We tried a dozen water filters for emergency preparedness and found that the Berkey Water Filter is the best, the Gosun Flow Pro is the most versatile, while the Itehil water filter produced the cleanest water.
Emergency water filters are filters that I use at home when my normal water is off due to a grid-down condition or when it is not safe to drink. While storing clean water for emergencies is a must, it will only last so long.
These filters are similar to survival water filters, but they serve a different purpose. Survival water filters are used by an individual to survive a short-term situation outdoors. These emergency water filters are for families to use during a longer-term emergency. See our guide on the Best Survival Water filters for more on portable solutions for individuals.
We considered filters that had a high filter rate and good filter characteristics. We also considered some specialty filters that stood out in particular cases when others failed.
Keep reading to see what we found and which are the best for you.
Looking beyond portable filters? Our Emergency Water Hub brings together everything you need to know about emergency water storage, treatment, and purification in one place.
Table of Contents
- Quick Comparison of Our Favorite Emergency Water Filters
- Best Emergency Water Filter
- Berkey "Travel" Water Filter
- Gosun Flow Pro – Most Versatile
- Itehil Portable Water Filtration System – Cleanest Water
- Uzima UZ-2 Water Filter – Best Budget Pick
- Puribag and P&G Purifier of Water: Best for Very Dirty Water
- Delta Emergency Water Filter – Best Backup
- Alexapure Pro Water Filtration System: Best Counter Top Water Filter
- Tips on Choosing the Best Emergency Water Filter
- How We Tested
- The Best Emergency Water Filter for You
Quick Comparison of Our Favorite Emergency Water Filters
ITEHIL Portable Water Purifier
Self Contained
Reverse Osmosis
Battery Powered
MSRP: $299
Save $40 with code “survivalstoic40” at ITEHIL
Best Emergency Water Filter
Berkey “Travel” Water Filter
- Filter Type: Carbon Activated
- Filter Rate: 1 quart in 5min 45 sec (as tested)
- Filter Life: 6,000 Gallons
- Water Storage Capacity: 1.5 Gallons
- Power Requirements: None
- MSRP: $362
The Travel Berkey Water Filter is one of the best water filters we have used. It requires no batteries or power, has plenty of capacity for our family, and produces great tasting water.
Don’t let the name fool you. Berkey makes different sizes of the same filter, from 1.5 Gallons up to 6 Gallons. They call this one the “Travel” version since it is the smallest, but I wouldn’t consider it just for travel. It is smaller in size, so it makes it ideal for storing it away until it is needed, and it still has plenty of capacity. Plus, it is cheaper than the bigger ones.
The first thing that stands out about this filter is its robustness. It has two chambers made from Stainless Steel. All the other filters are made from some sort of plastic. This thing will survive almost anything.
I also noticed that the filter elements (it has two!) are much bigger than all the others. At 6,000 Gallons, it will take a while before they need to be replaced, and it is 20 times longer than most other filters.
I like that this filter is gravity fed and requires no batteries, power, or solar panels. I also like that there aren’t a bunch of hoses and tubes that I have to mess with. It is simple and easy to use. Just put dirty water in top, and clean water comes out the spigot.
We filtered tap water, rainwater, and water from a nearby stream. It had no issues with any of them, although I would recommend pre-filtering silty water through a cloth before putting it in. The sediment will collect in the upper chamber and will need to be eventually cleaned out.
The only real challenge with setting it up was priming the new filters. I used our kitchen faucet to force water through them. It is a little tricky and requires two hands to make sure the filter is sealed against the faucet. The filters come with special seals that help this somewhat.
After we tested it my daughter liked the taste so much that we just kept it out on the counter. It is a little expensive, but if you prefer bottled water it pays for itself quickly. Plus, in an emergency bottle water will be hard to come by.
Also check out our full Berkey Water Filter Review for more on this filter.
Recommended for:
The Travel Berkey Water Filter is for anyone that wants a simple and robust water filter for their family.
PROS
Simple
Robust
Good Capacity
Long Filter Life
CONS
Bigger Investment
Filter Priming
Gosun Flow Pro – Most Versatile
- Filter Type: Carbon Activated
- Filter Rate: 1 quart in 50 seconds (as tested)
- Filter Life: 265 Gallons
- Water Storage Capacity: None
- Power Requirements: 100 Gal Per Charge or Solar
- MSRP: $169
The Gosun Flow Pro is one of the most versatile emergency water filters we have found. It can be used as a standalone filter, a solar or battery-powered pump, a sink, or even a shower.
