Pocket Filter Ceramic Replacement Cartridge

The Katadyn Pocket Filter Ceramic Replacement Cartridge is the ceramic element for the Katadyn Pocket hand-pump water filter. The Katadyn Pocket Filter Ceramic Replacement Cartridge is designed to remove bacteria and protozoan cysts such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, can be brushed clean in the field, and lasts up to about 50,000 litres depending on water quality. Viruses are not on its list.

Who it's for

Pocket owners whose ceramic has been brushed down to the end of its life, or has taken a knock and cracked. Katadyn call the Pocket their most rugged filter, and it goes onto remote river trips in the Kimberley, into Tasmania's south-west and on long overseas treks, and a fresh element puts it straight back to work. Some owners keep a spare in the kit for expeditions where a failed filter cannot be replaced.

What it removes, and what it does not

Katadyn designed the Pocket to remove bacteria and protozoan cysts, including Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Viruses and dissolved chemicals are not on its list, so if there is any risk of viruses in the water, treat it with purification tablets as well or boil it. A cracked element no longer protects you from microorganisms, which is why the inspection below matters.

Flow rate and capacity

• Up to about 50,000 litres per element, depending on water quality
• Field cleanable: brush the ceramic back to its light colour with the cleaning pad
• Fits: the Katadyn Pocket water filter

The dirtier the water, the more often the element needs cleaning, and that reduces its capacity. Katadyn suggest letting silty water settle in a container first and filtering from the clear water above the sediment, to extend ceramic life.

Maintenance

When the handle gets hard to push, the pores are clogging: unscrew the pump base, slide off the sleeve and brush the ceramic with the cleaning pad until the original pale colour returns, keeping dirty water away from the outlet. To check whether it is spent, slip the measuring gauge over the ceramic; if the gap fits over it, fit the new cartridge. To swap it: base off, sleeve off, handle collar off, handle into the new element, then reassemble with a drop of silicone lubricant on the thread. Pump and tip out the first litre.

Freezing and storage

Inspect the ceramic for cracks after every clean, after a drop and after any night below freezing. At the end of a trip, brush it clean and let it air dry completely before it goes back in the bag.