Comparison between AquaSafeStraw against AquaMira

Introduction	Aquamira are water filtration devices. www.Aquamira.com available for consumers. They have both chemical and non chemical based water filtration/purification products. The AquaSafeStraw that has been specifically specifically designed for travelling, hiking and disaster situations. The only product that is safe for all to use, irrespective of health conditions, known and unknown, due to its chemical free filtration system. For the purpose of comparison, we are looking at AquaSafeStraw against the following Aquamira products: • Aquamira Water bottle • Aquamira Frontier Sport Water Filter (NalgeneR) • Aquamira Frontier Emergency Water Filter, and • Aquamira Frontier Pro.
Filtration Methods	The Aquamira Bottle uses a two stage process to filter water, a polypropylene pre filter followed by a plastic carbon block. The carbon block is composed of activated coconut shell carbon. The Aquamira Frontier Sports Filter uses a polypropylene pre filter integrated with an activated plastic coconut carbon block. The Aquamira Frontier uses a microbiological filter and activated coconut shell carbon to filter water. The Aquamira Frontier Pro uses a plastic replaceable pre-filter, a microbiological filter and activated coconut shell carbon. All the Aquamira products use the Miraguard antimicrobial technology to suppress bacteria and algae growth. For all Aquamira water filter products except for the Frontier Pro, Aquamira recommends on their web site to use the Aquamira Water Treatment drops or Aquamira Purification Tablets in conjunction with the filter. The Aquamira Water Treatment drops is chlorinate dioxide. There are stringent guidelines by Governments in the use of chorine dioxide in water treatment, due to health related issues. The AquaSafeStraw uses a polyethylene membrane that filters down to 0.2 micron, exceeding the US CDC recommendation of 1 micron to effectively remove Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
Product Safety	The Aquamira product range relies on the microbiological filter and activated carbon to filter water. The Aquamira’s microbiological filters down to 3 microns. A number of Aquamira products also rely on the activated coconut shell carbon to remove other bacteria and chemicals (such as the chlorine dioxide). America’s Centre of Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) recommendation of filters to a minimum of 1 micron for the removal of Giardia and Cryptosporidium. These products do not achieve this recommendation. To have a high confidence that the water is safe Aquamira recommends to b the use either their Water Purification Tablets or Aquamira Water treatment Drops. These are added chemicals that kill off bacteria. The chemical chlorine dioxide increases your risk of developing a haemolytic anaemia. Care needs to taken when using either Aquamira Water Purification Tablets or Aquamira Water treatment drops. For example, If you use the Water Purification tablets and the Aquamira Frontier Water Bottle, the water bottle has 750 ml of capacity and Water Purification tablets are designed for 1 litre of water, you will need to only place ¾ of tablet in the water to avoid excessive chemical overdose. When using any chemical purification system, there is at some delay before drinking the water. The delay is required to allow the chemical to kill off bacteria. Not withstanding this, the US Army Centre for Health (2006) have quoted (http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA453960&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf regarding to iodine resins, ) “…resins are not effective for inactivating or removing Cryptosporidium oocysts….Giardia cysts appear to be more resistant to inactivation by iodine resins..”. These oocysts and cysts are a major cause for water related illness. These oocysts and cysts are a major cause for water related illness. The AquaSafeStraw uses a membrane technology that filter out all (99.9999%) bacteria, Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Water WILL NOT pass through the AquaSafeStraw when no longer effective. The AquaSafeStraw is chemical free and safe for all to use.
Reliability and state of mind	Both the Aquamira and AquaSafeStraw have past extensive testing to verify their specification when the product is in prime condition. There is are major differences between the products is that the AquaSafeStraw stops working once the filter is congested and the AquaSafeStraw is chemical free and safe for all to use.
