is available.

It's also supplied in sealed packaging suitable for keeping with your emergency supplies until it's needed.

Best for: Home emergency preparedness and treating larger quantities of water.

What About Water Purification Tablets?

A physical water filter and a chemical water treatment product do different jobs, which is why having both can be useful.

Lifesystems Chlorine Dioxide Tablets – Back In Stock Soon

Lifesystems Chlorine Dioxide Water Purification Tablets are one of the smallest and easiest emergency water treatments to keep at home, in the car or in a hiking pack.

The tablets are designed to kill bacteria, viruses and cysts, including Giardia and Cryptosporidium. A pack of 30 tablets can treat up to 30 litres of water.

Unlike a physical filter, chlorine dioxide provides chemical disinfection, including protection against viruses. They're extremely compact, require no electricity or equipment and are designed to leave little aftertaste.

They're currently out of stock at Wild Side Sports, but we expect to have them back in stock soon.

Best for: Emergency kits, travel, hiking and as a backup to a water filtration system.

Filter or Purifier – What's the Difference?

This is an important distinction when choosing emergency water equipment.

Products such as the Platypus QuickDraw and LifeStraw filters use physical filtration to remove bacteria, parasites/protozoa and particles from water. They're extremely useful, but these particular filters are not designed to remove viruses.

Chemical treatments such as chlorine dioxide tablets disinfect water and can deal with bacteria, viruses and cysts.

The right method therefore depends on the water source and the potential contamination. In some situations, a combination of filtration followed by appropriate purification or disinfection may provide an additional level of treatment.

Always follow the individual manufacturer's instructions carefully, including treatment times, cleaning procedures and guidance about suitable water sources.

It's also important to remember that standard outdoor water filters cannot make seawater or water contaminated with fuels, agricultural chemicals, industrial chemicals or other hazardous substances safe to drink.

Which Water System Should I Choose?

There isn't necessarily one product that's right for everyone.

For storing clean water, we'd start with a simple Vango 15L Foldable Water Carrier.

For an individual, a LifeStraw Go 650ml or Platypus DayCap In-Bottle Filter provides a compact personal filtration option.

For hiking, camping or a compact emergency kit, the Platypus QuickDraw™ is small, lightweight and extremely versatile.

For a family or household, a three-litre gravity system such as the LifeStraw Peak Series 3L Gravity Filter or Platypus QuickDraw 3L Gravity System is particularly useful because it allows you to process a larger volume of water with very little effort.

For a more dedicated home emergency setup, consider the MSR Emergency Home Water Filtration System.

And finally, chlorine dioxide purification tablets take up almost no room and provide a useful chemical water-treatment option to keep alongside your filtration equipment.

A Simple Emergency Water Kit

You don't need to buy everything. A sensible household setup could include:

• A 15L foldable water carrier for storing clean water

• A 3L gravity filter for processing larger quantities

• A personal filter or filtered bottle such as the Platypus QuickDraw or LifeStraw Go

• Chlorine dioxide tablets as a compact chemical-treatment backup

• Clean containers or bottles to keep untreated and treated water separate

Keep everything together somewhere accessible and check your kit occasionally to make sure consumable items remain within their recommended storage life.

Be Emergency Ready

Emergency preparedness doesn't have to mean stockpiling huge amounts of equipment. A few carefully chosen items can make you much more self-sufficient during a temporary water interruption or other unexpected situation.

Many of these products also earn their keep the rest of the year – take them camping, hiking, travelling or in the campervan, and keep them with your emergency supplies when you get home.

The important thing is understanding what each product does. Water storage, filtration and purification are not the same thing, and having more than one option gives you greater flexibility if your normal water supply is interrupted.

Be prepared. Keep it simple. Be Emergency Ready.

Shop our range of water filtration, purification and storage equipment online or visit us in-store at Wild Side Sports, Bandon.