This is more than just a water filter; it is an entire water purification/pump system.
At the heart of it is the 3-stage filter. Most other filters that I have used are all one piece. The life of the filter is dictated by how dirty the water being filtered is. Very muddy and turbid water will quickly clog them and shorten the life significantly.
The Gosun filter’s first stage is a replaceable Polypropylene filter disc. The disc takes care of any large particles that will clog other filters. My Gosun Flow Pro came with three extra discs, so I can replace them as needed.
The filter can be used by itself, much like a Lifestraw or Sawyer Filter. Included is a bag for collecting water, and the filter simply screws onto the bag. Or, I can use it with the included pump. Included is a hose that I can place into any body of water outside that is at least a few inches deep. I can also fill a separate container and filter the water inside, which I found to be more convenient.
The case includes the pump and a rechargeable USB battery pack. The case also has a built-in solar panel. I like that I can run the pump on the battery pack (which can filter 100 gallons on a charge) or directly off of the solar panel. I can also charge the battery pack with the solar panel. Plus, I can use the battery pack to charge other USB devices.
I did find when running it directly off solar power that the pump worked better with the solar panel in full sunlight. In the shade, it didn’t run the pump, and in cloudy weather, it was questionable.
This system also includes a collapsible sink with a faucet that can also be used as a shower. If I want a warm shower and don’t need to filter the water, I can warm some water on my emergency stove and configure it to bypass the filter. The faucet even has a button to turn the pump on and off.
Since this filter is so versatile, it is one of my favorites to keep at home in case of an emergency. I can take it to a water source or bring a bucket of unfiltered water into my home to use it with. It works great for camping as well; the sink is very handy!
The only thing I don’t like is it doesn’t come with a manual. It comes with a scannable QR code though, but in an off-grid or grid down scenario the setup info is not accessible. I recommend using it before an emergency, so you are familiar with it.
Recommended for:
The Gosun Flow Pro is for anyone looking for a high-volume water filter for emergencies. The versatility of this system is unmatched by anyone else.
PROS
Good Filter Rate
3 Stage Filter
Solar Powered/Charger
Includes Sink/Shower Head
CONS
No Print Manual
Itehil Portable Water Filtration System – Cleanest Water
Save $40 off at ITEHIL with code “survivalstoic40” at checkout!
- Filter Type: Carbon Activated + Reverse Osmosis
- Filter Rate: 1 quart in 1min 45 sec (as tested)
- Filter Life: 300-400 Gallons
- Water Storage Capacity: None
- Power Requirements: 7 Gal Per Charge
- MSRP: $299
The Itehil Portable Water Filtration System produces the cleanest water of any filter we have tried. It is a battery powered portable filtration machine, and much more than just a pump.
What makes this filter stand out is the level of filtration. It has two large filters that filters out particles as small as 0.001 microns (most other filters only go down to 0.1 microns). Plus, it uses activated carbon and reverse osmosis to produce super clean water from almost any liquid containing water.
This level of filtration does require some energy. This is covered by the built-in dual 6000mAh batteries. We found that we could filter about 7 gallons on a charge, which is enough for seven people for one day. There are no solar panels included, so this system needs a secondary power source to recharge.
The filter is easy to use and includes a printed manual for reference. To start filtering, I placed the included intake hose, which is about 10 feet long, into my dirty water source. The end of the hose is weighted with a pre-filter, which keeps it submerged and prevents the internal filters from getting clogged with silt. I simply pressed the power button, and the system primed the pump and primed the filters. In about 10 minutes, I had super clean water.
The machine has two outputs: water for general use, like cooking and cleaning, and water for drinking. The drinking water is probably the best I have tasted coming out of a portable filter.
The filtered water hoses that came with the unit were a little short and stiff. I was a bit frustrated with them and would rather have more flexible, longer hoses. I am certain I could find better hoses myself since they are a standard size.
This is the ultimate water purifier. If you plan to use it in emergencies, just make sure you have a way to charge it.
Recommended for:
The Itehil Portable Water Filtration System is for someone who may have to use very contaminated water in emergencies (like in urban areas). It will filter out all harmful chemicals, plastics, and heavy metals.