Cost per gallon/litre	There are three filters that need replacing at various stages. There are potentially 230 refills at 750 ml equalling 150 liters and $26.95 US. As recommended by Aquamira, you will also need to include the purification tablets that come in a 12 pack at $7.95. that’s 19 packs equating $151 with a total cost of $177.95, That’s a staggering $1.18 per litre or a mammoth $4.46 per gallon! Compared to 7 cents a litre or 26.5 cents per gallon for the AquaSafeStraw. Not withstanding the cost, the tablets are meant for 1 litre whereas the water bottle including the filter is 750 ml. With the filter this would be significantly reduced making the chemical concentrations almost double the recommended levels.
Portability	AquaSafeStraw is light weight (24g), 21cm long unit, 1.8cm diameter. The product can fit in your pocket. Aquamira bottle is 29cm tall x 7.5cm diameter, weighing 210g, making the unit significantly more cumbersome to carry.
Multi-part	The Aquamira products require some type of assemble and/or preparation. The AquaSafeStraw is a sturdy single part device.
Speed to access of water	The time to obtain water from all the Aquamira products varies from immediate if you drink water from the Aquamira with the recommended Water purification tablets to at least 15 plus minutes to allow the water to be purified by the chemicals. The AquaSafeStraw is immediate for both usage and storage.
Longevity	The Aquamira products filters/purifies between 75 to 380 litres/20 to 100 gallons whereas the AquaSafeStraw 500 litre/132g. That’s a significant difference.
Bacteria and Virus removal properties	Aquamira claims that their product removes bacteria. All the Aquamira products remove everything larger than 3 micron. Virus molecular size ranges from 0.02 to 18 microns. Giardia and Cryptosporidium start from 1 micron. America’s Centre of Disease Control and prevention (www.cdc.gov) recommendation of filters to a minimum of 1 micron. The AquaSafeStraw filters out all Bacteria as well as Cryptosporidium and Giardia above to 0.2 microns exceeding the America’s Centre of Disease Control and prevention (www.cdc.gov) recommendation of filters to a minimum of 1 micron. The AquaSafeStraw exceed this by a factor of 5. AquaSafeCorp is about to release two new products, AquaSafeBottle and AquaSafeStraw+, that filters down to 0.01 micron below the size of viruses.
How can AquaSafeStraw be so cost effective and be an effective water filtration system?	How does AquaSafeStraw be technologically advanced and be so price competitive? AquaSafeCorp have taken state of the art materials and technologies, along with advanced manufacturing techniques (patented) to produce a cost effective advanced product.

Product Characteristics	Aquamira Frontier Emergency Filter	Aquamira Frontier Pro Filter	Sports Water Filter	Aquamira – Bottle 750 ml	AquaSafeStraw
Product Characteristics
Price (RRP)	$11.95	$24.95	$14.95	$26.95`	$44.95 US
Capacity Volume of water	75 Litres/ 20 gallon	200 Litres/ 50 gallons	380 litres/ 100 gallons	150 Litres/ 40 gallon	500 litres /132 gallon
Volume cost of filtered water per litre	15.8 c/l	12.5 c/l	3.9 c/l	19.9 c/l $68.2/g	7 c/l 0.265 c/g
Filtration Methods	Microbiological filter	Plastic Pre-filter & Microbiological filter	Polypropylene pre filter followed by a activated plastic coconut carbon block	Microbiological filter by a activated plastic coconut carbon block	Micro filtration capillary -membrane
Recommend to use Chemical purification	Yes	No	Yes Chlorine Dioxide	Yes Chlorine Dioxide	No
Filtration levels	3 microns	3 microns	3 microns	1.0 micron	0.2 micron
Exceeds CDC recommendations	No	No	No	No	Yes
Approved by relevant authorities	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Chemicals	No/Yes*Note	Noe	No/Yes*Note	No/Yes*Note	No
Satisfies US Army recommendation for water filtration	No/Yes*Note	No/Yes*Note	No/Yes*Note	No/Yes*Note	Yes
Reputable manufacturing standards	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Longevity	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Stop working once filtration stops working	No	No	No	No	Yes
Portability/size	1 oz 5 ½”	2 oz 1 ¼” x 5 ½”		290 mm long x 75 mm in diameter 210 grams	21 cm long x 1.8 cm diameter 24 grams