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Sick and tired of lugging around a water filter? Yeah, us too. We love the new MSR Miox. It's high tech, sure, but this is a "water treatment tool for dummies" if we ever saw one. We've had great success treating volumes from 16 oz to 4 liters at a time. Very slick, very simple, very small, and VERY light!
Here is a list of answers to frequently asked questions about the MSR Miox Purifier (courtesy of MSR):
What do I have to do to set up the MIOX Purifier out of the box?
Battery installation: Unscrew the black battery cap from the bottom of the purifier. Lift the round end of the flexible battery contact strip and insert the batteries into the battery chamber. You may have to use a blunt object such as a pen to gently extend the flex strip. (See the picture on the purifier body depicting the orientation of the batteries.) Fold the strip over so that the end of the last battery and round end of the strip make contact. Then screw the battery cap firmly to engage the O-ring seal.
Salt installation: Unscrew the salt chamber cap, which is the little black cap at the very top. If you unscrew the entire salt chamber instead you will see the end of a metal post surrounded by a small void and then a metal tube. If this is the case, look for the small cap at the top of the salt chamber and unscrew it. Next, fill the salt chamber about 2/3 full with salt. Some room at the top will allow good water flow. The salt needs to be moistened before use if it is dry. Add a few drops of water to the salt chamber to wet the salt.
How do I operate the MIOX Purifier?
Fill a container with the water to be treated and note the volume. Unscrew the black salt chamber from the colored MIOX Purifier's body. You will see the end of a metal post surrounded by a small void and then a metal tube the electrolytic cell. Submerse the purifier or pour a few drops of the untreated fresh water from the water source to fill the electrolytic cell, the void between the metal post and tube. Cap and shake the purifier 10 times to mix the water and the salt in the salt chamber. (You may need to shake more than 10 times depending on the water source and type of salt used.) This creates a brine solution. Look at the chart on the purifier to determine the number of button clicks required for the amount of water you wish to purify. For example, two clicks will make enough disinfectant to treat one liter. Hold the purifier upright and remove the cap to expose the electrolytic cell filled with the brine solution. Next, activate the purifier by pressing the gray button. An electrical charge zaps the brine solution, causing chemical bonds to break and reform into a potent cocktail of chloroxygen compounds such as hypochlorous acid and chlorine. Mix the contents of the cell with the water to be treated and follow the instructions for using the safety-indicator strips to determine if the concentration is high enough for effective disinfection. After verifying the concentration, wait the appropriate dwell time before drinking.
What are the metal parts that I see when looking into the open purifier?
The metal parts make up the electrolytic cell. When you look down into the top of the purifier you will see a 3/8" diameter titanium post in the center; this is the cathode. Around the inside of the cell, inside the plastic outer case, is a piece of titanium tubing; this is the anode. The anode and the cathode are the two halves of the electrical circuit that create the MIOX cocktail.
How do I decide if the MIOX Purifier is the best choice for me?
The MIOX Purifier is ideal for people who don't want to pump and are willing to wait the dwell time required for disinfectant treatment. (See the following question for required dwell times.) For example, a troop of Boy Scouts on a canoe trip can gather water in gallon containers at night, dose with the MIOX Purifier in minutes, and have purified water ready to go in the morning without having to pump their arms off. It is also ideal for people who want to minimize weight and are into high-tech innovation. The MIOX Purifier has a 7-10-year shelf life due to its lithium batteries, making it ideal for emergency preparedness. If a disaster hits and your water is compromised, the MIOX Purifier will treat large quantities of water more easily and efficiently than pumping or boiling. Lastly, the MIOX Purifier in conjunction with a filter is an excellent system for use in developing countries with very contaminated sources. Treat with MIOX either pre- or post-filtration. (Note: When using the MIOX Purifier and a filter, dwell time is reduced to only 15 minutes.) This double-whammy approach is excellent for extremely challenging water, greatly improving dirty-tasting or -smelling water and shortening the wait time of chemical treatment by filtering out the resistant protozoa. Also the MIOX Purifier is the only chemical treatment technology with safety-indicator strips for solid confirmation that you have added enough disinfectant to purify your water after the appropriate dwell time.
How do I know the MIOX Purifier inactivates giardia, cryptosporidia, bacteria, and viruses, and how long does it take?
Two full rounds of testing according to the Environmental Protection Agency Guide Standard were performed at BioVir, an independent lab, using the MIOX Purifier. One test was performed with giardia plus bacteria and viruses in both general (type 1) and worst-case (type 2) water as per the EPA Guide Standard. Knowing that cryptosporidia is a more resistant bug, testing was also performed with crypto plus bacteria and viruses in both waters. The required 3-log inactivation was achieved in both general and worst-case water conditions in 30 minutes for giardia and four hours for cryptosporidia. Bacteria and viruses were inactivated to the required 6-log and 4-log levels in only 15 minutes for both water types.
When do I need cryptosporidia protection?
