BeFree Water Filtration System 3.0 L

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$59.90

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

BeFree Water Filtration System is available for direct purchase online at Amazon, REI and Campsaver. The Katadyn website also provides a store finder of Katadyn dealers around the world according to location. This product has been used by NGOs, militaries, and by the Katadyn group in collaboration with organizations such as World Hope International for disaster relief.

Manufacturing/Building Method

The BeFree Water Filter is produced by Katadyn which is headquartered in Wallisellen-Zurich, Switzerland. Approximately 4000 units are manufactured per week at the assembly plant in Kemptthal, Switzerland.

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

This product can be purchase from different Katadyn dealers around the world and is available for direct purchase online at websites such as Amazon, REI and Campsaver.

Distributions to Date Status

Unknown

Design Specifications

The Katadyn BeFree™ Water filtration system 3 L is composed of a hydrapak soft flask with markings on the bag up to 3 L, a drink nozzle and a 0.1 micron EZ-clean membrane hollow fiber style filter. It has a 43 mm wide-mouth opening between the hydrapak and the filter for filling the bag with water from any lake, river, stream or faucet and has two holes for hanging and a handle to carry (see manual). It weighs 100 g (3.5 oz)(dry) and ?133 g (4.7 oz)(wet), with dimensions 230 x 75 x 440.7 mm (9.0 x 2.9 x 17.6 in).

Product Schematics

Technical Support

There is no technical support provided and users are expected to follow the filter’s performance tips to properly maintain the filter, clean it, test it and define if any components require replacement to ensure best product performance.

Replacement Components

Replaceable components include the Ez-clean membranes , which can be purchased for ?30 USD and are available from the dealer where the Katadyn BeFree™ was purchased.

Lifecycle

This product includes a 2 year warranty from defects in materials and workmanship and has an expected lifetime of 1000 L or 264 galons, after which the EZ-clean membrane must be replaced, as explained in the product manual.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

This product is designed to reduce 99.9999% bacteria and 99.99% protozoan cysts, commonly found in fresh water sources. It is designed to have a flow rate of 2 L per minute and to have a lifetime capacity of up to 1000 L of filtered water.

Vetted Performance Status

Bachema AG, Switzerland laboratories for microbiological parameters.

Safety

Potential hazards related to the improper use of this product or of the use of a damaged or contaminated Ez-Clean membrane include exposure to harmful microorganisms and increased risk of contracting a gastrointestinal illness.

Complementary Technical Systems

No complementary technical systems are mentioned by the manufacturer.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

According to Katadyn, the BeFree™ Water filter meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) microbiological water purifier standards for reduction of bacteria (99.9999% Klebsiella terrigena) and protozoan cysts (99.9% Giardia and Cryptosporidium). See product information file.

Evaluation methods

Material and microbiological tests performed by Bachema Ag, Switzerland laboratories.

Other Information

The 3.0L Befree™ Water filtration system is based on previous award-winning versions: The 0.6L BeFree Water Filtration system which won the 2017 backpackers choice awards, and the 1.0L which was a Gold winner of the 2016/2017 ISPO awards. The 3.0L BeFree™ Water filtration system has a promotional  video by the KatadynGroup, and is featured in other videos where is it was reviewed and compared to other similar products.