Lifesaver Systems

STORAGE • USAGE • SALES/DELIVERY/DISTRIBUTOR • TECHNICAL • MISCELLANEOUS

What is the shelf life of an unused jerrycan and is there an ideal temperature to store in?

The LIFESAVER jerrycan has an unopened shelf life of up to 3 years. Unused the minimum storage temperature is -10°C and the maximum storage is 60°C. Once used the minimum operating temperature is 0°C and the maximum operating temperature is 60°C. See performance data for more information.
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What is the shelf life of a little used jerrycan?

Once the jerrycan has been used then maintained correctly it could last for up to 5 years dependent upon conditions. See warranty for additional details.
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Does it degrade over time prior to use?

LIFESAVER jerrycan has an unopened shelf life of up to 3 years dependent upon storage conditions. It is designed to maintain the same level of microbiological removal across its entire service life.

LIFESAVER jerrycan incorporates FAILSAFE technology. This technology means that when the cartridge has expired the system shuts off, preventing the user from drinking contaminated water. To use the jerrycan again Simply replace the cartridge with a new one.
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Please explain how to achieve the maximum storage life of a LIFESAVER jerrycan.

The maximum unused storage life of a LIFESAVER cartridge UF is three years. This can be extended by a further two years by “priming” the cartridge (see manual).

The reason for this is that the Ultra-Filtration membranes are infused with glycerine which is used as a hydration medium for the system, when the cartridge is first primed the glycerin washes away and is replaced with water. Follow the instructions for long term storage within the manual.
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Could the LIFESAVER jerrycan be used to filter and drink urine?

You can filter urine with the LIFESAVER jerrycan and it will remove all microbiological contamination however as there is a certain amount of salt in urine the resulting water will have a level of salt dissolved into it that the LIFESAVER jerrycan will not remove. This will increase as the urine is repeatedly filtered.

We suggest that you could potentially do this up to four times before the salt levels become dangerous. However it is recommend that you seek alternate water sources before using the LIFESAVER jerrycan in this way.
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Is there a restriction on the temperature that the jerrycan can be used in?

The operating temperature should be within the following ranges: minimum 0°C and maximum 50°C. See performance data for more information.
See performance data for more information.
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Could I use the LIFESAVER jerrycan to carry water around?

YES. You can use the LIFESAVER jerrycan to carry around dirty/contaminated water, as the jerrycan is designed to provide users with sterile water on demand, the user pumps the LIFESAVER jerrycan when needed, which forces the water through the membranes producing sterile water at the moment of need.

This takes away the risk of contaminating clean water by transferring it into a potentially contaminated container. With the LIFESAVER jerrycan, clean water comes directly from the jerrycan itself and is only produced once the tap is opened.
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Although, the carbon filter tap can be used for up to 250L before being changed, is its performance affected by daily use, without allowing the filter to dry?

No the performance of the activated carbon filter tap will not be affected by daily use.
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Maintaining the pump during my trip my require me to use silicone grease from time to time. Is this silicone grease specific to your product or is it the same grease that can be purchased from any store? Are there any alternatives that can be used in substitution?

The Silicone grease provided has been developed for the LIFESAVER jerrycan and bottle, However any food grade silicone grease can be used.
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Do any parts of the jerrycan require particular consideration to long term and continual use over a span of a year?

Other than the capacity of the filters (10,000 and 20,000 litres respectively) and maintaining the pump (see manual) the LIFESAVER jerrycan is unaffected by continual use.
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How often does the filter need to be changed?

The LIFESAVER Ultra-Filtration filter generally only needs to be changed upon expiry. The 10000UF cartridge is rated to last up to 10000 litres of water and the 20000UF is rated to last up to 20000 litres of water.
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Does repeated use with dirty water reduce the jerrycan's filtration capacity?

Yes. If you are using water with large quantities of detritus and particulates in it then the capacity will be reduced. However the LIFESAVER Ultra-Filtration cartridge is unique in that the particulate matter (the contaminates removed from the water) form a caking layer on the outer surface of the LIFESAVER Ultra-Filtration cartridge.

In order to extend the life of the LIFESAVER UF cartridge you can perform a front-side wash by flushing the jerrycan through with water, agitating the caking layer (of particulate matter) which tends to slip off, extending the life of the cartridge.
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How do you dispose of the contaminates that are filtered out?

The Contaminates always remain on the dirty side of the jerrycan. They are washed away simply by performing a front-side wash (see manual) or by filling the jerrycan with water and emptying it again. You can also clean the cartridge using sterilising fluid as per the instruction in the manual.
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Is there a chance the jerrycan could break down or produce less clean drinking water through repeated use?

The ability to produce clean water is never compromised and the first litre of water will be as sterile as the last. FAILSAFE technology ensures that when the cartridge has expired the system shuts off preventing contaminated water from getting through to the drinking water side..
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How do I buy in the USA?

