OK I have briefly asked and some have briefly answered about urban water gathering. Basically I live in a very populated (sub)urban area. When one thinks of filtering water, we think of pumping the filter on a nice stream on a day hike...<br><br>My dilemma is that in the city, the river (basically, a concrete ditch with some moss on the bottom) isn't the best place to get water from. <br><br>After a major disaster (earthquake, in my parts) should I assume that the water lines may be compromised, and that I should treat the stuff coming out of my sink as suspect? If so, how would I clean it to drink it? Would a Katadyn filter do, or would my considerations be different? Iodine tabs?<br><br>What about terrorists or disgruntled water works worker poisining the water supply (becoming less and less unlikely, but say I'm Gen Ripper from Doc Strangelove and I suspected water tampering) could I assume the Katadyn would kill all the microscopic bad guys, or are they mainly designed for hiking/camping use?<br><br>Hope this makes sense and I don't sound too paranoid. IMO my needs may be different from those who see heading to the wilderness as a viable reality...I don't...it took me 4 hours just to leave the city on a camping trip fighting the Friday traffic out of LA....