Puroway: Transportable water purifier that can be used anywhere

Due to ubiquitous contaminants such as microplastics, agricultural- and industrial runoff, and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, otherwise known as "forever chemicals"), there is hardly any freshwater source in the world that can be considered completely safe for drinking. Those who are skeptical might be interested to know that microplastics have been detected across Antarctica — the most remote and uninhabited continent on Earth — in fresh snow, sea water and even inside the guts of native insects.

That said, Puroway is a battery-powered water purifier designed to make treating water from outdoor sources less labor-intensive. Its compact, bottle-like design uses an inlet hose to draw water from rivers and lakes before pumping it through a multi-stage filtration system. According to the maker, the device combines six filtration stages, including PP cotton for larger particles, activated carbon for odors and taste, ion-exchange resin for softening, and an ultrafiltration membrane for bacteria and suspended matter. The order of the filters can be seen below:

The electric pump removes the need for manual squeezing or pumping, with the unit rechargeable via USB-C. Both the pre-filter head and the filter itself are replaceable and are said to last 10–20 uses and 50 to 100 uses, respectively, based on approximately 650 mL of drinking water filtered per use. The device can also pump treated water directly into separate containers, potentially making it useful for hikers and campers who need to replenish supplies away from established facilities.

The Puroway is currently being crowdfunded, with the campaign already having surpassed its $2,000 funding goal. Supporters can secure a unit for a introductory price of $69 (compared with an expected $138 retail price), which includes a filtration device, two hoses, five pre-filter heads and one internal filter cartridge. A set of additional filters and a pre-filter head cost $18, down from $36. Shipping is planned for November.

However, the project remains a crowdfunding campaign rather than an established retail product, so there are certain risks, including the possibility that the product may not work as advertised or may not arrive at all. This is a first-time brand with no track record, and its makers have acknowledged that filtration performance testing and certification are still underway, with results promised before production. Anyone drinking untreated water in the wild based on marketing claims alone should wait for independent verification.