Please see http://www.lifesaverbottleusa.com for details of ordering individual LIFESAVER jerrycans and pricing in the USA or click HERE.

If you require pricing for larger numbers then please contact Bud Fultz at Halo Trust International at bud.fultz@halotrustgear.com who are our exclusive distributors within the United States.
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I would like to become a distributor in the USA

We have exclusive distributors in the USA, Halo Trust International. They operate an extensive distributor/reseller program details of which can be found here; http://www.lifesaverbottleusa1.com/ResellerOpportunities.html
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What is the US dollar price?

Please check the US website.
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Do we have a contact in other parts of the world to buy direct from?

You may purchase LIFESAVER jerrycans directly from our website for shipping all over the world.
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How are the jerrycans packed for shipping? i.e. in what packaging and packed in multiples of?

LIFESAVER jerrycans are available in single units and can be purchased directly from this website. They are packaged in a protective double walled corrugated box.
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Will we give discounts for charities supplying 3rd world countries?

LIFESAVER systems does now offer discounts for charities, NGO’s and other AID organisation from around the world. Please contact Debbie Kiddle
(Email: Debbie.Kiddle@lifesaversystems.com or Tel 00 44 (0)1473 252831) for more details
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Can we provide a discount for bulk buys?

If you wish to purchase in bulk, please contact Debbie Kiddle
(Email: Debbie.Kiddle@lifesaversystems.com or Tel 00 44 (0)1473 252831) for more details
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I would like Retailer/Distributor rights for the LIFESAVER jerrycan in my country

If you are interested in becoming a Retailer/Distributor for the LIFESAVER jerrycan (and are outside of the USA) then we would be very pleased to hear from you. Please contact Debbie Kiddle (Email: Debbie.Kiddle@lifesaversystems.com or Tel 00 44 (0)1473 252831) for more details
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What is the waiting time from the initial order until delivery?

Normally your goods will be shipped out within 1-5 days and dependent upon where you are in the world it may take between 14 days. However we are experiencing very high levels of demand and it may take up to 8 weeks to deliver you LIFESAVER jerrycan. We will ship on a first come first serve basis.
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Is there a trade price compared to RRP price?

If you are interested in becoming a Retailer/Distributor for LIFESAVER products (and are outside of the USA) then we would be very pleased to hear from you. Please contact Debbie Kiddle (Email: Debbie.Kiddle@lifesaversystems.com or Tel 00 44 (0)1473 252831) for more details.
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Do you accept T Transfers (TT’s) instead of Credit Card?

Yes, please contact customer service on +44(0)1473 252831 and they will be able to help you.
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How long will shipping take?

What is the warranty on the product?

LIFESAVER jerrycans have a 2 year international warranty.
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Do we produce a specific LIFESAVER jerrycan for AID agencies and for emergency response situations?

YES. Please contact Debbie Kiddle (Email: Debbie.Kiddle@lifesaversystems.com or Tel 00 44 (0)1473 252831) for more details
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Can we provide demo samples of the jerrycan?

Yes we can but they will have to be purchased at the normal rate. As we are a small company and are not in a position to provide free demonstration units. We do have a Press loans program more details of which can be obtained from our office on +44 (0)1473 252831
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What does the jerrycan remove and how does it work?

LIFESAVER jerrycan removes all micro-biological contamination from water.

The smallest bacteria measures 200NM (nanometres) whilst the smallest virus measures about 25 nanometres. The ultra filtration membranes in the LIFESAVER Ultra-Filtration cartridge have pore sizes of only 15 nanometres, this means that no contamination can pass through into the drinking water.

The pump creates pressure within the jerrycan which forces water through the membranes leaving the dirt and contamination on the other side of the membranes.
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Will the jerrycan work without the "activated carbon filter"?

Yes - The carbon filter reduces a broad spectrum of chemical residues including pesticides, endocrine disrupting compounds, medical residues and heavy metals such as lead and copper. It also eliminates bad tastes and odours from contaminates such as chlorine and sulphur. It is designed to last approximately 250 litres.

The Activated Carbon Filter is an optional extra as all microbiological contamination is still removed from water using the LIFESAVER jerrycan without the activated carbon filter.
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Does the LIFESAVER jerrycan filter Sea Water?

Yes. LIFESAVER jerrycan will remove all microbiological contamination from sea water. However the LIFESAVER jerrycan does not filter the salt from sea water or any other salts from water.
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What kind of plastic is the exterior of the container, the jerrycan itself?

All plastics in the used in the production of the LIFESAVER jerrycan are; Food Grade.
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What prevents the UF membranes from bacteria growth or organic fouling with high biological activity water?

If you do not perform a Front-Side wash then after a period of time microbiological growth can and will build up on the outer surface of the membranes. However, Microbes will only form on the dirty side of the membrane (allowing you to store contaminated water for use on demand).

