Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)—The Crown Berkey Water Purification system is our choice for the best quality and top filter in the home category. If you are looking for a filter that will take water from any fresh water source and turn it into fresh tasting clean drinking water, this is our top pick.

In order to find the best emergency water purification system for your needs you need to consider the following features:

• Contaminants reduced-you want your filter to remove water borne bacteria and viruses, heavy metals, chemical pollutants, and improve color and taste.
• Micron Size – higher end purification systems will reduce pollutants down to .1 microns which will remove bacteria and protozoa
• Bulk and weight –  This is an important consideration if you plan on carrying your water filtration system with you in a bug out bag or backpack.
• Filter media – the type of filter your system uses will affect the taste of the water, flow rate, and cost.

Crown Berkey Water Purification System

With a 6 gallon capacity the Crown Berkey system is ideal for a larger family or a group that are surviving together in an emergency scenario. As with all Berkey systems the two elements are good for purifying up to 6,000 gallons of drinking water before requiring replacement.

This water filter system removes pathogenic bacteria, cysts and parasites entirely. It is also capable of extracting other harmful chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, organic solvents, radon 222 and trihalomethanes. It also reduces nitrates, nitrites and unhealthy minerals such as lead and mercury.

This system is ideal for an emergency situation because it will filter water from any fresh water source and transform it into pure crystal clear drinking water that is vital for survival. If looking for a high quality and top of the line home water purification system look no further.

Alexapure Pro Stainless Steel Water Filtration System

The home water filtration system by Alexapure is a great option for an emergency water system. With a 2.25 gallon water capacity it is as easy as pouring unfiltered water in the top and filling your glass of purified water at the bottom.

The filtration system in the Alexapure is capable of removing up to 99.9999% of 200+ water impurities, including lead, bacteria, viruses, cysts, chlorine, fluoride, and E. coli. Since this filtration system is gravity fed it requires no electricity which makes this an ideal choice for a home emergency water filtration system or for off-the-grid living.

Each filter has a 5,000 gallon lifespan which makes this system a great option for everyday use as well as during an emergency. The filters do not require priming and you can add up to 4 filters to improve flow rate.

The Alexapure is an outstanding entry level option for emergency water filtration in the home or bug out location.

Big Berkey Water Filter 2.5 Gallon System

If you know that your emergency plan calls for staying put and sheltering-in-place during an emergency then the Big Berkey system would be the next step. The Berkey filter system does an outstanding job in absorbing Fluoride, Arsenic, and other heavy metal ions in the water.

This system is a great choice due to its solid reputation for quality and reliability. The durable Berkey elements are designed to filter 3,000 gallons before requiring replacement so 2 elements in a Berkey system are capable of filtering an impressive 6,000 gallons of drinking water.

Berkey systems are extremely versatile which makes them ideal for families, at home, during travel, outdoor activities, or unexpected emergencies. It is capable of purifying both treated water and untreated raw water from such sources as remote lakes, streams, stagnant ponds and water supplies in foreign countries, where regulations may be substandard at best. The system is so powerful that it can remove food color from water while leaving minerals that are beneficial to health untouched.

This is one of the most powerful and high quality products on the market and is an excellent choice for a mid-size family that wishes to hunker down and ride out a disaster or other emergency scenario.

Lifestraw Family 1.0 Portable Gravity Powered Water Purifier

Lifestraw is one of the leading manufacturers of portable water purification systems and the Family 1.0 is an outstanding choice for ensuring your family has access to clean drinking water in the event of an emergency.

The Lifestraw Gravity water filter has the capability of filtering up to 4,755 gallons of fresh water; enough to supply a family of five for up to 3 years. Since this is a gravity type system the operation couldn’t be any easier. You simply pour unpurified fresh water from any source in the hopper at the top of the unit and gravity will force the water through the filter and down to the bottom where you can fill a water bottle, canteen, or glass.

With a decent flow rate of 9-12 liters per hour this system surpasses EPA standards for water purifiers. It is capable of removing 99.99% viruses (including salmonella and E. Coli), 99.9999% bacteria and 99.9% protozoan cysts to 0.02 microns. This system is also a great choice for international travel to locations that have substandard water systems or lack access to clean drinking water.

With no batteries to replace or moving parts this water purification system will not expire making it a fantastic choice for your emergency preparations. The Lifestraw Family 1.0 system weighs in at just over one pound which makes it a great portable water purification option.