PROS
High Level of Filtration
Portable
Self Contained
Easy to Use
CONS
Needs to be Charged
Uzima UZ-2 Water Filter – Best Budget Pick
- Filter Type: 0.1 Micron Membrane
- Filter Rate: 1 quart in 1min 15 sec (as tested 4 Gal in 20 min)
- Filter Life: Depends on use (flushable)
- Water Storage Capacity: 4 Gallons
- Power Requirements: None – Gravity Filter
- MSRP: $85
The Uzima UZ-2 water filter is a simple system that uses two buckets and gravity to filter water.
This is a big advantage over other filters since no power is needed. I simply take the gray bucket out of the white bucket and screw the filter on the bottom. I then install the spicket on the white bucket and then placed the lid on the white bucket.
The filter on the bottom of the gray bucket then fits through the hole in the lid of the white bucket. I poured my dirty water from a nearby creek into the top bucket, and in 10 minutes, I had 2 gallons of clean drinking water.
I like that I can filter 4 gallons of water and just leave it on my counter. I don’t need any power or pumps, and I can add more dirty water to the top bucket anytime.
The filter also has a very long life since it comes with a flushing syringe. After filtering dirty water, I use the syringe to back flush out any silt that may clog the filter. This requires clean water but doesn’t take much, depending on how dirty the water I filtered was. I found that a few syringes full was all I needed.
The filter is just a basic filter, so it will not filter out heavy metals or chemicals like a carbon-activated filter will. But it works great on relatively clean water, like streams or rainwater, that I usually find outdoors.
Combine this filter with rainwater collection barrels, and you have a long-lasting, true off-grid emergency water filter system.
Recommended for:
The Uzima UZ-2 water filter is for anyone who wants a high-capacity emergency water filter that doesn’t require power. It is our favorite budget pick and included in our Prepping on a Budget guide.
PROS
High Capacity
Long Filter Life
No Power Needed
Easy to Use
CONS
Basic Membrane Filter
Puribag and P&G Purifier of Water: Best for Very Dirty Water
- Filter Type: Chemical purification plus Carbon Membrane Filter
- Rate: approx 10 Liters/Hr (depends on silt level)
- Filter Life: up to 7000 L
- Water Storage Capacity: 10 Liters
- Power Requirements: None
- MSRP: $44.99
The Puribag and P&G Purifier of Water Packets is more than just a water filter. It is a combination of a heavy-duty clear plastic bag with an integrated filter and water purification packets.
Delta Emergency Water Filter – Best Backup
- Filter Type: Activated Carbon Membrane
- Filter Rate: 1 quart in 20 min (as tested)
- Filter Life: 20 Gallons
- Water Storage Capacity: None
- Power Requirements: None – Gravity Filter
- MSRP: $25
The Delta Emergency Water Filter is a very compact filter that I feel everyone should keep on hand as a backup to their main water filtration system.
This filter is very compact and contains three flat pieces of plastic that form a funnel, along with two pieces of filter medium.
To set it up, I assembled the plastic funnel and placed it on top of a glass quart jar. I then placed the filter media on top and slowly added water.
At first, it was a little awkward to use. But after the filter became saturated, it sat in the funnel, and I was able to add water to it easier.
The filer rate is pretty slow at first, but after a few minutes, it gets quicker. Overall though, the filter rate is slow compared to the other filters. This is why I would not consider this a primary method.
The affordable price and the size of this filter make it an excellent backup to have on hand.
I received this one in one of the boxes from my monthly Battlbox subscription. See my full Battlbox Review to see if it makes sense for you. It saves me alot on preparedness gear.
Recommended for:
The Delta Emergency Water Filter is for anyone who wants a backup way to filter water in an emergency.
PROS
Compact
Lightweight
Activated Carbon Filter
Affordable
CONS
Slow Filter Rate
Tedious to Use
Alexapure Pro Water Filtration System: Best Counter Top Water Filter
- Filter Type: Activated Carbon
- Filer Rate: 0.25L/min
- Filter Life: 200 Gallons
- Water Storage Capacity: 2 1/4 gallons
- Power Requirements: None
- MSRP: $199.95
The Alexapure Pro water filtration system is a gravity-fed water filtration system that is designed for at-home use. It has a robust filtration system that removes just about all contaminants. Unlike pitcher filters or faucet attachments, the Alexapure Pro has a larger capacity and doesn’t require running water or a pump.
