We Tested The Best Emergency Water Filter on The Market. It Changes Everything.

Preparing for disasters and disruptions shouldn’t feel like building a rocket ship. You just want something simple. That’s my job.

To make it simple…

Last month, we reviewed emergency water filters, looking for something simple to add to our guide. No pumps. No filter housings. No messy steps. Just a filter. We looked at the best brands and models on the market. That led us to the Outback Emergency Gravity Water Filter System, used by government agencies and nonprofits all over the world, including the Peace Corps, Red Cross, CDC, and Department of Defense. It doesn’t get much simpler. We got one.

We decided to test it on some bad water.

First, here’s a quick recap:

If the Outback lived up to our expectations, it would beat out every other water filter on the market. It’s portable. It’s light. It’s extremely effective. You could use it on dehumidifier water. You could use it on water from almost any roof. It would save you time, money, and stress.

So, we put it to work.

We poured water straight from our rain harvesting barrels into our new Outback. After filtering, we added a little HOCl, as described in our guide, to kill off any remaining bacteria or viruses. This water comes off an asphalt shingle roof in the U.S. It contains VOCs and heavy metals, not to mention bacteria. We collected samples. We sent them off to Tap Score, using their advanced rainwater test.

Here are the results:

That changes everything. It means if you’re just planning for an emergency, you can cut dozens of hours and hundreds of dollars off your water preps. You don’t need a complicated pump setup for your rain barrels. You can likely use a dehumidifier as an atmospheric water generator. You don’t have to spend hundreds or thousands on fancier ones. Just get the Outback. Understand the lifespan. If you’re filtering contaminated water, 500 gallons is a reasonable lifespan. It comes with one replacement filter set. You can order more.

Us?

We’re going to keep the Outback and some replacement filters as a last resort. We’re going to keep using our pump system. It’s still highly effective, and we don’t regret making it for a second. But for those of you who’ve been struggling, the Outback offers a simple way forward.

Look, I’ve still got to throw out the disclaimer. This is just information. You’ve got to make your own decisions about what’s safe. Would I drink roof water from our Outback if we had no other option?

The answer is yes.

By now, you know we don't do affiliate deals around here. We just test what works. This works. I’ll be adding the info to the next update on our guide. If you want to know more about it and the fundraising, go here.

Take care,

Jessica