Because crypto is carried by both animals and humans, it is found in most surface water sources. Level of contamination can be gauged by the surrounding influences. For example, water sources downstream from an agricultural operation will most likely contain a much higher level of crypto, while high-mountain streams with little animal influence will contain a much lower level. The best indicator is waste influence from humans and/or animals. (A lake with a huge population of geese will pose a higher risk than one without.) Susceptibility is also a very important consideration. Infants and young children, elderly, and pregnant and immunocompromised individuals are at greater risk of contracting serious waterborne disease and should purify their water for the highest level of protection. Purification is also best for people who tend to have a sensitive digestive system or gastrointestinal problems, such as a tendency to get food poisoning. Healthy adults who rarely get sick and claim to have a cast-iron stomach may choose to take more risks. Because of a lower susceptibility or a hearty immune response, they may suffer fewer consequences. Of course, it may simply be the luck of the draw.
Can I use any salt or seawater?
Other forms of salt besides rock salt will work, including table salt, sea salt, crystal salt, tablet salt, and even No Salt, which is a potassium chloride mixture. Seawater is not salty enough to work and will give a low-salt fault if used. If you use table salt, you may need to shake more vigorously because of the compaction that occurs with small granules, and you may need to shake more than 10 times to get the right concentration of brine.
What oxidants does the MIOX Purifier make and how does it make them?
Electrolysis breaks the chemical bonds of the salt water, or brine (NaCl + H2O), and stimulates chemical reactions, creating primarily chlorine (Cl2 + HOCl + OCl-). Based on microbiological testing, it is likely that other chloroxygen compounds more potent than chlorine are also being created. With current technology, we have been unable to identify these other compounds; therefore, we can claim only that we make a strong chlorine/hypochlorous acid solution. We know, however, that the MIOX solution effectively inactivates cryptosporidia, while chlorine does not even after days of exposure. The bubbles you see while the purifier is operating are hydrogen ions being freed.
How does the MIOX cocktail compare to chlorine dioxide, chlorine, and iodine treatment?
The MIOX cocktail and chlorine dioxide tablets are effective against cryptosporidia, while chlorine and iodine are not. The MIOX Purifier performs as well as the chlorine dioxide tablets on the market and has the added benefit of an unlimited self life (other than the batteries which must be replaced every 7-10 years). Chlorine dioxide tablets expire after two years. Also, MIOX-treated water tastes better than water treated with iodine, does not make the treated water urine-colored, and does not have the possible thyroid side effects of iodine. In addition, the MIOX Purifier is the only chemical treatment technology with safety-indicator strips for solid confirmation that you have added enough disinfectant to purify your water after the appropriate dwell time. The main reason someone would choose tablets over the MIOX Purifier is cost. However, after 200 liters of operation, or one set of lithium batteries, you will break even with the cost of using comparable tablets and then the MIOX Purifier will start paying for itself.
How long do the salt and batteries last?
The salt packet and batteries provided will last for about 200 liters of operation depending on use. Doses for larger volumes will deplete the batteries faster than those for smaller volumes, with the four-liter treatments causing the most depletion. A full salt chamber will treat about 20 liters depending on use.
How do I treat more than four-liter volumes of water?
To treat volumes greater than four liters, simply calculate how many doses are needed to total the desired volume and add the doses one after the other. For example, if you have 10 liters of water to treat, add two four-liter doses and one two-liter dose. To determine if the proper dosing has been achieved, be sure to check with the safety-indicator strips according to the directions, after the last dose is added.
What about taste does it make good coffee?
Under most conditions you will not notice any unpleasant taste. However, some people report a slight tap-water flavor. In tea-colored water with high organic content, a more noticeable flavor will be detected. For those with a sensitive palate, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and drink mixes can be added after the required dwell time to improve taste. Also exposure to sunlight or aerating the water after the required treatment time will help reduce residual disinfectant and improve taste. MIOX-treated water will also impart a strange taste if used for making coffee. However, water used for making coffee does not need to be treated. All pathogens will be inactivated upon achieving a full rolling boiling.
What is background demand?
Background refers to all the impurities in a water source, such as silt, dissolved solids, and organic matter in addition to pathogens. Demand is short for oxidant demand, which refers to how much of the oxidant or disinfectant is used up by the background impurities. For example, a fast-running, clear mountain spring in the heart of the Cascades will have a small background demand mostly from dissolved solids, while a molasses-paced, tea-colored, river channel in the Okefenokee Swamp will have a much higher demand from decaying organic matter and alligator poop. The greater the background demand, the more disinfectant is needed for effective purification. The MIOX Purifier has been tailored to create enough disinfectant juice in one dose to treat the majority of water sources in the U.S. However, when traveling to developing countries, or if using a very polluted water source, a second dose may be needed.
Since water sources vary, how do I know I've added enough MIOX cocktail?
