Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you ship international?
- How long does the filter/purifier last?
- How often do you have to clean or backwash the filter?
- Can you backwash with dirty water?
- Can you put muddy water in the bucket?
- How much water can be filtered/purified per day?
- Do you recommend pre-filtering the water?
- Are the filters and purifiers tested and approved?
- What is the difference between the pointONE Filter™ and PointZERO TWO Purifier™?
- Do I need the pointONE Filter™ or the PointZERO TWO Purifier
- Will the filter/purifier remove chemicals, pesticides or heavy metals like arsenic?
- Will the filter/purifier remove salt?
- Do you need a power drill to cut the hole in the bucket?
- Do I have to use a plastic five gallon bucket?
- What do you mean by 0.1 and .02 micron absolute?
- Can I freeze the filter?
- What agricultural applications does this have?
- What advantages does this have over other point of use systems like the biosand filter?
- Where can I download brochures and instructions?
Do you ship international?
To avoid any confusion, Sawyer Products is not an export agent. We suggest using AIT Worldwide Logistics. Their Tampa call center office phone number is 813.247.6797. They can provide you with all the export documents you will need and handle the actual shipment for you. You will be their customer and need to contract their services separately from the purchase of the filters. We do not and can not provide the proper document service that is needed for export.
However, using AIT Worldwide Logistics is not mandatory. You can use whomever you prefer and Sawyer Products will have the freight ready for their pick-up or we will ship it to their domestic location (at your expense).
Since the filters and purifiers can continuously be backwashed and re-used they have an extremely long life. The filter/purifier membrane may never need to be replaced, however when the flow rate slows or the filter clogs, simply backwash the unit with the provided backwashing device to clear out the pores.
The frequency of cleaning depends on how dirty the water is. With relatively clear water, backwashing may only be necessary every 1,000 gallons whereas with extremely turbid or muddy water, backwashing may be required every 10 gallons. Nevertheless, backwashing is an extremely simple process and takes only a minute.
We do not recommend backwashing with dirty water. If this happens, immediately run at least one quart of water through the filter and dispose before filtering water for consumption.
Yes, though backwashing will be required more frequently. It will not alter the effectiveness of the filter to remove harmful pathogens.
The flow rates of the filters and purifiers are determined by a combination of four variables:
• Head pressure (The distance from the top of the water to the filter)
• Altitude (The higher the altitude, the slower the flow rate)
• How clean the filter is
• The filter itself (there are slight variations between filters)
The PointONE Filter with a 1 foot hose (Model SP180) attached to a standard five gallon bucket at sea level is capable of filtering up to 295 gallons (1117 liters) of water per day. The PointZERO TWO Purifier with a 3 foot hose (Model SP190) attached to a standard 5 gallon bucket at sea level is capable of purifying up to 87 gallons (327 liters) of water per day. If you increase the head pressure by either lengthening the hose, attaching the filter to a larger container like a 55 gallon drum, or constantly keep the bucket full so the top of the water is as high as possible, this will increase the flow rate.
To estimate the flow rate of your filter based on the altitude where you will be filtering water and the inches (or centimeters) of head pressure, click here.To estimate the flow rate of your purifier based on the altitude where you will be filtering water and the inches (or centimeters) of head pressure, click here.
Yes, and we have three recommendations for pre-filtration. One, pour the dirty water through a t-shirt or cloth before it goes into the filtration bucket. Two, cut the hole in the side of the bucket at least 1.5 inches from the bottom of the bucket to allow sediment to settle and not go down the hose. Three, allow the dirty water to settle before putting it in the filtration bucket.
Our filters and purifiers have been tested by independent and qualified research laboratories according to EPA standards for water filter and purifiers.
The pointONE Filter™ has a 0.1 micron absolute pore size and therefore will remove all bacteria and protozoa such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Cholera and Typhoid. The PointZERO TWO Purifier™ has a 0.02 micron absolute pore size and therefore will remove all viruses like Hepatitis A in addition to bacteria and protozoa.
To play it safe you can always take the pointZERO TWO purifier, but people in their natural environments typically only need bacterial protection because they build up immunity overtime to the viruses they have been exposed to.
No.
No.
No. You can cut the hole with the included hole cutter by hand.
You can attach the filter to any size container you can drill a hole in. We recommend attaching the filter to a clean container that is either food grade or was previously used to transport food items. Do not attach the filter to a bucket that was used to transport chemicals. The filter will also fit into most water crocks by removing the existing valve and replacing it with the fittings supplied with the filter.
For more output hook multiple filters up to a large cistern or rainwater catchment system. You will want to have the 3 foot hose option so you can raise the filter above the water level to shut off the flow.
Many other filters list nominal or average pore sizes which leave the possibility of harmful pathogens to pass through. By claiming absolute microns there are no variances in pore size on our filter membranes. At 0.1 and 0.02 micron absolute these are true barrier filters so there is no questionable time period whether the water is safe to drink.
While we have no proof that freezing will harm the filter, we do not have enough proof to say it will not harm the filter, therefore we must say that if you suspect the filter has been frozen, to replace it – this is especially true with a hard freeze.
Not only can you use the filtered/purified water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and watering plants, but you can also install the filter in-line on a drip irrigation system to prevent the irrigation hose from clogging. This filter would be customized with quick disconnects so it could be removed for backwashing.
Click here to read the complete Hollow Fiber Membrane vs. BioSand Filter position paper