Water filter question.

[Cindy]

I have a Katadyn Vario water filter for back country excursions.
After a few scouting trips, and a 4 day opening weekend of the archery elk hunt, I pulled the filter apart to dry it.

We filtered all the water, for three, with this one filter.
No one got sick, no one got the runs, no one had any issues related to the water, so I would say it is still doing its job.

In reading the manufacturers paperwork, the filter is supposed to be able to filter 1000 gallons of water before the filter elements need to be replaced.

Of course, that is dependent on the water being filtered. Filtering tap water would be much different to filtering stagnant water from a puddle.

We filtered the water from a running creek, out of a section of white water.

This is what my filter elements look like after filtering an estimated 20 gallons of water.

New element and used, side by side comparison.





I would hate to see what they look like after filtering 1000 gallons of water.
That would be nasty.

My question is, how often are you guys changing out these elements?
Is the visual worse than the actual?

I have cleaned the ceramic filter three times, with the provided scouring pad.

I am surprised at the amount of gunk in there given the limited gallons filtered.

Like I said, the filter is still doing its job. None of us have experienced any adverse water related issues.

Thoughts?

 

[rayporter]

not surprised - had several plug up after 20 gal. not that brand, but plugged just the same.

 

[gelton]

I run this filter and have for the last four or five years and have never had any problems. Your filter really doesn't look that bad and I would continue using it, but there is a thread on here somewhere where a guys got plugged, so maybe its better safe than sorry.

With that being said, I do change mine out once a year and use it for hunting, scouting and offroad motorcycle trips and mine has never malfunctioned, but I do change it way before the 1,000 gallons that the manufacturer recommends.