Hydro Photon Pen

“Just wanted to get some thoughts about this little device that was called by Time mag as the "best invention of 2001". Although I have no problem drinking straight out of most pristine streams on short overnight trips and do believe that we have swallowed the hook line and sinker on the hazardous backcountry water issue, I still prefer to reach for my pur hiker.”

“That thing looks interesting. Because you never know what's up stream, you should always filter. It might be that drunk guy up stream isn't standing in the water, just looking at nature.....”

“I have to qualify this one in the "As long as you know the limitations" file.

The Photon pen is a useful device in certain situations but it cannot take acare of all issues related to water quality.

What it can do:
By infusing the water with UV light it does a very effective job of killing off any viable single celled organism, and many multicellular critters as well. Bacteria, viruses, and protizoa are effectively killed by this unit. It is a very effective antiviral step in the water treatment process.

What it does NOT do well. Complex multicellular organisms (many paracites for example) can survive exposure to UV light. The water needs to be fairly clear for the unit to be effective as stated above, high turbidity severely limits its effectiveness. There is no facility whatsoever to counter polutants in the water at all. It has no effect against petrolium products, pesticides, organic contaminants, etc. Your garden variety filter (Sweetwater, MSR, Pur, etc) will handle those with ease through the activated charcoal stage.

To sum up, I would reccomend using the Photon Pen in conjunction with a standard filter in areas where viral contamination is an issue. Filter your water first to remove sediment, suspended solids, cyst form bacteria and paracites, and the majority of the "Yuck" factor. Then follow up with the Photon Pen, in the clear filteres product, to finish off any viral contaminants or bacterial issues that may have slipped through.”

“I agree, BWD. the only problem is that that pen costs 200 bucks! I'll rely on my Pur Guide.

I wonder how many yuppiepackers will use this?”

“Even by drinking straight from most sources your chances of picking up "the bug" are still less than receiving it from unhygienic practices. That is the reason I get the feeling this H-Photon Pen is a bunch of crap. Of course, the majority of the time I chose to play it safe and go ahead and filter. It's simple and if time is the issure I'll go with the inline.”

“I have found that the "best use" of this product is for the "forign travler" where there is a questionable municipal water supply. $200.00 is cheap insurance when you want a drink from your hotel room tap in Quito. For backcountry use, I agree, stick with a good filter, you use your Pur, I'll stick with my MSR, we'll both be hydrated and happy.”

“But does the pen have the ability to scan every microscopic pathogen? Or is it the accumulation of multi pathogens that cause the problems? Heck I got my one of my B.S.'s in Biology, I should know this.”

“It functions on the principle that high levels of UV radiation will lyse the cell walls of the single cellular microorganisms, and compromise the nucleic acid complex in viruses. (MS in biochem here). UV treatment is commomplace and VERY effective in all municipal water treatment facilities in the US. It is a proven technology.”

“Bear in mind the you need to immerse the working end of the pen in the water for 30 to 60 seconds in an 8 oz glass for it to work effectively. Exposure time is a factor in how well it works.”

“It filters viruses too.”

“I will consider it for my year abroad in South America. I'll probably go with a First Need purifier most of the time, tho. Or buy bottled water...”

“Just be sure and read the bottle. It might say, "Bottled from the municipal water supply of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico" or some such.

Think of it! Bottled Montezuma's Revenge!”

“Too funny, bit! Yeah. Will be keeping my eyes peeled for the GOOD STUFF! Aww hell, I guess I can always resort to the beer/rum/tequilla liquid intake program...”

“so, what are you supposed to do about eating the food down there, rosey? phase it in slowly, or what? or possibly, eating the food "down there" isn't really instant death, as i've been lead to believe...
;-)”

“Start out eating only cooked foods and stuff with peels, then ease on into the other fresh stuff...”

“coolness.”

“Will my Photon 3 work doing this?”

“No.”

“What are you doing in South America?”

“Disinfection of Water

Depending on the source of the water, conditions of use, and magnitude and extent of microbiological contamination, disinfection may be needed occasionally over short periods of time or on a continuous basis.
For occasional, emergency or short-term disinfection, there are several simple methods that do not require special devices:
· Bringing water to a rolling boil for one minute will destroy disease-causing organisms and disinfect the water.
· Unscented household bleach, which contains four to five per cent sodium hypochlorite, will disinfect water when at least two drops are added to each litre of water and the water is left to stand for 30 minutes.
· Water purification tablets that release iodine or chlorine are especially useful for travellers, when used according to manufacturers’ directions.
Protozoan cysts are often present in surface waters. Because cysts are more resistant than bacteria and viruses, iodine and chlorine should not be relied upon to inactivate them. When water must be continuously disinfected because of the unacceptable quality of the supply, the possibility of sporadic contamination or the presence of cysts, a water treatment device incorporating filtration and disinfection should be used rather than short-term disinfection methods.

