Introduction

If you are an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys camping in the outback, you will need access to a safe source of drinking water to keep you hydrated. However, lugging sufficient quantities of bottled water along with you can prove both expensive and inconvenient as water takes up a lot of storage space and is heavy to lug around. If your campsite or off-grid weekend getaway cottage is located near a river or lake, you can tap into this valuable resource if you take the necessary precautions such as disinfecting the water or purifying it with a suitable lake water filter.

Tips for Rendering Lake Water Safe to Drink

Is untreated lake water safe to drink?

Lake water, like any other raw water, is vulnerable to contamination from animal waste, agricultural runoff and pollution from boats, to name a few. Even crystal clear water can harbor a wide range of potentially harmful contaminants, such as pathogenic microbes responsible for waterborne diseases, pesticides and other agricultural chemicals. If you are wanting to drink lake water it is advisable to treat it adequately, or better still, to purify it using a water filter for lake water as this will provide you with water that is not only safe but tastes great.

What options are available to treat lake water?

You have several different options for treating lake water for drinking:

1. Boiling - place a pot or kettle of lake water onto your campfire or camp stove and bring the water to a rolling boil for at least a minute (at least three minutes at altitudes above 5000 feet). Let the water stand to cool down before drinking. Store in clean covered containers.
2. Disinfecting with household bleach - only use unscented household bleach that contains sodium hypochlorite (may contain 6 or 8.25% - check the label) and no perfumes or other cleaning agents. Add 8 drops of 6% bleach, or 6 drops of 8.25% bleach, to each gallon of water that needs to be disinfected. You can add double the amount of bleach if the water is colored, cloudy, or very cold. Stir and let the water stand for half an hour. The water should smell slightly of chlorine. If not, repeat the dosage and leave to stand for another quarter of an hour before drinking. If it smells strongly of chlorine, transfer to another clean container and leave it to stand for a few hours for the chlorine to dissipate.
3. Disinfecting with iodine — if you have iodine in your first aid kit you can add five drops (2% tincture of iodine) per quart of water. Add double the amount if the water is colored or cloudy. Stir and let the water stand for half an hour.
4. Disinfecting with water purification drops or tablets — you can disinfect lake water using water disinfection tablets/drops (typically containing chlorine, chlorine dioxide, iodine or potassium permanganate) that you can purchase online or from a pharmacy or camping/sports goods store. Follow the instructions on the label as dosages vary between products.
5. Filtration — you can filter lake water for drinking with a good quality lake water filter system that is capable of removing pathogenic microbes (bacteria, viruses and protozoa). A good quality water filter for lake water will also be capable of removing a wide range of other harmful contaminants that could potentially be present in lake water.
   

Why use a lake water filter?

Boiling and disinfection are effective at killing pathogenic microbes that cause waterborne diseases but they will not remove harmful contaminants such as heavy metals and chemicals. These methods will also not remove sediment and suspended solids, and will not change the taste, odor or appearance of the water. There is also the risk of running out of disinfectant or not being able to make a fire to boil water due to bad weather. If you want the cleanest, safest, and greatest tasting water, a good quality lake water filter is your best bet.

Is it possible to filter lake water for drinking with a Berkey Water Filter?

Yes! Berkey filters are extremely effective at removing over 200 common drinking water contaminants, including bacteria, viruses and other contaminants that are often present in lake water. Berkey water filters come in a wide range of sizes, from ultra-portable to large family systems. Whether you are camping solo or getting away for the weekend with your extended family, Berkey will have a lake water filter system in a size that meets your needs. Berkey filters are portable and require no power source to operate as they operate on gravity, making them the perfect solution if you need to filter lake water for drinking.

Types of lake water filters

Just as there are several different ways to treat lake water, there are also several different types of lake water filters to choose from. In order to choose the best lake water filter for your needs, you first need to understand what contaminants are likely to be present in the water source you are wanting to treat. In lake water, this could be everything from pathogenic microorganisms, to heavy metals, pesticides and other chemicals, to name a few. So the best water filter for lake water would be one that is most effective at removing these contaminants. The most common lake water filters on the market include:

1. Activated carbon filters — these water filters work on the principle of adsorption — a process whereby contaminants adhere to the filter media as the water passes through the filter element. The contaminants are filtered out and trapped in the filter, while clean water passes through filter's micro pores. Activated carbon filters are effective at removing a wide range of contaminants including sediment, bacteria, viruses and protozoa, organic substances, chlorine, chloroform, agricultural chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers, heavy metals such as lead and mercury, and emerging pollutants typically found in wastewater effluent that may very well end up in rivers and lakes downstream from a wastewater treatment plant.
2. Ultra violet (UV) filters — UV filters are extremely effective at removing bacteria and viruses, but they do not remove other contaminants. To get maximum benefit, they should be used in combination with other types of filters such as those that remove sediment or filters that target specific contaminants that may be present in the water.
3. Mechanical filters — these filters physically remove sediment and particulate matter as water passes through them, and are often used as a pre-filtration step.

Things to consider before buying a lake water filter

The checklist below outlines some of the key things to consider before you go out and purchase a lake water filter.

• Filtration capabilities — a lake water filter should be able to remove a wide range of common contaminants that typically end up in lake water from further upstream. To ensure you remain in good health while enjoying the outdoors, it is most important that the filter you choose to filter lake water for drinking should at the very least be capable of removing pathogenic microorganisms responsible for waterborne diseases. As it is also important to stay well hydrated during hiking or other strenuous outdoor activities, you will be more inclined to drink copious amounts of water if the water looks, smells and tastes good. So check whether the lake water filter in question is able to remove taste and odor contaminants.
  

