Finding water during an emergency is usually one of the very first orders of business. Securing clean water is of the utmost importance.
Luckily, there are a ton of affordable, high-quality options on the market.
We’ve put together a list of the best emergency water filters for any situation–whether you find yourself in the aftermath of a natural disaster or lost in the wilderness.
Stay Safe in Any Emergency with These Top Water Filters
1. Best for Survival – Survivor Filter PRO X
- Removes 99.999% viruses and bacteria
- Lightweight and portable at 13.5oz
- Long battery filters 360 liters
The Survivor Filter Pro X is a great portable, lightweight, highly effective water filter for any survival scenario.
Designed to get rid of 99.999% of viruses, bacteria, and parasites, as well as 99.5% percent of mercury and 93% of lead, you get really high filtration standards with this that meets NSF/ANSI guidelines.
- Power Source: Battery powered
- Flow Rate: 0.5 Litres per minute
- Capacity: 100,000 liters
- Purifaction method: Ultra filtration
- Weight: 1.7 lbs
- Dimensions: 5”L x 2”W x 6”H
One of the main advantages of the Survivor Filer Po X is how easy it is to use. Just tap the button and it will give you 500ml of clean water per minute. That’s the average man’s daily recommended water consumption in about 6.5 minutes.
At only 13.5 oz, it’s great for backpacking, bug-out bags, and camping trips. Keep in mind that this filter is electric and requires either a mobile charger or AA batteries. I really like that the manufacturer gives you a lifetime warranty on this, too.
If the fact that this filter is battery powered gives you pause, know that you can purify up to 360 liters, which is around 720 minutes of runtime based on the 500ml/minute capacity mentioned above, in one charge.
2. Best for Families – Big Berkey Gravity Fed Water Filter
- Removes 250+ contaminants, no electricity needed
- Filters up to 6,000 gallons per pair
- Economical, long-lasting gravity-fed filtration
Depending on the number of people you’re filtering water for in an emergency, your needs are going to change.
The Big Berkey Gravity-Fed Stainless Steel Countertop Water Filter System is a robust, gravity-powered filtration system designed for home use or outdoor scenarios where clean water is critical, and you’ve got a lot of thirsty people to look after.
It is capable of removing over 200 contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, heavy metals like lead, and chemicals like chlorine, making it great for daily use, emergencies, or even camping.
- Power Source: Gravity-fed
- Flow Rate: 0.03 gallons per minute
- Capacity: 8.5 liters (~2.25 gallons)
- Purification Method: Activated carbon filtration with Black Berkey Elements
- Weight: 7 lbs (with filters)
- Dimensions: 8.5”L x 8.5”W x 19.25”H
I think one of the best things about the Big Berkey for families is that you can be confident it’s removing a lot of contaminants, giving you peace of mind if you’re filtering water for young children and elderly people.
It is able to get rid of 99.999% of viruses and bacteria, and each pair of filters lasts for up to 6,000 gallons of water, which lets you filter a massive volume of water before needing to replace them.
To put that into perspective: if the average man needs a gallon of water per day, the average woman 0.25 gallons, and the average child 0.3 gallons, that’s 3,870 days per filter (6,000/1.55 gallons).
That’s more than 10.5 years’ worth of daily drinking water filtration.
While the Big Berkey is definitely larger and heavier than most portable systems, its 2.25-gallon capacity makes it a convenient choice for households or small groups of up to 4 people.
You don’t need to worry about electricity or plumbing, which makes it super versatile for both home and off-grid living.
3. Best for Home – Membrane Solutions UV Countertop Filter
- UV light activates with water flow
- Filters 99.99999% microorganisms, SGS certified
- Treats 9,000 gallons, saves plastics
We’ve covered a gravity-based filtration system for the best emergency filtration system for families, but I really like the Membrane Solutions UV Countertop Water Filtration System because I love UV filtration in general.
This is a great option for your home, whether it’s an off-grid cabin or an RV.
A combination of stainless steel durability and cutting-edge UV sanitization makes it ideal for anyone who needs clean, safe drinking water from a variety of sources – tap, well, or natural bodies of water.