It is important to follow the instructions when Front-Side washing your jerrycan as well as the other long term storage instructions. This information can be found in the LIFESAVER instruction manual.
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What about suspended solids? Normally membranes need to be cross-flow mode, or in dead end need to be backwashed frequently?

LIFESAVER jerrycan membranes are not normal membranes. Suspended solids tend to be very large in comparison to the size of the pores within the LIFESAVER cartridge UF membranes. Over the life of the membranes, particulate matter will build up on its surface. The filter cartridge’s unique design induces particulate matter to form a caking layer on its external surfaces. To reduce this build-up you should perform a front-side wash on a regular basis.

With the LIFESAVER cartridge UF membranes backwashing is not necessary and will damage the membranes if attempted. Performing a Front-side wash is similar to the action of cross flow. If we were to use normal MF (Micro Filtration) membranes or ceramics as most other products do, the LIFESAVER jerrycan would also suffer the “clogging up” effect that is commonly experienced with other products, However as we do not use these methods the LIFESAVER jerrycan does not suffer with this problem.
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The main filter utilizes our unique failsafe technology and shuts down when it reaches capacity, what indication is there that the carbon filter has reached it's 250 litre capacity?

The only indication that the carbon filter is reaching the end of its life might be a taste change. The less the carbon has to take out the longer it lasts.
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Is the end product tasteless or will stagnant water (for example - worst case) produce a foul tasting end product?

People tend to think of water as having one distinctive taste. The reason for this is that they are generally used to drinking from one source, i.e. their tap water from home. As such when they drink water from somewhere else they will always compare it to the water from their home tap. Water with chlorine in will have a very different taste to water without it. If you have been used to drinking water with chlorine in it you may well dislike water without it. Water that is very cold tends to mask most of the flavour of water so the temperature will have an effect on the taste of the water.

Taste on its own is a relatively basic sense. We can only generally recognise four things - Sweet, Salt, Bitter, Sour. In order to extend the taste gamut we need our sense of smell. It the smell in the water is caused by particulate matter then when the water comes through the LIFESAVER jerrycan it will not have a discernable smell. If however the smell is caused by dissolved gasses then there may well be a smell. The activated carbon will deal with most of it but there may still be a discernable odour.
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Will the activated carbon filters filter out hydrocarbons (from gas, etc.)?

Activated carbon has long been used as a filter medium to remove all sorts of contaminants. Hydrocarbons are no exception. The Activated carbon filter we use, whilst similar to the carbon used in air filtration units, is designed to remove contamination in water. So (and whilst this is a roundabout way of saying so) yes our filter will reduce the presence of hydrocarbons in water
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Will the LIFESAVER jerrycan protect against Cholera?

Yes.
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Will the LIFESAVER jerrycan protect against cryptosporidium?

Yes.
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What is the capacity of the jerrycan?

LIFESAVER jerrycans hold approximately 18.5 litres or 5 US gallons of water.
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Does the LIFESAVER jerrycan filter out chemical residues?

Your LIFESAVER jerrycan comes with an activated carbon filter. This is designed to reduce chemical residues, Inc: pesticides, endocrine disrupting compounds, medical residues and heavy metals.
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Is there a chance the jerrycan could break down or produce less clean drinking water through repeated use?

The capacity to produce clean water is never compromised and the first litre of water will be as sterile as the last. FAILSAFE technology ensures that when the cartridge has expired the system shuts off preventing contaminated water from getting through to the drinking water side.
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What systems are in place in terms of quality assurance in manufacture?

LIFESAVER jerrycan UF cartridges are checked at several stages during the manufacturing process. In addition we perform a 100% integrity check which ensures the membranes and seals are working correctly. In addition to this and built into FAILSAFE technology is a user performable integrity check. If the LIFESAVER jerrycan does not work in any orientation, in other words it passes air in preference to water, you have damaged the membranes somehow and the cartridge must be replaced immediately.
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Does repeated use with dirty water reduce the jerrycans filtration capacity?

Yes. If you are using water with large quantities of detritus in it then the capacity will be reduced. In order to extend the life of the LIFESAVER UF cartridge you can perform a front-side wash by swishing water in and out of the jerrycan, agitating the caking layer which tends to slip off, extending the life of the cartridge.
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Does this Life Saver jerrycan filter Guinea worms?

Yes the LIFESAVER Ultra-Filtration cartridge will not allow the larva that causes the Guinea Worm infection to pass through the LIFESAVER jerrycan.
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Have LIFESAVER products won any awards?

Yes - LIFESAVER bottle was voted ‘Best Technological Development for Future Soldier System Enhancement’ at Soldier Technology 2007, the world’s premier soldier modernisation forum (http://www.soldiertechnology.com). LIFESAVER bottle will revolutionise the battle space, reduce carried weight for the soldier, and lessen the traditional logistic demands of drinking water faced by militaries around the world.

The LIFESAVER bottle has also recently been voted “best in test” in a direct comparison with its competitors by BushCraft and Survival Magazine. You can read the article HERE
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