Customer Reviews

Katadyn TRK Drip Gravidyn Water Filter

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased the TRK Drip Filter (Gravidyn) as a gift for a relative (for home use) in southeast Asia whose water supply is from a well. The criteria were: ceramic element, compact, plastic or synthetic housing. As I've used Katadyn Combi Filter for backpacking and occasionally at home for 6 years, Katadyn was high on my list. IMO, ceramic elements give the best filtration. The initial cost is high but their value is realized through durability and long life. This unit has been in service since January '06, filtering ~10L/day or a total of ~3,300L (864 gallons) so far. The Activated Carbon (A/C) portion of the filter is effective for 6 months but the ceramic is good for 39,000 gallons (~148,980L). What I like most about this filter: fast flow rate (3 elements), impregnated silver-oxide prevents fungus/mildew growth on/in the element.

Ever since testing katadyn filters in Leptospirosis-laced waters in Hawaii, and then traveling for a month in India where the multi-filter katadyn was the household standard, I've been sold on their line of products. When it came time for me to consider a water filtration system for my home, I immediately investigated options and was delighted to find the reasonably-priced Gravidyn system on Amazon. Coupled with the free shipping it was soon apparent that this was the best option: the standard for the international red cross had better be good enough for my family! When the item arrived at my workplace, I couldn't help but assemble it and test the unit, and not only did it pass my own taste tests, but those of some very demanding colleagues at my office. I anticipate years of service, and with the reputation and stability of katadyn, I expect that parts and replacement filters will be readily available.

I have owned one of these gravity filters for over 8 years and have never had a problem. This unit sold at Amazon is the same one I've had all these years. We used ours overseas while doing missionary work.

I ordered a new one recently from Amazon so we would have one while on furlough in the USA. Sadly I have returned two of them because the spout hole has been drilled too large. It's actually a bit oblong. It leaks if you don't tighten the spout down tight and leaks if you tighten it down because the washers collapse into the hole. I called Katadyn after the second time and asked for a new lower bucket with the correct size hole. They could not do this and told me to return it to Amazon.

Amazon has been great with the first exchange and now the return. It's just too bad that they got a bad lot recently. Hopefully you won't get one that is defective like the ones I got. It is not supposed to leak around the spout. If it does, return it.

Great product. Just as described. Made of a heavy duty, durable plastic. Built for real life conditions. Definitely the thing to use if you want to filter a larger quantity of water.

After rec'g my filter I found it was missing two rubber washers. Went to three large hardware stores, only to find they are not as soft as the two I did get and thus the tap leaks. I wrote the co. and they said I had to write the co. in Switzerland!!! (snail mail 'cause the e-mail doesn't work.)
Don't expect any help if your filter comes up missing parts. You are on your own.

Recently bought the Katadyn Gravidyn for my self-reliance/emergency kit, after we had a one-week "boil water advisory" following a hurricane. That experience just got me thinking that an extra layer of filtration would be a good idea, both for short-term and potential longer-term problems with the water supply.

I was on the fence between the Gravidyn and the Ceradyn. The Ceradyn uses ceramic-only filters, which as I understand it, are effective filtration against biological hazards (e.g. bacteria, water-borne diseases, etc.) but which do not filter out inorganic pollutants (e.g. pesticides). The Gravidyn filters contain ceramic elements as well, but they also contain charcoal, which filters (at least reduces, if not eliminates) pesticides etc. The "ceramic-only" Ceradyn filters last much longer (the charcoal in the Gravidyn filters is only good for 6 months, and the filter must be replaced after that) but in my case, I felt it was more important to get the maximum filtration possible, so I opted for the Gravidyn.

Good fact to know, however -- Katadyn confirmed to me that the Gravidyn filters are compatible with the Ceradyn base, and the Ceradyn filters are compatible with the Gravidyn base (I suspect the base unit is exactly the same, and the replaceable filter elements are the only thing that differs between the two models). So, if I ever decide that I want to go with the "ceramic-only" approach, I can simply purchase some Ceradyn filters and use those in my Gradidyn base (and, presumably, vice-versa). You'll find that the cost of the filter elements is the real expense for this product anyway.

As far as the Gravidyn unit itself goes, I am very happy with it so far (after a couple weeks of using it). When I first screwed the spout piece on, I had a slow, small drip-leak around the spout, where it connects to the base, so I unscrewed it, adjusted it slightly, and screwed it back on, a littler tighter than the first time. Since then, I haven't had any issues with any leaking or dripping.

The concept behind this filter is as simple as it gets -- pour water in the top part, and gravity will do the rest, as the water passes through the filer an into the lower part of the unit. A typical spout is the clean water outlet. I ran one 10-liter batch of water through the first time, and discarded that, per the instructions. After that, I have noticed that the filter started working a little quicker over time. It's pretty simple to keep this thing filled up, I have been filling it up (or half-filling it) at night before I go to bed, and by the morning we always have plenty of clean water to start the day.

We set ours up in the kitchen, and now use it for all of our drinking/cooking water. I'll probably always keep one extra set of filter elements on-hand (there are three).

I had been considering the Big Berkey filter system, and truth be told I do prefer the stainless-steel of the Berkey. However, I simply trust the Katadyn filters more, and since the plastic Katadyn unit is BPA-free, I'm not concerned about using plastic instead of stainless steel.

it is one of the best filters out there, I have used them for several years and I am totally satisfied.

The product works great for camping, home storage and in an emergency. It is big enough for a family, requires no pumping just add water, I recommend you get this product.