Platypus Gravityworks 4 L Water Filter

The Platypus Gravityworks is a high capacity gravity fed water filtration system ideal for camping, hiking, and of course, emergency preparedness. The system has a 4 liter dirty water pouch that feeds the water through the filtration system with the help of gravity to the equally sized 4 liter clean water pouch.

This system works the water through the filter at an impressive rate and will fill the clean water pouch for all of your drinking, cooking, and washing in 2.5 minutes. The filter meets all EPA/NSF guidelines and is capable of removing 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa, including giardia, cryptosporidium, E. coli, salmonella, cholera.

The filter in this system has the capability of filtering 1,500 gallons of water before requiring replacement and has an impressive flow rate of 1.75 liters per minute. This filter is well suited for hanging in the middle of camp as a hydration bladder refill station or cooking water station and is ideal for families and those traveling in a group of 3 or more.

The other feature that makes the Platypus Gravityworks such an outstanding choice is the weight. Weighing in at a mere 11 ounces, this is a no brainer for your bug out bag where every ounce is crucial.

Platypus Gravityworks 2 L Water Filter

The smaller version of the Gravityworks is more suitable for meeting the water filtration needs of one person. It utilizes the same filter as the 4 liter system so you still get the same 1,500 gallons of use before requiring filter replacement.

What makes this system so great is that it also comes with adapters that allow you to fil your Camelbac, Klean Kanteen, and Nalgene hydration bladders and bottles. This feature makes refilling your hydration bladder a snap and makes this system one of the best options for a bug out bag.

Like the larger 4 liter version the flow rate is impressive and limits the time required to transform dirty water to clean drinkable water which is an important consideration when you have been on your feet moving all day and just want to refresh yourself with some fresh drinking water.

The Gravityworks 2.0 is the lightest, fastest, and most versatile water filtration system for dispensing fresh drinking water. The Platypus is an ideal option for backpacking, trekking, and emergency water filtration solutions.

Sawyer Products SP160 One-Gallon Gravity Water Filtration System

The Sawyer Products SP160 is a large capacity water filtration system that is designed for backpacking, trekking, and emergency preparedness. Like most gravity filtration systems it is very easy to use and just requires the user to locate a fresh water source, fill the dirty water reservoir, and allow gravity to feed water through the filter.

The MINI filter is so small that it can fit in the palm of your hand and is capable of filtering contaminates to 0.1 microns. This filter makes it impossible for harmful bacteria (like salmonella), protozoa, or cysts (like E. coli, Giardia, Vibrio cholerae, and Salmonella typhi) to pass through the filter.

One major benefit to this filter is that it is rated to filter up to 100,000 gallons of water, meaning that replacement of the filter will most likely never needed. The Sawyer Products one-gallon water filtration system weighs in at only 4 ounces and is collapsible to take up minimal space in your backpack or bug out bag. The combination of light weight and filter life make this filtration system a serious contender in the emergency water purification market.

Survivor Filter PRO

The Survivor Filter PRO 3-stage water filter is as impressive as they come in this style. The filtration system boasts arguably the best independently tested filtration level on the market and is capable of filtration down to 0.01 microns. The filter will remove bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals from your water leaving you with only the freshest of water for drinking. This filter is also capable of removing foul odors and taste from the water which is important if you can only find water in stagnant water sources.

The Survivor Filter comes with a satisfaction guarantee as well as a lifetime warranty. This pump system allows for a very impressive flow rate of 17 ounces per minute which means that you don’t have to sit around pumping water all day to fill your hydration bladders and you can pump the water directly from the fresh water source into your container.

The small size and weight of this filter system make it ideal for your go bag and the filter is designed to filter over 26,000 gallons of water before requiring replacement. Survivor Filter also has a great customer support section which adds to the value of this filter.

Katadyn Vario Water Filter

The Vario water filter by Katadyn utilizes an activated carbon filter to filter contaminants from nature water sources and make it safe for human consumption and cooking. The dual piston pumping system makes pumping a breeze ensuring that you are filtering the maximum amount of water with the least amount of exertion.

This filtration system has two pumping modes that the user can choose from that effect the flow rate. In the faster flow rate option you are able to produce 2 quarts of water per minute. If you choose to use the slower rate you can only collect 1 quart per minute, but it extends the life of the filter.

The filtration system utilize 3 filter types including a pleated glass-fiber microfilter that removes waterborne bacteria. The reusable carbon core reduces pesticides, chemicals and bad taste in the water as well. The Vario is only 6.5” tall and weighs in at just under 1 pound making it a solid consideration for a bug out bag or for use in an extended backpacking trip.