Water water everywhere, and not a drop to drink

When the SHTF, you suddenly start worrying about things that you've never had to think about before. Out of nowhere, you have to think about where to sleep, how you're going to get your next meal, and where you're going to get your next drink of water.

If you're on the move at all, you can't lug gallons of water around with you. Water is heavy, and when there are zombies around every turn you need to keep your system light. The average person needs at minimum 2 liters of water a day, and more is recommended. Where is that water going to come from?

There are 3 basic types of portable water purification systems: tablets, pumps, and filtered bottles.

Tablets:Water purification tablets are an easy and light way to bring portable water with you. Simply drop the tablet into a bottle of water, wait a few minutes, and it's ready to drink. The tablets are small, so they're easy to store in a backpack or something.

Pros:

• Light
• Easy
• Effective

Cons:

• Limited amount
• Taste bad
  

Pumps:

Water pumps, like the one pictured, are a very convenient way to make sure you always have clean drinking water. Most pumps are pretty compact and light, making an an easy-to-carry alternative to tablets. They do use filters, so they're not unlimited, but they will last longer than a bottle of tablets.

Pros:

• More uses than tablets
• Still easy to carry
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Expensive
• Uses filters

Bottles:
A bottle system like the Lifesaver bottle pictured above is also a good method of obtaining clean water. It is ultra portable, doesn't need any hoses, and is cheaper than a pump. While it's small size makes it easy to carry, it also limits the amount of water you can purify. Still, it may be a cheaper alternative to pumps for those that don't have the deepest pockets.

Pros:

• Still portable
• Cheap(ish)
• Long lifespan

Cons:

• Uses filters
• Limited amount of water at a time

In conclusion, while any of these water purification systems will provide you with clean drinking water, I would recommend a pump or bottle. Unless you have a backpack full of purification tablets, they are going to run out sooner than you realize. A pump or bottle is the best way to obtain clean water when you don't time or aren't able to boil it. They both cost over $100, but you get what you pay for.

If you have any other suggestions, be sure to leave them in the comments.