How to Backflush a Hiking Filter

Stream, rivers and lakes in the back country aren't as pristine as they may appear. Drinking water taken straight from one of these sources can put you at risk of ingesting dangerous bacteria or viruses. Small and portable hiking filters provide a means for treating water and making it safe to drink. Manufacturers such as Cascade Designs, Katadyn and Platypus produce lightweight water filters that are easy to maintain. The only maintenance hiking filters typically require is regular back flushing to remove debris and contaminants from the system.

Things You'll Need

  • Clean one-quart water bottle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Collect between 1 pt. and 1 qt. of filtered water in a clean container. The exact amount needed will vary depending on the specific filter, but it should be equal to 30 seconds of the filter's output flow. Always use filtered water for back flushing to avoid contaminating the output side of your filter system.

    • 2

      Open your filter's cartridge chamber. Inspect the input end or side of the filter, and scrub or brush away any obvious residue.

    • 3

      Reverse the flow of water through the filter cartridge by following the manufacturer's specific instructions. If the filter features a removable cartridge, do not simply reverse the cartridge. Flushing water through a reversed cartridge will contaminate the clean water output with debris and bacteria from the filter. Most filters that require back flushing are designed to easily change the direction of pump operation.

    • 4

      Remove or reverse any check valves that may be included on the filter. Some filters use a check valve to prevent the accidental mixing of filtered and unfiltered water. You may damage your water filter or pump if you leave a check valve in place during back flushing.

    • 5

      Place the system's output hose into the container of clean water. Pump water into the filter and out the intake hose until all of the water has been used.

    • 6

      Open your filter's cartridge housing and again clean the input side of the filter of any obvious debris. Reassemble the filter for proper operation, being sure to correctly replace any check valves that were removed or reversed.