11-03-2017, 12:36 AM
The SP201 is the whole-house size. They make smaller filters for backpackers.
When brand new I was able to take showers by pumping straight through the filter although at a huge 35 psi pressure drop. Any fouling reduces flow rate to the point where the tankless water heater delivers scorching hot water then goes cold when it cuts out due to low flow. That was with a standard shower head of about 2 gpm. I redid my system so that the water from the 10,000 gallon corrugated steel tank flows by gravity slowly through the Sawyer filter into a sealed tote then gets pumped from there. Flow rate through the filter varies with head which is usually between zero and 2 feet which keeps up with my 50 gal/day use easily. If I use more the level in the post-filter tank goes down further, the difference in head across the filter increases, and the flow rate goes up. The advertised flow rate is about 20 gal/hr at about 5' head. My measurements confirm this. Most households would do fine with this.
I'm really proud of my system and must have described it 2 or 3 time so far. Sorry if I go on about it too much.
My floating water intake in the big tank is a major part of the whole scheme.
When brand new I was able to take showers by pumping straight through the filter although at a huge 35 psi pressure drop. Any fouling reduces flow rate to the point where the tankless water heater delivers scorching hot water then goes cold when it cuts out due to low flow. That was with a standard shower head of about 2 gpm. I redid my system so that the water from the 10,000 gallon corrugated steel tank flows by gravity slowly through the Sawyer filter into a sealed tote then gets pumped from there. Flow rate through the filter varies with head which is usually between zero and 2 feet which keeps up with my 50 gal/day use easily. If I use more the level in the post-filter tank goes down further, the difference in head across the filter increases, and the flow rate goes up. The advertised flow rate is about 20 gal/hr at about 5' head. My measurements confirm this. Most households would do fine with this.
I'm really proud of my system and must have described it 2 or 3 time so far. Sorry if I go on about it too much.
My floating water intake in the big tank is a major part of the whole scheme.