DO Drink the Water

SteriPEN
Pocket water purifier

"I took a SteriPEN to Africa for 3 months this summer and the verdict is in: it's the best water purifier you can carry without a tractor-trailer. It's basically a UV ray flashlight you submerge into your glass. The water stays cool and it doesn't change the water, except to kill all the living things in it, viruses included. It is expensive,

but pays for itself quickly, as you don't have to buy bottled water. On my trip, often when I asked a waiter for a glass of tap water, my request would elicit a smile or a laugh. In some cases, they simply would not bring me a glass of water. Most of the time, though, I convinced them -- and then, to their amazement, I would take out the SteriPEN, push a button, and stir the water with the glowing purple UV light that always brought stares from other diners. After less than 60 seconds, I would take out the SteriPEN and drink the water, occasionally hearing gasps from other tables. Then I'd mention that UV light is how certain towns and companies now sterilize water."

-- David Siegel

SteriPEN
$125
Available from Amazon

This is such a great idea, with a high level of portability and low level of fuss. My problem would be the sheer amount of water I drink, and having to continually refill and repurify. If this would work for a bottle of water, it would be perfect, but I am assuming it would have to be a lot longer, and then I guess then it wouldn't be so portable? How great this would be for hiking though!