This system is good at removing a wide range of contaminants, including microorganisms like bacteria and viruses, heavy metals, and chemicals like chlorine, so you get safe, good-tasting water for cooking, drinking, and other household uses.
- Power Source: Gravity-fed (UV requires power)
- Flow Rate: 0.05 gallons per minute
- Capacity: 2.25 gallons
- Purification Method: 0.1-micron Hollow Fiber Membrane, Activated Carbon, UV Light
- Weight: 8 lbs (with filters)
- Dimensions: 9″ L x 9″ W x 25.8″ H
I already mentioned how much I like UV, but what I think really makes this filtration system stand out is the smart UV detection system.
This automatically activates the UV light when water flows and turns it off when it stops, ensuring efficient energy use and a longer lifespan of the UV light.
Whether you’re looking for something for emergency or daily use, the three-stage purification process, hollow fiber membrane, activated carbon, and UV sanitization, gets rid of up to 99.99999% of microorganisms and 99.5 percent of contaminants like VOCs and heavy metals.
Each set of filters for this counter top water filter can handle up to 9,000 gallons of water, giving you years of service before a replacement is needed.
4. Best for Camping – Uzima UZ-2
- Filters 99.999% bacteria and protozoa
- 1L/min flow, efficient gravity system
- Portable, no electricity needed
The Uzima UZ-2 is a great camping water filtration system that helps you remove 99.999% of bacteria and protozoa, making it great for disaster preparedness, camping trips, and even everyday use.
It is capable of filtering 1 liter per minute (twice the volume/minute of the Pro Filter that I covered first on the list, and faster than many other gravity-fed systems you’ll find on the market).
It’s perfect for camping and emergency situations where speed is important.
- Power Source: None (gravity-fed)
- Flow Rate: 1 liter per minute
- Capacity: 1 liter
- Purification Method: Hollow fiber membrane
- Weight: 4.4 lbs
- Dimensions: 10”L x 10”W x 17”H
You don’t always have a lot of time to fill that water bottle or camelback before you have to get going.
The UZ-2 is simple, easy to transport, and requires no electricity, making it particularly effective in emergency situations and off-the-grid locations where you don’t have power (or might not even want to run power for various reasons).
Bear in mind that the unit doesn’t come with a carbon filter—which is often a good idea to add to improve the taste and odor of your water.
The filter is, however, long-lasting and simple to maintain through backflushing—where a small amount of cleaned water is used to cleanse out the filter elements.
Easy to assemble, durable, and great value for money, this is a filtration system you can take with you and deploy pretty much anywhere. No electricity or complex installation required.
5. Best Water Filter Straw – Lifestraw
- Removes 99.999999% bacteria and parasites
- Filters 4,000 liters, long-lasting use
- Removes microplastics down to 1 micron
A household name at this point, the LifeStraw is a revolutionary filtration and hydration device that has changed emergency preparedness forever.
The LifeStraw is compact and lightweight and made to be easily tucked into a hiking, camping, travel, emergency preparedness or bugout bag.
It is definitely one of the most popular, effective and revolutionary providers of clean water around the world.
- Power Source: None (manual filtration via straw)
- Flow Rate: Approximately 1.2 liters per minute (when sucking directly)
- Capacity: Filters up to 1,000 gallons (4,000 liters) of water
- Purification Method: Microfiltration membrane (removes bacteria, parasites, and microplastics)
- Weight: 0.04 kilograms (0.09 lbs)
- Dimensions: 3.75″ D x 1.39″ W x 12″ H
With its advanced microfiltration technology, the LifeStraw is capable of filtering out 99.999999% of waterborne bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella, as well as 99.9999% of parasites like Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
It is also capable of filtering out microplastics (a fact of life in the 21st century) and reducing water turbidity down to 0.2 microns, making it perfect for filtering water on the go.
All you have to do is place one end of the straw into the water source and drink directly through the filter.
With a useful life of around 1,000 gallons of safe drinking water, the LifeStraw is built to last and survive in tough conditions. Whether you’re preparing for an emergency, or an avid camper, hiker, or trekker, this is a must-have tool.
