by Dave MacLeay
The AquaStar water purifier has been on the market for a couple years, but yesterday was the first chance I’ve had to see it in person. In essence the AquaStar is a 32-ounce, Nalgene-type water bottle with a tubular lamp built into the cap. When activated, the lamp shines ultraviolet UV-C light into the bottle, which kills of most pathogens – bacteria, cysts, and viruses -- in pretty short order.
AquaStar operates on the same principle as the Hydro-Photo SteriPEN, but appears to be a bit easier to use: with the AquaStar you can fill the bottle, cap it, press the purifier’s only button, and then throw it in your pack and it will purify as you hike. The AquaStar also comes with a small mesh pre-filter that fits over the bottle mouth to keep out the largest floaties, although those who prefer their water crystal clear may want to stick with a traditional filter.
