Filtration vs. Purification: Understanding What You Need for Emergency Preparedness
July 14, 23
Updated August 2025
When building your emergency preparedness kit, understanding filtration vs. purification is essential to ensuring safe drinking water, whether you're sheltering at home or evacuating on the move.
Safe water is often one of the first things to disappear in a crisis. From hurricanes to boil-water advisories, being ready means choosing the right tools for the job. FEMA recommends that a normally active adult would need about 2 quarts or half a gallon of water per day in an emergency.
When selecting a water filter or purifier, it's important to ensure that the product you select meets drinking water protocols established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NSF International/ANSI.
What is water filtration?
LifeStraw Water filtration physically removes 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999% of parasites, and 99.999% microplastics from water. It’s ideal when collecting water from natural sources like streams, rivers, or lakes — common in off-grid or backcountry emergencies — where viral contamination is less likely to be a concern.
Best for:
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Home emergency kits
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Evacuation scenarios with access to natural water
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Camping as part of your preparedness strategy
We recommend the LifeStraw Peak Series 3L Gravity Filter, ideal for small groups and easy to use.
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What is water purification?
LifeStraw Water purification goes beyond filtration by also removing 99.99% of viruses (Rotavirus, Hepatitis A), which are a major concern during floods, natural disasters, or in areas with poor sanitation.
Best for:
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Post-disaster water supply disruption
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Off-grid living in high-density or high-risk environments
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Flooded zones with cross-contamination from sewage
We recommend the LifeStraw Escape High-Flow Pressurized Water Purifier, ideal for large groups, can be used without power and meets US EPA & NSF P231 drinking water standards for the removal of viruses, bacteria, and parasites.
The LifeStraw Escape is a powerful, portable water purifier built for emergencies, off-grid living, and outdoor adventures. This 5.25-gallon pressurized system is hand-pump operated and delivers fast water flow, making it easy to access safe water when you need it most. With a 3-stage filtration process, it protects against viruses, bacteria, parasites, sediment, and more, providing safe, great-tasting drinking water even in the most remote conditions.
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What do I do if I’m not sure what I need?
Choosing between a water filter and water purifier can be overwhelming, especially when you’re preparing for emergencies. If you’re not sure where to start, we’re here to help.
You can find a complete list of filters and what type of filtration they offer at Compare Filters on Lifestraw.com.
If you're unsure whether your community is under a boil water advisory, here are reliable sources to check:
- Your Local Water Utility or Health Department Website - Most local agencies post up-to-date boil water advisories and alerts.
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State or County Emergency Alert Systems - Many areas offer email or text alerts for boil advisories and other public health notices.
Email us anytime at info@lifestraw.com for personalized recommendations based on your location, use case or specific concerns.
Want to dive deeper? All LifeStraw products are rigorously tested to meet or exceed these standards, and all claims are backed by transparent evidence available on LifeStraw.com. Check out our lab information documents on our product detail pages to understand exactly what each filter and purifier removes.
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