Introduction

Aquamira are water filtration devices. www.Aquamira.com available for consumers. They have both chemical and non chemical based water filtration/purification products.

The AquaSafeStraw that has been specifically specifically designed for travelling, hiking and disaster situations. The only product that is safe for all to use, irrespective of health conditions, known and unknown, due to its chemical free filtration system.

For the purpose of comparison, we are looking at AquaSafeStraw against the following Aquamira products:
 
• Aquamira Water bottle
• Aquamira Frontier Sport Water Filter (NalgeneR)
• Aquamira Frontier Emergency Water Filter, and
• Aquamira Frontier Pro. 

Filtration Methods

The Aquamira Bottle uses a two stage process to filter water, a polypropylene pre filter followed by a plastic carbon block.  The carbon block is composed of activated coconut shell carbon.

The Aquamira Frontier Sports Filter uses a polypropylene pre filter integrated with an activated plastic coconut carbon block.  

The Aquamira Frontier uses a microbiological filter and activated coconut shell carbon to filter water.   

The Aquamira Frontier Pro uses a plastic replaceable pre-filter, a microbiological filter and activated coconut shell carbon.  

All the Aquamira products use the Miraguard antimicrobial technology to suppress bacteria and algae growth.

For all Aquamira water filter products except for the Frontier Pro, Aquamira recommends on their web site to use the Aquamira Water Treatment drops or Aquamira Purification Tablets in conjunction with the filter.  The Aquamira Water Treatment drops is chlorinate dioxide.  There are stringent guidelines by Governments in the use of chorine dioxide in water treatment, due to health related issues. 

The AquaSafeStraw uses a polyethylene membrane that filters down to 0.2 micron, exceeding the US CDC recommendation of 1 micron to effectively remove Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

Product Safety

The Aquamira product range relies on the microbiological filter and activated carbon to filter water.  The Aquamira’s microbiological filters down to 3 microns.  A number of Aquamira products also rely on the activated coconut shell carbon to remove other bacteria and chemicals (such as the chlorine dioxide).    America’s Centre of Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) recommendation of filters to a minimum of 1 micron for the removal of Giardia and Cryptosporidium.  These products do not achieve this recommendation.

To have a high confidence that the water is safe Aquamira recommends to b the use either their Water Purification Tablets or Aquamira Water treatment Drops.  These are added chemicals that kill off bacteria.  The chemical chlorine dioxide increases your risk of developing a haemolytic anaemia. 

Care needs to taken when using either Aquamira Water Purification Tablets or Aquamira Water treatment drops.  For example, If you use the Water Purification tablets and the Aquamira Frontier Water Bottle, the water bottle has 750 ml of capacity and Water Purification tablets are designed for 1 litre of water, you will need to only place ¾ of tablet in the water to avoid excessive chemical overdose.
When using any chemical purification system, there is at some delay before drinking the water. The delay is required to allow the chemical to kill off bacteria.  Not withstanding this, the US Army Centre for Health (2006)  have quoted (http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA453960&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf  regarding to iodine resins, ) “…resins are not effective for inactivating or removing Cryptosporidium oocysts….Giardia cysts appear to be more resistant to inactivation by iodine resins..”.  These oocysts and cysts are a major cause for water related illness.  These oocysts and cysts are a major cause for water related illness.
The AquaSafeStraw uses a membrane technology that filter out all (99.9999%) bacteria, Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Water WILL NOT pass through the AquaSafeStraw when no longer effective.

The AquaSafeStraw is chemical free and safe for all to use.

Reliability and state of mind

Both the Aquamira and AquaSafeStraw have past extensive testing to verify their specification when the product is in prime condition.  There is are major differences between the products is that the AquaSafeStraw stops working once the filter is congested and the AquaSafeStraw is chemical free and safe for all to use.

Cost per gallon/litre

There are three filters that need replacing at various stages.  There are potentially  230 refills at 750 ml equalling 150 liters and $26.95 US.  As recommended by Aquamira, you will also need to include the purification tablets that come in a 12 pack at $7.95. that’s 19 packs  equating $151 with a total cost of $177.95,   That’s a staggering $1.18 per litre or a mammoth $4.46  per gallon!  Compared to 7 cents a litre or 26.5 cents per gallon for the AquaSafeStraw.

