Filtration
Bladder Filtration System
Clean water for families & communities. No electricity, chemicals or boiling required.
What a healthy filter does
When you keep your filter healthy, it keeps your water safe.
Removes
Bacteria such as Salmonella, Cholera, Leptospirosis, and E. Coli (99.99999%)
Protozoa and Cysts such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium (99.9999%)
Microplastics (100%)
Won't remove
Metals, chemicals, pesticides, VOCs, hydrocarbons, salt
Bladder Filter FAQs
Sawyer recommends cleaning your filter at least once per day. More if you have turbid water.
We do not recommend backwashing with dirty water. If this happens, immediately run at least one gallon of water through the filter and dispose before filtering water for consumption.
Sawyer filters have very strong fibers (see Fiber Strength Study) and are capable of handling up to 40 PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch) of pressure. When clean, Sawyer Filters only need 1 to 2 PSI of pressure to flow freely. As the fibers collect particulates, the pressure to move water through will increase as the particulates create barriers to water flow.
Sawyer pouches are designed to handle up to 7 PSI of pressure before bursting. This in most cases allows for a large amount of water to be used before filter cleaning is necessary. Therefore the pouches will not burst so long as the filters are reasonably clean. However most people are capable of generating much more than 7 PSI of pressure and so if the filter is not clean, the pouches are more likely to burst when squeezing too hard. The more particulates in the water the sooner a filter will clog and need to be cleaned. To protect your pouch– maintain a clean filter and be aware of pressure build up against a dirty filter.
If your pouch has been compromised at the seams it if most like due to too much pressure applied to the pouch during the filtration process. Be sure to slowly squeeze the water through the filter, giving the filter fibers time to fully saturate. The initial flow rate may seem slow, but will increase as fibers become wetted.
Back flush your filter (better and more often) using your syringe. You cannot hurt the filter fibers, so please be FORCEFUL in your back flush process. When using the syringe, do not be gentle, it will only form paths of least resistance instead of blowing out the particulates that may be trapped in your filter.
Do not over tighten the filter on the pouch. Over tightening can cause the o-rings to embed into the threads or lodge into the opening of the pouch. If the o-ring is out of place you may not a have a tight seal and water could leak out the bottom of the filter. Please watch our video on Important Squeeze Filter Tips to better understand how to care for your squeeze bags. Until you learn the perfect balance of force and cleaning, we recommend bringing a backup pouch with you on your trip.
Before the pouches leave the factory, they are 100% air-tested. While they are rugged, these pouches are not indestructible. They tear as a result of too much pressure being applied. This happens when water is forced through the filter too fast or when your filter needs cleaning, which creates more resistance. Do not squeeze the pouch hard or wring the pouch. Torn pouches are not covered under the warranty.
Get filter care reminders
A healthy filter means clean water. We'll message via WhatsApp when it's time to care for your filtration system.