6. Best Water Filter Bottle – GRAYL GeoPress
- Removes pathogens, chemicals, and heavy metals
- Purifies 24oz quickly with no setup
- Cartridge lasts 65 gallons, replaceable
The GRAYL GeoPress is a filtration bottle made for hiking, camping, survival situations, and travel. Like any good filter, it is capable of removing 99.9999% of viruses, bacteria, and protozoa for clean drinking water.
An excellent disaster preparedness water filter bottle, it works with a manual press mechanism that lets you filter 24 oz of water in around 8 seconds, which means it’s great for fast-paced environments where seconds count.
- Power Source: None (manual press)
- Flow Rate: 24 oz in 8 seconds (approximately 5 liters per minute)
- Capacity: 24 oz (710 ml)
- Purification Method: Electroadsorption, Activated Carbon, and Ion Exchange
- Weight: 15.9 oz (450 g)
- Dimensions: 3.4”L x 3.4”W x 10.4”H
- Cartridge Life: 65 gallons (250 liters) before needing replacement
It’s compact and durable–exactly the kind of thing that I would want to take into remote locations.
Simple to use, the GRAYL GeoPress has no batteries nor is electricity required, this is the ideal off-the-grid or emergency kit companion. Just bear in mind that it doesn’t have a built-in carbon filter for taste and odor improvement.
Not a priority, of course, when you’re just trying to stay hydrated. But it’s always nice to drink water that smells and tastes appetizing.
Anyone who has ever spent a few days drinking water boiled over a campfire knows how nice it is to no longer have to drink barbecue-flavored water.
7. Best Water Filter Pump – MSR MiniWorks EX Water Filter
- Removes 99.9999% bacteria, 99.9% protozoa
- Pumps 1 liter/min, 2,000L per filter
- Compact, durable, and PFAS-free design
If you’re a hiker, backpacker, camper, or really anyone who takes emergency preparedness seriously, this filter is for you.
It is a highly reliable, portable pump filtration system from MSR lets you filter water quickly anywhere – a ditch on the side of the road, a temporary wetland in the middle of the woods, etc.
- Power Source: Manual (Pump-Action)
- Flow Rate: 1 liter per minute
- Capacity: 2,000 liters (replaceable filter cartridge)
- Purification Method: Activated Carbon, Ceramic
- Weight: 16 oz
- Dimensions: 5.5”L x 2.5”W x 7.5”H
This emergency pump filter uses a combination of ceramic and activated carbon to remove up to 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa.
Pump filters like this are particularly great if you’re drawing water from lakes, streams, and rivers.
The replaceable filter cartridge can treat up to 2,000 liters of water, and its lightweight and compact size make it easy to carry with you on foot.
I am also really happy with the built-in end-of-life indicator that lets you know when it’s time to replace the filter–you don’t want to have to guess if your filter is still working.
The fact that it’s compatible with a wide variety of bottles and hydration bladders gives it a lot of flexibility–something to prioritize when it comes to emergencies and disaster preparedness.
8. Best Pocket Filtration System – SteriPen
- OLED display shows treatment and battery
- USB rechargeable via multiple sources
- Works in clear water; quick purification
We’ve already covered a UV-filtration-based filtration system on this list (the Membrane Solutions countertop filter that we showed you above), but the SteriPen is something unique.
This 7.3-inch long little UV sterilizer is ultra-lightweight and portable and is an absolute game-changer when it comes to ensuring you always have access to clean, safe drinking water.
I particularly like how fast it is, giving you a liter of clean drinking water in just 90 seconds.
- Power Source: Battery-powered, USB rechargeable
- Capacity: Treats up to 50 liters per charge
- Purification Method: Ultraviolet (UV) light
- Weight: 4.8 oz
- Dimensions: 7.3”L x 1.3”W x 1.6”H
I’m also a big fan of the SteriPen’s USB-rechargeable battery. You just plug it into your laptop, a solar panel or power bank and on a full charge you’ve got 50 liters of water treatment.
The OLED display tells you the status of the UV lamp, the battery life and treatment success so you always know you’ve got clean water.
Whether you’re looking for something to keep in your car or a must-have for your emergency preparedness kit or bug-out bag, the SteriPen is affordable, effective, and fast.