After you have dosed your water with the appropriate level of cocktail, based on the volume of the container, check it with our nifty safety-indicator strip. Remove one safety-indicator strip from the bottle and swirl the end with the pad in the treated water for one second. After 15 seconds, compare the color of the pad to the color chart on the bottle to determine if the water has been treated with enough MIOX cocktail. The color should match or be darker than the color block next to the "OK" reading. If it is, wait 10 minutes and repeat the check one more time. If both readings are OK, wait the required dwell time before drinking. If the reading is TOO LOW, repeat the dosing procedure and recheck with another safety-indicator strip until an OK or OK+ reading is achieved. We recommend checking each new water source to determine dose needs and also rechecking the source if a severe weather event has occurred or water collected is now downstream from a contamination threat, such as a farm.
What if I don't have the safety-indicator strips?
Don't panic. We have an overkill option just for this purpose. Simply add two four-liter doses per liter of water, shake and wait the required treatment time.
If the water is cold, do I have to wait longer?
No, you do not have to wait longer when your water source is cold. The wait times listed are for use in worst-case water conditions, which include a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius).
What about that scum (bio-film) in my container?
Tests performed on municipal systems during the switch from chlorine to MIOX treatment show that mixed oxidants are superior for bio-film removal. So the scum should disappear with the use of the MIOX Purifier.
Does the MIOX Purifier cocktail reduce chemical contaminants or heavy metals?
The MIOX Purifier was created with the military in mind. One of the main concerns for military personnel are chemical weapons. Many of the chemical weapons are beefed-up versions of pesticides and herbicides, which are often used as surrogates in testing. The U.S. Dugway Proving Ground performed testing on the MIOX Purifier to determine its efficacy against chemical contaminants. It is very effective at reducing the chemical weapons Soman, VX, and Lewisite. Environmental Health Labs performed testing using the MIOX Purifier to determine efficacy against pesticides, herbicides, and VOCs, and it performed well with complex open-structured compounds such as Malathion but not with simple closed-structured compounds such as Benzene. The MIOX Purifier is not effective at reducing heavy metal contamination. In general, it is best to avoid water sources such as mining tailing ponds or those near large agricultural operations.
I make it a point to consume antioxidants. Is there a problem adding oxidants to my water?
Much of what we do in life contains some level of risk. Many feel that the benefits of disinfecting water greatly outweigh the risks. However, if the residual disinfectant is of great concern, a one-micron filter containing carbon can be used 15 minutes after treatment with the MIOX Purifier to remove any residual oxidants from the water. It is also a very effective way to treat really nasty water. Some people choose not to use chemical treatment at all, which is not usually a problem here in the U.S. In developing countries, however, where there is a high risk of human waste contamination, and therefore a concern of viral contamination, a chemical treatment step can save you from the viral two-step.
I am sensitive to chemicals in water is the MIOX Purifier the right choice for me?
The MIOX Purifier is not for everyone. People sensitive to chemicals may choose to use a filter instead. However, if viral contamination is a concern, microfilters won't cut it. Some form of chemical treatment before or after filtration is required for full protection when there is a possibility of human waste contamination.
I am on a salt-restricted diet. Will the salt in the MIOX solution be a problem?
Approximately 5-50 milligrams/liter of sodium is added, depending on the dosage. Sodium addition is less pronounced at higher treatment volumes because the mixed oxidants are more concentrated at those levels. Two ways to minimize sodium addition are to shake the purifier fewer times, resulting in a less concentrated brine solution, and/or to use the four-liter dose.
What about disinfection by-products?
Since chlorine and hypochlorous acid are present in the MIOX cocktail, disinfection by-products can be formed. For added protection, use a one-micron filter containing carbon 15 minutes after treatment with the MIOX Purifier to remove disinfection by-products.
Will the MIOX solution damage my gear if spillage occurs?
Since the MIOX cocktail contains chlorine and can discolor or damage fabrics, we recommend you use caution when creating and using it. Should spillage occur and damage result, replacement of damaged gear is handled on a case-by-case basis by our Warranty and Repairs Department.
I dropped my MIOX Purifier and now it won't work what's wrong?
On some early models of the MIOX Purifier the battery bumper was not cushy enough to withstand a direct three-foot drop on concrete that directly impacted the battery cap. This can cause a dent in the batteries to the degree that they no longer touch the contact strip. A new set of batteries will fix the problem.
I am treating tea-colored water and my MIOX Purifier isn't working properly what's wrong?
Some waters, such as swamps and bogs, contain high levels of organics making them tea-colored. The organics in the water react with the salt while creating the saltwater solution, or brine. Water sources with high organic content require more shaking to achieve the required levels of salt in solution to run the MIOX Purifier. Some waters require as many as 50 shakes. In this case a smaller dose will run better than the larger four-liter dose. Another fix is to have a small container of water that does not contain high levels of organics to use for making the MIOX cocktail.
How reliable are the electronics in the purifier?
The electronics of the MIOX Purifier are as reliable as a cell phone or GPS unit.
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