Skip to main content

How to Rehydrate a Platypus Quickdraw or GravityWorks Filter

Updated

If your hollow fiber filter has little or no water flow, the fibers may simply need to be rehydrated. This can happen when a new or used filter has been stored for an extended period or when a filter has not been used recently. The steps below will walk you through a simple rehydration process to help restore normal flow.

Applies To

  • Platypus QuickDraw and GravityWorks filters only

Note: This process has been tested on Platypus products in the Cascade Designs water lab. Please use it only with Platypus QuickDraw and GravityWorks filters; do not apply this method to filters from other brands. Follow each step in order and as directed every time you rehydrate your filter.

What You’ll Need

  • 20 minutes
  • 70% isopropyl alcohol (generally found at pharmacies and chemist locations globally)
  • Clean tap water
  • A clean jar or cup large enough to fully submerge the filter vertically
  • A weighted object to place on top of the filter to keep it submerged
  • More clean tap water for flushing the filter afterward

Step 1: Clean Your Filter (Skip for brand-new filter)

  • Cleaning your filter means backflushing it to help remove trapped sediment, debris, and other potential contaminants. This helps improve flow and gives the hollow fibers the best chance to rehydrate evenly. This step is not necessary for new-out-of-the-box filters.
  • Platypus® QuickDraw™ Filter: How to Clean and Backflush
    • If the filter has no flow and backflushing is not possible, use the shake-to-clean method instead.
  • Platypus® GravityWorks™ Filter: How to Purge and Backflush
    • If the filter has no flow and backflushing is not possible, unscrew the dirty-side cap and submerge the filter in clean water (like a sink or container). Gently shake the filter to help dislodge any trapped particles from the hollow fibers.

Step 2: Mix the Rehydration Solution

  • Mix 1 part 70% isopropyl alcohol with 3 parts tap water.
    • For example, mix 1 cup of 70% isopropyl alcohol with 3 cups of tap water.
  • You can make more or less solution as needed; just maintain the same 1:3 ratio.

Step 3: Soak the Filter

  1. Remove the clean and dirty side caps.
  2. Place the filter in the solution with the clean side facing up, keeping the filter as upright as possible so air can escape from the fibers. The filter will partially float above the waterline at this point. Use a small weighted object to keep the filter fully submerged.
  3. Let the filter soak for at least 15 minutes, or until bubbles stop releasing from the fibers.  If bubbles collect on the top of the filter, gently tap the container to release them.
  4. Remove the item holding the filter under to make sure it is fully saturated. Once fully saturated, the filter should stay submerged without assistance. 

Step 4: Flush the Filter

  1. Remove the filter from the solution and flush at least 1 liter of clean water through it.
  2. The diluted alcohol solution may leave a slight taste at first, but it should rinse out easily. A small residual amount of the rehydration mixture is not harmful if ingested, but if you still notice a taste, flush the filter again with clean tap water. 
  3. Optional: Use any remaining 1:3 solution to perform another cleaning and backflush, if desired. Regular backflushing helps maintain flow rate and can help extend the usable life of the filter.  See Step 1 for backflushing instructions.
  4. Step 5: Complete an Integrity Check
  5. After flushing, complete a field integrity check before using the filter. We recommend performing an integrity check before each trip to confirm that the filter is functioning properly and can provide safe drinking water.
  6. When the filter is fully saturated, the integrity check should confirm that the hollow fibers are intact, and the filter is functioning properly.
  7. If you continue to see foaming or a ‘Jacuzzi effect’, repeat the rehydration process. This is air being purged from the hollow fibers and does not indicate a failed integrity test or damaged filter. Click here for more information on the QuickDraw Integrity Check.
  8. Repeating this process will not damage the filter.

 

Troubleshooting

  • Filter is still floating: Continue soaking until air stops escaping and the filter stays fully submerged. 
  • Flow is still slow: Backflush the filter again, then repeat the entire rehydration process if needed. If flow remains slow after two cleaning and rehydration attempts, the hollow fibers may be clogged and nearing the end of their usable life. 
  • There is still a taste after flushing: Flush more clean water through the filter until the taste is gone.
  • Integrity check still does not pass: Repeat the process once more. If the issue continues, contact customer support before using the filter.

Need More Help?

If your filter still has little or no flow after following these steps, or if it does not pass the integrity check, please contact customer support before using it in the field.

Related articles