Water Treatment Devices

Water treatment devices can be divided into two groups, according to function. There are several types of devices within these two groups, each suited to a specific water quality problem. Water treatment devices that disinfect water will be discussed here. Those that improve the overall taste, smell and appearance of the water or remove undesirable chemicals and minerals are discussed in the Health Canada “It’s Your Health” publication entitled Water Treatment Devices for the Removal of Taste, Odour and Chemicals.
Point-of-use devices are portable, plumbed-in or faucet-mounted and are used to treat the water at a single tap or multiple taps for drinking and cooking only. Point-of-entry devices are installed on the main water supply and treat all the water entering the home.
Chlorinators, iodinators and ultraviolet light (UV) devices are most practical when it is necessary to disinfect water that serves a whole dwelling. Chlorine and iodine kill most disease-causing organisms and require short to moderate contact times. In fact, the use of chlorine on municipally treated water systems has virtually eliminated waterborne infectious diseases such as typhoid and cholera. Chlorine or iodine treatment alone, however, may not provide adequate protection against protozoa such as Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum. If protozoa are present or suspected, it is recommended that the water be first passed through a filter with a 0.1-micrometre or smaller pore size to remove these parasites and then chemically treated with chlorine or iodine to kill bacteria and viruses.
Iodine disinfection of drinking water, however, should be reserved for emergency and occasional use (e.g., at a weekend cottage or in recreational vehicles). Iodine should not be used for long-term continuous disinfection because it is physiologically active, and ingestion in excessive amounts may be harmful.
UV devices are also effective against bacteria and viruses, add nothing to water and produce no taste or odour; in addition, only a few seconds’ exposure to UV light is required if the water is clear. They do not, however, ensure the safety of the water beyond the point of application, so that flushing of the system is recommended after periods of non-use. Point-of-use UV light devices are also available. A pre-filter, however, should always be employed to remove protozoan cysts and reduce turbidity, thus improving the effectiveness of the UV light.
Ceramic or glass fibre filters handle smaller amounts of water and are useful when water from just one tap is to be treated for drinking and cooking or to provide drinking water while camping, boating or hiking. Such filters can remove bacteria and protozoa from mildly contaminated waters. However, they are not suitable for removing viruses or for treating highly contaminated water. Therefore, when treating surface waters, it is recommended that these filters be used in conjunction with disinfection. Portable glass fibre or ceramic filters with iodine- releasing resins are available to disinfect water for campers, etc., or for travellers in countries where the safety of the drinking water is questionable. Some iodine-releasing devices contain an activated carbon filter to remove excess iodine from the water.
Distillers and ozonators are point-of-use devices suitable where electric power is available, and where there is sufficient space to install the equipment. Distillation is commonly used to reduce the levels of all chemicals in drinking water. These distillation devices are effective for the removal of inorganic chemicals, including heavy metals, and some organic chemicals, but are often combined with activated carbon for the removal of certain “volatile” chemicals (e.g., trihalomethanes, tetrachloroethylene). The boiling process also kills any microorganisms (viruses, bacteria and protozoa) present in the water. There are no known beneficial or harmful health effects associated with the ingestion of demineralized or distilled water.
Ozonators produce small quantities of ozone, a strong oxidizing agent that is effective in killing pathogens over a short period of time. Ozonation produces no taste or odour in the water. The process is dependent, however, on good mixing of ozone with the water. Unlike chlorine and iodine, ozone does not protect the water after application. Ozonation is often combined with activated carbon filtration to achieve more complete water treatment.



When camping, canoeing or hiking, you should assume that all waters contain disease- causing organisms, and you should disinfect the drinking water before use. Care must also be taken to avoid ingestion of untreated water during other activities (for instance, when brushing your teeth).
Drinking water should not contain more than 10 total coliform bacteria per 100 mL, and none of the coliform bacteria should be Escherichia coli or faecal coliforms. If water does not comply with this guideline, it should be disinfected.
As most disinfection systems require clear water to ensure maximum efficiency, it may be necessary to combine two specific devices — one to remove various organic or inorganic compounds or to reduce turbidity in the water, and one to reduce microbiological contamination.”

“Not that I don't think that thing is an expensive toy right now but just how many "multi-cellular" parasites are there in our water that we have to worry about?”

“p.s. Big Wave Dave, are you new here? I have a B.S. in Chem

what are you doing working in retail?”

“Here it is Roam.”

“yep, same thing. looks like its better suited to foreign travel since it can only be used in "clear water".”