The Process

Purification Process

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What is the Purification Process?

Both the Trekker and Nomad water purification systems utilize the same 4-Stage treatment process of pre-filtration, sediment filtration, carbon-block filtration and UV exposure to transform virtually any freshwater source into clean and safe drinking water.

Step 1: Pre-Filtration

The first step of the purification process is pre-filtration. It involves screening the source water at the point of suction. The pre-filter screens are incorporated into the inlet (suction side) hose. This effectively screens out rocks, mud, feces, fish, vegetation and other large debris from entering the system, prolonging the life of the filters.

Step 2: Sediment Filtration

The water passes through a sediment filter. This filter adds 5-micron filtration to extend the life of the carbon filter. It removes unseen sediment that will prematurely clog the filter such as: sand, silt, and scale.

Sand, silt, and scale
Dirt and mud
Other suspended solids

Step 3: Carbon-Block Filtration

This filtration comprises of two distinctly different procedures:

Chemical Bonding: In this step, activated carbon (or activated charcoal) block filter is produced with a slight electropositive charge, creating an attractive bonding agent for chemicals and impurities. When water flows through the solid carbon block, it's forced to slow down. This increases the amount of contact time with the carbon, allowing the chemical bond to take place.
Mechanical Straining: The carbon is compacted into a solid brick cylinder filter, carbon “block”. Every drop of water is forced through microscopic pores of the carbon filter. This effectively strains-out particulate matter down to 0.5-microns, eliminating the smaller particulates that passed through the sediment filter. Of special note here is the removal of the hard-shell cysts Giardia and Cryptosporidium which are typically 3-5 microns in size and will cause mild to severe gastrointestinal infections

Step 4: UV Treatment

This is the final and most crucial step in the purification process. After visibly cleaning the water with the sediment and carbon filter, it's exposed to intense UV-light dosages. From a science perspective, this exposure scrambles the DNA structure of the virus, bacteria, fungi, algae, and protozoa. In effect, these microorganisms become sterile, can't reproduce and are reduced to inert matter that’s no longer a threat.

Download the full PDF to see a chart that lists the many common organisms and the UV dosages required to eliminate them.