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Reviews > Water Treatment > Chemical Treatment > KlearWater > Jennifer Koles > Field Report
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 Gathering Water from a River for KlearWater Treatment |
 KlearWater in Measuring Spoon- There is a Slight Yellow Color in the Spoon |
| Tested Performance Areas | Results |
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Evaluate how the water tastes. Is there any aftertaste? Is there any noticeable unpleasant or pleasant taste to the water? Does it mix well with hydration mixes? Does it alter the taste? If there is a taste, can I mask it with a drink mix? Does the water have an odor after using the product? |
The water tasted good with no aftertaste noted. I did not notice any unpleasant taste to the water. The water had a fresh taste to it. I was able to mix the product with two different hydration mixes (Gookinaid Hydralyte and Cytomax) and I found that it did not alter the taste. I could not smell the KlearWater product after it was mixed in water from lakes, streams, rivers, and creeks. I do notice a slight smell when I mixed it at home from tap water. This was done as a pre-test prior to testing the product outdoors. During my testing I did not have any adverse illness from drinking the water. |
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Does KlearWater freeze? What are the proper storage techniques? How long does the product hold its effectiveness? |
The product does freeze at approximately 31 F (-0.55 C) According to the manufacturer KlearWater is to be stored in a cool, dark place. The cap is to be securely closed. Avoid exposing the product to light and do not freeze the product. Refrigeration will extend the life of the product. According the the manufacturer the product can last for months after opening and in optimum conditions it can last a year or more. After two months of primarily having the product stored in refrigeration it is still active. The product did freeze and the liquid is still yellow in color indicating it is active. The color of the liquid become clear when it is no longer active. |
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Is the product truly ready to use? Is there any mixing involved? |
The product is very easy to use. It takes less time to treat water with this product than to treat water with a filter. There is no two part mixing. The product is ready to use by measuring the desired amount and adding it to the water. Shake the container to mix the product within the water. |
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Does the container leak? Does the container allow for easy pouring (any drips or spills)? Is the container easy to open and close? |
The bottle showed no signs of leakage. The bottle is cumbersome for pouring into the measuring spoon. The spoon is small measuring 1 ml (0.03 fl oz) of liquid. The opening of the bottle is 1 cm (0.39 in) in diameter. Sometimes when I poured the product into the spoon it would spill over the edge onto the ground. Too much liquid poured out of the bottle. I had less difficulty pouring into the cap when measuring 2 ml (0.07 fl oz) of the product for for treating larger quantities of water. The bottle was difficult to open with gloves on. After pouring the product into the spoon or the bottle cap some of the product would drip down the sides of the bottle. The plastic container that the product is stored in did not leak and was easy to open. I did mix the KlearWater in the clear container to prepare it to wash utensils, surfaces, and for an oral rinse. |
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Does the yellow color disappear when the product has eliminated the nastiness in the water that I do not want to drink? |
The yellow color is not noticeable in the water when it is shaken. It is noticeable when measured in the cap or the spoon. The yellow color indicates the product is active. |
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How much is needed to clean a liter of water? How long does it take to clean a liter of water? Test various water conditions: dirty, semi muddy (Colorado River), cloudy, stagnant water. This would also be tested in various water temperatures. |
To clean 1 liter (1 qt) of water I used 1 ml (0.03 fl oz). I did not encounter any suspect or cloudy water during this testing period in which case I would have used 2 ml (0.07 fl oz) per 1 liter (1 qt) of water. I let the chemical clean the water for 30 minutes prior to drinking. The manufacturer suggests waiting 15-30 prior to drinking the water once the chemical is added. A majority of the water that was tested was clear with some dirt particles in the water that settled to the bottom of the water bottle. I used a water bottle and a hydration bag to collect the water and then I added the KlearWater into those containers. Some of the water tested was dirty and muddy so I used a coffee filter to filter out the particles prior to mixing the water with KlearWater. The water temperature ranges tested were from 40 F- 47 F (4 C - 8 C). |
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What is the effectiveness when used as a wound wash? Does it burn the cut or wound? Is there a reaction when the chemical comes in contact with the wound (fizzing, bubbles, and increased redness)? |
I had no wounds during the field testing to test the product as a wound wash. The effectiveness as a wound wash will be reported in my Long Term Report. |
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Can I use it as a hand cleaner without experiencing a burning sensation on my skin? Do my hands feel clean after using this product on them? Are they sticky? |
I used 1 ml (0.03 fl oz) of KlearWater not mixed with water as a hand cleaner. There was no burning sensation on my hands while cleaning them with the product. There was no sticky feeling after the liquid dried on my hands; however, there was a strong odor of Chlorine or a bleach like scent on my hands. |
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What is the effectiveness when used diluted as an oral rinse? Do I still have to brush my teeth (I most likely would anyway)? |
I was able get away without brushing my teeth when using this product. I used 1 oz (30 ml) of water with 1 ml (0.03 fl oz) of KlearWater and rinsed my mouth for 45 seconds two times. My mouth did feel refreshed. I only did this for one day. I like to brush my teeth so I am uncertain if I would use the product for this purpose on prolonged trips. |
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How does it perform diluted to clean cookware and utensils? Is there a residue on the items that I clean? |
There was no visible residue on the utensils and the surface that I cleaned. Hopefully it sanitized the area I cleaned. I did not have any ill effects. |
In addition to the areas tested above I cleaned my water bottles and my hydration packs with this product. I added 1 ml (0.03 fl oz) of KlearWater to each bottle and my hydration packs. I filled each up about half way and then mixed the KlearWater by shaking the bottle and the hydration packs. After drying the hydration packs I noticed that there were no spots, and on my next hike the water tasted better. The water bottles had no residue from my drink mixes and during my next bike ride the beverage tasted fresher.
| The manufacturer does warn the consumer on the enclosed directions that the product may discolor some fabrics. That is true as noted in the picture to the right. The product discolored a 100% cotton fabric towel. |  Towel discolored from KlearWater |
Thank you KlearWater, XiniX and Backpack Gear Test for providing me with the opportunity to test the KlearWater Water Treatment. I will test the above stated factors and any other issues that may arise during the test.
