Coronavirus

Viruses, such as the coronavirus, are composed almost entirely of protein and nucleic acids, which can cause disease in humans. Viruses can reproduce only within living cells. Viruses are typically 0.004 to 0.1 microns in diameter, which is about 100 times smaller than bacteria.

For quite some time, there has been significant concern about the possibility of an outbreak of a novel influenza virus. Moreover, in the last few months, a pandemic of a novel coronavirus (covid-19), has already caused hundreds of thousands of human cases of illness and thousands of deaths. Those viruses could possibly contaminate water resources through human contact or human sewage. Water, a frequent vehicle for the transmission of viruses, may permit their survival, but many environmental factors will have an adverse effect on the viral population. Viruses need a suitable environment to survive in. There are many characteristics that control the survival of viruses in water such as temperature, light, pH, salinity, organic matter, sediment, and air & water interfaces.

People are most concerned with respiratory transmission of the coronavirus and it seems that most recommendations are around the N95 mask. The "N95" designation means that the respirators block out at least 95% of 0.3 micron in diameter particles that come into contact with filter inside the mask. Water filter companies that test to the NSF/ANSI P231 Standard are held to a much higher level and have to deliver up to a six-factor purification of cysts, bacteria and viruses.

Currently it is unknown if the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) can survive in water or be transmitted to human by contaminated water. The novel coronavirus (covid-19) spreads mostly through respiratory droplets and contact with infected patients or surfaces but new research suggests that it can also spread through feces. According to sources, there are currently more cases of COVID-19 than would be expected if the virus were spreading only through respiratory droplets and contact with infected patients alone, according to a report published Feb. 15 by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC). Previous tests have found that the coronavirus can be present in feces, but it was unclear if the virus would be viable enough to spread to another person. 

"This virus has many routes of transmission, which can partially explain its strong transmission and fast transmission speed," the China CDC wrote. To avoid feces contamination, the China CDC recommends washing your hands frequently, disinfecting surfaces, maintaining personal hygiene, avoiding the consumption of raw food, boiling water before drinking it and disinfecting hospital environments."

Removing Viruses From Drinking Water

Epic Water Filters has designed and tested a series of water filter products to remove viruses from water. This type filtration method is referred to as size exclusion. That is, the pores in the water filter walls are simply too small for the viruses to fit through, but water is still allowed to pass by. These pores are so microscopic, they’re invisible to the naked eye. We, at Epic Water Filters, have not tested our filters specifically for the removal of the novel coronavirus Covid-19 and make no claims around the removal of this particular virus but we have conducted general virus removal testing in multiple independent laboratories based United States following NSF/ANSI P231 Standard and Protocol for Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers. 

Epic Water Filters Virus Removing Products:
Epic Nano Water Filter Pitcher: 99.95% Removal
Epic Universal Fridge/Water Cooler Filter: >99.99% Removal
Epic Nalgene OG Ultimate Travel Bottle: 99.95% Removal
Epic Nalgene Woodsman Water Bottle: 99.95% Removal
Epic Outdoor Adventure Water Bottle Filter: 99.95% Removal

**Update - May 1st, 2020: From CDC Website "The virus that causes COVID-19 has not been detected in drinking water. Conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those in most municipal drinking water systems, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19."   For more information visit the CDC's Water & Covid-19 website here.