Product Use
The HLS-1 is a new portable water purification device for use when a municipal water system become contaminated and unsafe to drink – a leading cause of illness during natural disasters.
Why was the HLS-1 developed?
The HLS-1 was developed in response to a Sources Sought solicitation by the National Protection Center (NPC) of the U. S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center. The NPC was sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security to identify or develop a near term solution for a personal portable water purification system that was low cost, easy to use and has a long shelf life. The product was required to pass a modified NSF Protocol P248 (Emergency Military Operations Microbiological Water Purifiers). The requirements for the system were based on a scenario where a municipal water system becomes compromised by a natural disaster, preventing disinfection of the water supply. Microbiological contamination was identified as the primary contamination. This product was intended to replace the current method of storing and distributing bottled water, in response to natural disasters that compromise drinking water supplies. The storage and distribution of bottled water imposes a significant logistics burden on local governments as significant storage space is required, distribution of water is a logistical challenge and replenishment of stock is a recurring cost. The HLS-1 has a 50+ year shelf life, requires a fraction of the storage space of bottled water and requires a single distribution for use.
What will the HLS-1 do?
This product was developed as a short term solution to remove specific waterborne microbiological contamination only. The HLS-1 has been tested in accordance with a modified NSF Protocol P248. This standard was developed for military applications to define the required removal of waterborne microbiological contamination which can cause illness. P248 is largely based on the 1987 EPA Guide Standard and Protocol for Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers. The HLS-1:
- Provides a rated capacity to purify at least 100 gallons, enough potable water for a family of four for 30 days.
- Has a shelf life of 50+ years, eliminating the need to renew the inventory.
- Requires a storage volume that is 1/20th the space of 100 gallons of water.
- Requires a one-time distribution, minimizing the need to re-supply.
- Is lightweight, weighing just 3 lbs.
- Is extremely simple to operate. Just remove from box and use.
Compared to other commercial water purifiers, the operation of the HLS-1:
- Does not require any pumping as it purifies water by gravity.
- Requires minimal user involvement, just fill it and wait 20 minutes.
- Maintains an available 1 gallon supply of potable water.
- Uses a spigot system to access the potable water.
What will the HLS-1 not do?
The HLS-1 has not been validated to remove organic or inorganic chemicals from drinking water. Consequently, this filter will not address all requirements defined by the EPA National Drinking Water Standards. Under the original scenario, contamination levels of organic and inorganic chemicals were not determined to be significant and that short term exposure (less than one month) to these potentially higher levels of contamination was determined to be acceptable. Potential users of the HLS-1 should determine the type and level of waterborne contamination prior to use.
Addendum: since the completion of this testing, we have added a final stage filter attachment that removes organic and inorganic materials from the purified water. Note: this was not part of the original testing protocol, but an addition by request of potential users.