• Portability — If you have the luxury of a lakeside cabin or are traveling in a camper van, space may be less of an issue and this may not be important to you, but if on the other hand you are hiking, cycling or kayaking and have limited storage space, portability could be a deal breaker. Either way, in remote off-grid locations, a lake water filter should be able to operate without the need for a power source.
  

• Storage capacity, water output and filtering efficiency — If you do not have safe water on tap and have to filter lake water for drinking, you will need a water filter that can deliver clean, purified water with enough speed to keep up with your thirst. You will need to factor in how many people the lake water filter will be catering for and purchase a lake water filter system that is capable of supplying enough water for each person.
  

• Durability — Any water filter that will transported around or used during outdoor activities needs to be durable. Look for a water filter that is well constructed, durable and includes a manufactures warranty against defects and flaws.

• Affordability — Ultimately, you may be limited by budget, but look for a lake water filter that meets your needs and offers the best value for money.

 

Best Lake Water Filters

Best Activated Carbon Lake Water Filter

The Go Berkey Kit or its bigger brother the Travel Berkey are our top picks in this category. The Go Berkey Kit consists of a stainless steel gravity-fed filter fitted with a Black Berkey purification element, together with a Sport Berkey water bottle filter. The kit is compact, lightweight and durable, and comes with a vinyl carry case. The Travel Berkey or larger Berkey systems may be a better option if you are catering for large groups.

Pros

• Portable, gravity fed lake water filter system that does not require power and can be used anywhere.
• Removes over 200 common drinking water contaminants including pathogenic bacteria, viruses, protozoa and many other contaminants commonly found in lake water.
• The Black Berkey activated carbon purification element will filter 3000 gallons of water before it will need to be replaced.
• The long life of the filter element means that this system is very cost-effective over the long-term.
• Capable of purifying 1 gallon (3.5 liters) of water per hour.
• The Go Berkey kit includes a Sport Berkey water filter bottle that can be refilled 160 times when used to filter lake water for drinking, or 640 times when used to filter well water or municipal water.
• At just 10 inches high, the system is compact — the upper chamber fits into the lower chamber to save space when storing or transporting.
• Made from durable polished steel.
• Comes with a 6 Month manufacturers warranty against defects in workmanship and materials, plus extended lifetime warranty on stainless steel chambers and hardware available if system is purchased from an authorized dealer.

Cons

• Weighing 2.4 pounds, the Go Berkey may prove to be a bit on the heavy side, but if you consider its water purification capabilities and the fact that the kit includes the lighter Sport Berkey water filter bottle, that may be a small compromise to make to ensure your good health.

Best Ultra Violet Lake Water Filter

The SteriPEN Ultra lives up to its name as it is an ultra-portable filter for lake water that will protect your from pathogenic microorganisms.

Pros

• Kills pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses
• Easy to use - simply place inside a water container and shake
• Compact and light - measures 7.3 x 1.6 inches and weighs just 0.3 pounds — and therefore extremely portable
• Fast treatment - treats half a liter of water in a minute and one liter of water in a minute and a half
• Battery Life: Up to 50 treatments per charge and 300 charge discharge cycles
• Can treat 15,000 liters (3,963 gallons) of water

Cons

• Only kills pathogenic microorganisms, not effective at removing other pollutants.
• Expensive considering the above limitations.
• Runs on rechargeable batteries which will require charging via a USB port on a computer, solar or power outlet in order to recharge which may not be readily available if you are in the backwoods.
• UV light is not effective at treating murky water.

Best Mechanical Lake Water Filter

The MSR Guardian is considered a military grade lake water filter system that operates by pump action.

Pros

• Removes pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses.
• Pre-filter fitted to remove particulate matter and sediment.
• Durable design able to withstand drops, freezing temperatures, and harsh environments.
• Requires very little maintenance.
• Rapid flow rate — can pump clean water at a rate of 2.5 liters per minute.
• Treats up to 10,000 liters of water.

 Cons

• High price tag.
• Weighing 17.3 ounces, it is rather heavy considering it only removes microorganisms, sediment and particulates.
• Requires hand-pumping action, which could prove to be tiresome when you are hot and thirsty.

Best of the Best

If you are in a situation where you have to filter lake water for drinking, you won't know what pollutants have flowed into the lake from further upstream. Lake water will most likely be contaminated with disease-causing microorganisms, but can also be contaminated with a wide range of toxins, including nitrites, pesticides, heavy metals, hormones and other emerging pollutants. While the SteriPen UV filter and the MSR Guardian lake water filter will protect you from waterborne diseases, they do not offer any protection against other harmful toxins that you are likely to be exposed to in lake water. The portable Go Berkey water filter kit  on the other hand will protect your from more than 200 harmful contaminants, including pathogenic bacteria and viruses, making it stand head and shoulders above its competitors. As the Berkey lake water filter system operates on gravity, it doesn't require a power source or batteries to operate and will not let you down in the wilderness. The kit also includes a handy lightweight water bottle filter to slip into your backpack, enhancing its versatility. The Go Berkey's durable stainless steel design will withstand knocks and bumps, and will provide you with safe drinking water wherever you are for many years to come.