Originally Posted by Bertrand

The Lifesaver system works on membrane technology. To avoid confusion:

I have previously spoken with their tech. chaps and was told categorically to NEVER to use any chemicals on their filters whatsoever as these would irreparably damage the filter and would cause it to malfunction/fail.

(I shudder to think what hydrogen peroxide would do to it Grey Beard...)

Without wishing to be a and for the sake of anyone using one of those / good health and safe practice (as far as the jerrycan is concerned- I do not have their Lifesaver bottle)- here is how to clean it:

They described the cleaning of the jerrycan like this:
If you have been using really dirty sources and/or want to clean the jerrycan:

Remove the lifesaver filter and rinse it outwardly in known/clean treated water and put aside carefully as not to damage it.

Remove the pump - clean and re-lubricate and put aside

ONLY when the filter and pump are both out of the jerrycan can you then flush out the jerrycan / wash / rinse/ use whatever chemicals you want to clean the inside but making sure ALL the chemicals are FULLY rinsed out so that none remain in the jerrycan before refitting the old filter or fitting a new one and the pump.
They said it would be good practice to pump through a few litres and discard these after the refit.

The filter continues its job until it begins to fail - When that happens, the filter is designed to shut itself down preventing further use.

Their suggestion (to ensure the filter's longest life possible) was to always source the cleanest water possible and minimise debris entering the jerrycan.

I use a normal orange plastic funnel filter (from Halfords) with muslin cloth to remove as many physical bits as possible.

The combined charcoal tap/filter is an optional extra.
Extract from the Lifesaver website:
LIFESAVER bottle also comes with an activated carbon filter. This is made of high specification activated carbon block which reduces a broad spectrum of chemical residues including pesticides, endocrine disrupting compounds, medical residues and heavy metals such as lead and copper. It also eliminates bad tastes and odours from contaminates such as chlorine and sulphur.

Originally Posted by Grey Beard

You have to be careful with any filter and the biggest problem is keeping them sterile.
Grey Beard

Originally Posted by grizzly7

Hiya

I really don't get this during regular use at least? One side is clean the other side isn't. If no bugs pass through the medium what is there to grow on the clean side? So why does it need cleaning other than (dirty side only) to maintain through-flow efficiency?

Milton at 1 tablet to 4.5l to sterilise screws up many bottles and tanks if not made of a suitable plastic, maybe metals too. Milton used to maintain water quality at 1 tablet per 100 litres at their recommendation has been fine in our campers plastic tank for long term use. Same I'd imagine just using household bleach, the concentration many organisations quote for adding to maintain drinking water will be a long way from the strength that gets squirted under the loo rim!

Originally Posted by Grey Beard

Hi Bertrand

I already discussed the Lifesaver Filter with their tech support people and I was told that you should sterilise the filter. Hydrogen Peroxide was OK also, but I wouldn't suggest using 30% peroxide, but perhaps the normal 3 or 6% peroxide. Milton is the standard in the UK, but I don't know the equivalent in Germany. I use 3% hydrogen peroxide to sterilise my soft contact lenses daily.

You have to be careful with any filter and the biggest problem is keeping them sterile.

I will have a look later and see if I can find any references to it on the Internet or in the instructions, but I am very surprised that they told you not to use chemicals to clean the filter, unless you were asking about sulphuric acid, strong bleach or caustic soda, etc.

Grey Beard

Originally Posted by TravellingStrom

So, I am wondering if anyone has been and done a trip though east and west Europe WITHOUT any filter or sterilisation?