General Ecology, Inc First Need Portable Water Filter Review

"I have owned the filter since 1989 and have found it to be easy to use and reliable with the following modifications.
1. 4 foot long pickup line.
2. Home made prefilter made from 2-inch dia. Funnel, with aquarium filter "hair" held in place by a patch of pantyhose.
3. Gravity feed setup.

My first trip with the filter I found that I needed a prefilter because it clogged on the 2nd day. I returned home purchased a new cartridge and designed the prefilter with the attached hose. It was 8 years later that I replaced the cartridge the 3rd time. I have compared it on scouting trips to the PUR, MSR and other users have all be very pleased at the through put."

"I've used this filter for the last three years. The only problem I've had is trying to pump water from a very low volume/flow stream. The filter pumps such a high volume of water that I kept draining the water from the depression which clogged the float. I can pump more water more quickly than any of my companions. I am going to modify my intake as recommended in another review. All in all this is by far the best filter I've seen on the market."

"I spent hours researching water purification systems, to take along on a 30 day trip to India. I choose the First Need System, and was not disappointed. My Girl Friend and I traveled for 20 days in the State of Kerala, in remote areas. The remaining 10 days were spent in the Bombay area. We pumped on average a U.S. Gallon of water a day for 30 days, and never had a flow, leak or any problems with the system.

The pre-filtered sources that we used were either from the tap, or in several instances, from a public cistern. We had no stomach related problems, at all. Our Indian host, in Bombay, was so enamored with the First Need System that we left it with his family. I will buy another, and heartily recommend the First Need Purification System.

Scott Allen"