Not withstanding the cost, the tablets are meant for 1 litre whereas the water bottle including the filter is 750 ml.  With the filter this would be significantly reduced making the chemical concentrations almost double the recommended levels.

Portability

AquaSafeStraw is light weight (24g), 21cm long unit, 1.8cm diameter. The product can fit in your pocket. Aquamira bottle is 29cm tall x 7.5cm diameter, weighing 210g, making the unit significantly more cumbersome to carry.

Multi-part

The Aquamira products require some type of assemble and/or preparation.
The AquaSafeStraw is a sturdy single part device.

Speed to access of water

The time to obtain water from all the Aquamira products varies from immediate if you drink water from the Aquamira with the recommended Water purification tablets to at least 15 plus minutes to allow the water to be purified by the chemicals. 

The AquaSafeStraw is immediate for both usage and storage.

Longevity

The Aquamira products filters/purifies between 75 to 380 litres/20 to 100 gallons whereas the AquaSafeStraw 500 litre/132g. That’s a significant difference.

Bacteria and Virus removal properties

Aquamira claims that their product removes bacteria.  All the Aquamira products remove everything larger than 3 micron.  Virus molecular size ranges from 0.02 to 18 microns.    Giardia and Cryptosporidium start from 1 micron.   America’s Centre of Disease Control and prevention (www.cdc.gov) recommendation of filters to a minimum of 1 micron. 

The AquaSafeStraw filters out all Bacteria as well as Cryptosporidium and Giardia above to 0.2 microns exceeding the America’s Centre of Disease Control and prevention (www.cdc.gov) recommendation of filters to a minimum of 1 micron.  The AquaSafeStraw exceed this by a factor of 5.  

AquaSafeCorp is about to release two new products, AquaSafeBottle and  AquaSafeStraw+, that filters down to 0.01 micron below the size of viruses.  

How can AquaSafeStraw be so cost effective and be an effective water filtration system?

How does AquaSafeStraw be technologically advanced and be so price competitive? 
AquaSafeCorp have taken state of the art materials and technologies, along with advanced manufacturing techniques (patented) to produce a cost effective advanced product.

Product Characteristics

Aquamira Frontier Emergency Filter

Aquamira Frontier Pro Filter

Sports Water Filter

Aquamira – Bottle 750 ml

AquaSafeStraw

Product Characteristics

Price (RRP)

$11.95

$24.95

$14.95

$26.95`

$44.95 US

Capacity Volume of water

75 Litres/ 20 gallon

200 Litres/ 50 gallons

380 litres/    100 gallons

150 Litres/      40 gallon

500 litres /132 gallon

Volume cost of filtered water per litre

15.8 c/l

12.5 c/l

3.9 c/l

19.9 c/l
$68.2/g

7 c/l
0.265 c/g

Filtration Methods

Microbiological filter

Plastic Pre-filter & 
Microbiological filter

Polypropylene pre filter followed by a activated plastic coconut carbon block

Microbiological filter by a activated plastic coconut carbon block

Micro filtration capillary -membrane

Recommend to use Chemical purification

Yes

No

Yes
Chlorine Dioxide

Yes
Chlorine Dioxide

No

Filtration levels

3 microns

3 microns

3 microns

1.0  micron

0.2 micron

Exceeds CDC recommendations

No

No

No

No

Yes

Approved by relevant authorities

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Chemicals

No/Yes*Note

Noe

No/Yes*Note

No/Yes*Note

No

Satisfies US Army recommendation for water filtration

No/Yes*Note

No/Yes*Note

No/Yes*Note

No/Yes*Note

Yes

Reputable manufacturing standards

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Longevity

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Stop working once filtration stops working

No

No

No

No

Yes

Portability/size

1 oz
5 ½”

2 oz
1 ¼” x 5 ½”

290 mm long x 75 mm in diameter
210 grams

21 cm long x 1.8 cm diameter
24 grams