Problem
It’s hard to fill up a narrow-mouth, collapsible water bottle like Platypus at shallow water sources. Also, filling up often disturbs the water, stirring up particulates into one murky mess.
Option
Make a simple, light and compact water scoop with integrated pre-filter.
Materials Needed
1. Sacrifice an old 1L Platypus water bottle
2. Platypus “push-pull” cap
3. mesh coffee filter ***
*** Cheaper option — buy this at Wally World for $2 and cut out the piece of mesh filter within.
Putting It Together
1. Cut out a round piece of mesh just a tad bigger all around than the push-pull cap — and insert into the cap as shown in photo below.
2. Cut out the bottom of your old Platy — as shown in photo below.
3. Screw the push-pull cap on.
That’s it! You’re done!
Using It
1. With cap screwed on and in closed position, scoop a bottle full of water.
2. Position your receiving bottle water below — then pull open the push-pull cap. Water will very quickly drain through the mesh pre-filter into your receiving water bottle — and be free of any visible sediment or debris.
3. Treat your water with UV or chemicals as desired.
After use, I give the water scoop a quick wipe, then put my small bottle of chlorine inside, roll it all up and stuff into my pack’s side pocket.