Therefore, it works great during at-home emergencies.
This filter removes more serious contaminants, like bacteria and viruses. However, it also removes very common contaminants like heavy lead chlorine. The simple gravity-fed design allows me to produce ample clean water fairly quickly. I can fill it up and forget about it.
The rubber seals are high quality, so the water tastes better. The long-lasting filter and minimal maintenance make this filter easily one of the best.
Even after several months of use, the Alexapure Pro is still going strong. It’s very easy to use daily, and having a few filters on hand can provide you with plenty of water during an extended emergency.
Recommended for:
The Alexapure Pro water filtration system is perfect for those looking for a high capacity at-home emergency water filtration system.
PROS
Superior filtration
Exceptionally easy to use
Cheaper than similar systems
CONS
Higher initial cost
Slower filtration rate
Tips on Choosing the Best Emergency Water Filter
Water is essential for life, and we can only live a few days without it. During an emergency, whether it be a natural or man-made crisis, our water supply could become contaminated or not available.
After a tornado tore through my area a few years ago, the water was shut off since so many homes were destroyed, and there were leaks everywhere. Some of the shutoffs were either blocked by debris or couldn’t be located.
We were without water for six days. Luckily, we had enough stored, and we could buy bottled water not very far away. But I realized that in a bigger crisis, my water storage would only last a week or so, and I needed a way to filter water at home.
Emergency water filters for use at home, when the normal water supply is not available, are different from survival water filters. At home, I need to filter a large amount of water for my family to drink, cook, and clean. A small LifeStraw or Sawyer filter is just not going to cut it and shouldn’t be considered as the primary water filtration method.
Here is what I look for:
- Capacity—I prefer to have a few gallons of filtered water ready to go instead of filtering on demand. This means my filter method should have a decent capacity, or I need separate water storage containers on hand. I find Five-gallon buckets work well to retrieve water from nearby natural sources.
- Filter Type – Filters with a media of 0.1 microns or less will filter out bacteria and organisms that make you sick. Activated Carbon filters will also filter out harmful metals and chemicals and make the water taste better. I prefer Carbon filters unless I am strictly filtering rainwater or water from an underground spring.
- Powered Pumps – Pumps make it easy to pull dirty water from a source outside or a bucket inside. Just make sure you have a solar system to recharge them.
- Gravity Systems – These are great since no power is needed, but they often can’t be used with Carbon filters due to the pressure required.
- Filter Rate – When I need water for my family, I need a good filter rate. Anything more than a quart every two minutes is too slow for me.
- Filter Life – Obviously, a longer life is better. Activated Carbon filters have a limited life, while non carbon filters can be backflushed and used indefinitely. There is a tradeoff of filter quality vs life here. Also, water that has a lot of silt will clog filters and shorten their life. I like to prefilter through a cloth or towel first (except for the Puribag).
- Utility – I like to consider other things I need water for besides drinking. Taking a shower and cleaning clothes is nice in a long term situation without water.
How We Tested
We tested each of these with water from a nearby creek. We used a 5-gallon bucket to transport dirty water back to our home and followed the manufacturer’s recommendations for each filter.
We measured the flow rates and tasted the water from each filter. We filtered around 5 gallons through each filter (except the Delta) to make sure they functioned properly.
While we tested these filters outside, they are not designed to be used in freezing weather conditions. It is important to have a way to transport dirty water inside during winter. 5-gallon buckets work great; don’t forget to keep a few on hand.
The Best Emergency Water Filter for You
The Berkey “Travel” Water filter is the best for emergencies because it is easy to use, has a long life, and doesn’t require power.
The Gosun Flo Pro is the most versatile emergency water filter and will work great for most people. The price is reasonable, and it can double for use when camping, tailgating, or anytime water is needed away from home.
If you live in an urban area or want the best filter money can buy, go with the ITEHIL water filtration system. The dual filters will filter almost any liquid containing water.
If you are on a budget, go with the Uzima UZ-2. Or, if you live in a flood-prone area, the Puribag is a must for filtering dirty water that we often see after a flood.
Regardless of which one you choose, they are an essential part of preparing for power outages. Also, keep a supply of Water Purification Tablets on hand as well. They are inexpensive and take up little room.
Having clean water is just one step in being prepared for emergencies. Be sure to check out our How to Start Prepping guide as well as our Prepping Checklist!
