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Water-to-Go Filter Bottle

rated 4.0 of 5 stars
photo:   Water-to-Go Filter Bottle bottle/inline water filter

The Water to Go Filtered Bottle is designed to safely filter 99.9% of all contaminants from water, whether the source is tap water in a developing country or muddy water on a hike. It's safe, convenient and could spell the end to buying dozens of plastic bottles while travelling.

Pros

  • Drink water from any source safely
  • Environmental benefits
  • As simple as an ordinary water bottle
  • Convenient

Cons

  • Price
  • Potential for filter to clog

Buying drinking water (in plastic bottles) is something about travel in third world countries that really bothers me. It’s really cheap to buy drinking water so it’s the cost to the environment that is of most concern. I had heard about water filter drinking straws but they didn't seem very convenient to me when you need to carry at least one bottle of water as you visit a temple in the midday sun. 

So when I saw an advert for the Water to Go filtered drinking bottle, I was keen. The bottle contains a filter which will filter 99.9% of contaminants from any water source (including water borne bacteria), whether it's tap water or water from a muddy creek. I had read reports like three weeks in South America of drinking the tap water through the filtered bottle and never getting sick, drinking from muddy streams, etc. No stranger to drinking the tap water regardless, I was set to give it a go.

The Bottle – it’s about 750ml, the same size as your average sports bottle. The filter is surprisingly light. I was also surprised at the ‘guzzle’ rate. It seemed really easy to give it a bit of a suck, the bottle a bit of a squeeze and get refreshing water down your throat. I don’t think it’s much harder than drinking out of a non-filtered squeeze bottle.

The Filter – as I mentioned, it’s light and fairly small, about two inches high. Made from a non woven media which includes carbon, it filters 99.9% of contaminants in any water source. It’s due to last at least 200 litres or three months. Tips on the website say that when the water starts to taste bad, it’s a good indication to change the filter. I, however, found that when the water is hard to get out of the bottle, when you have to suck harder than for a McDonald’s thickshake, it was time to change the filter.

Unfortunately, my first filter lasted barely four weeks. I was only drinking tap water, not muddy and full of debris. According to Water to Go, this is very unusual and they would expect the filter to last much longer. They suggested cleaning the filter of any debris under running water (being careful not to let water inside the filter). I wasn't able to do this as I had already disposed of the filter.

I have calculated that if drinking at least 2 litres of water per day (three bottles, 2.25 litres) you would hit the 200 litre limit after 88 days. In a hot country I would drink more (say, four bottles or three litres), meaning the filter would only last 33 days, far shy of the three month mark.

Water to Go do say that 200 litres is on the conservative side and should filter more. 

Price – the bottle retails at £24.95, not including postage. This varies on your choice of retailer. This is expensive when compared to buying bottled water. But if you’re a long term traveller it might pay off. The filters retail at £14.95 for a pack of two. Filters need to be bought directly from Water to Go and £3.95 postage is added for delivery in the UK. If you live outside the EU delivery costs are much higher, for example £18 to Australia. The postage costs are the real failure of Water to Go bottles.

They do give you 10% off for life if you register your bottle on the website but that’s not enough to offset the ridiculous international postage costs.

Conclusion – after a month of drinking water from dubious sources in Thailand I am not ill so I have nothing against the reliability of the bottle at this stage. The bottle seems sturdy and should last a long time. Depending on your location, this could be a real money saver. 

I do enjoy the convenience of the Water to Go bottle (and am lucky enough to have friends in the UK to send filters on to me). So, it’s goodbye plastic bottles. Goodbye buying water. Goodbye lugging 5 litres around. Hello taps, rivers, streams and gutter water. Hello access to safe drinking water wherever I am. 

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: £24.95

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