KATADYN BeFree Personal Water Filter Instructions

Congratulations on purchasing the Katadyn BeFree™ water filter. Please follow the instructions provided in the manual to maximize the effectiveness of this product.

This product is designed to reduce the bacteria and parasite levels in the collected water, so you can drink water with greater peace of mind.

This product meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's microbial water purifier standards for the reduction of bacteria (99.9999% of Klebsiella) and protozoan cysts (99.9% of Giardia and Cryptosporidium).

Whether you're hiking, camping in the wilderness, or traveling in areas where treated water isn't available, the Katadyn BeFree™ water filter is the ideal choice.

Definitions of water used in this manual:

⁃ Unfiltered raw water = untreated water (lakes, rivers, streams, etc.)

⁃ Filtered water = drinkable water

⁃ Treated water = treated tap water, chemically treated water, or boiled water

Improper use of the Katadyn BeFree™ personal water filter or drinking untreated water may lead to infection with harmful microorganisms and increase the risk of disease. Following the warnings and instructions in this manual and educating yourself on outdoor and travel disease prevention can reduce the risk of disease. Please consider safety considerations at your own risk. Exercise good judgment.

• Improper use of the Katadyn BeFree™ personal water filter or using a damaged or contaminated EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter cartridge may expose you to harmful microorganisms and increase your risk of gastrointestinal illness. Please read the entire instruction manual carefully before assembling or using the Katadyn BeFree™ product and follow all instructions carefully. If you have any questions, please contact Katadyn at customerservice@katadyn.ch or visit our website at www.katadyn.com.

⁃ Katadyn BeFree™ water filters do not filter viruses.

⁃ Never use Katadyn BeFree™ products to filter seawater, brackish water, or chemically contaminated water, such as from mining ponds, water near agricultural operations, or water sources surrounding orchards. Katadyn BeFree™ products cannot produce drinkable water from these sources, nor can they remove chemicals, radioactive materials, or particles smaller than 0.1 microns.

⁃ Do not use the product when it is frozen. (A frozen EZ-Clean Membrane™ M filter may allow microorganisms to pass through, causing disease infection.)

⁃ Improper removal of the dust cover of the Hydrapak® SoftFlask™ product may cause liquid leakage and cause health problems.

⁃ When opening or closing the Katadyn BeFree™, carefully hold the top of the bottle to allow the EZ-Clean Membrane™ to rotate freely within the bottle. When opening or closing the Katadyn BeFree™ M, holding or squeezing the EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter cartridge may damage or break the membrane, which could lead to rupture/damage of the filter (which could allow harmful microorganisms to pass through the filter and cause illness).

⁃ After opening the Katadyn BeFree™, please follow the long-term storage instructions and ensure the water filter is in good condition before each use. Do not use a damaged or contaminated Katadyn BeFree™ water filter.

⁃ Do not allow untreated water to come into contact with the water outlet parts such as the straw nozzle.

⁃ To reduce the risk, do not use untreated water to clean the mouthpiece and do not share the mouthpiece with others. (Reminder: Sharing mouthpieces can spread disease.)

⁃ Do not use your Katadyn BeFree™ water filter or EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter cartridge to filter any liquid or solution other than water. Doing so may damage or contaminate the product.

⁃ Before long-term storage, EZ-Clean Membrane™ filters must be thoroughly disinfected to prevent the growth of microorganisms and bacteria that may cause disease. (See Long-term Storage Instructions)

⁃ Do not sterilize the EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter or straw in the dishwasher or microwave. This can damage it or cause the internal components to melt due to the high temperatures. The Hydrapak® SoftFlask™ is top-rack dishwasher safe.

⁃ Use the cleanest water source possible.

⁃ Always use caution when using the Katadyn BeFree™ water filter.

⁃ To extend the life of the filter: Maintain it every five liters of water filtered by shaking the bottle and shaking the filter in the water. (See performance description for details)

⁃ When traveling long distances, please remember to carry a spare personal filter cartridge for replacement.

⁃ Before using the Katadyn BeFree™w water filter, please read and follow all instructions and warnings. Failure to follow these instructions and regulations may result in the risk of infection with harmful microorganisms and illness.

Always read the instructions before using your Katadyn BeFree™ water filter.

• When traveling, camping, or backpacking abroad, you risk the inconvenience of illness and the discomfort of diarrhea, as well as more serious illnesses caused by protozoa (Giardia, Cryptosporidium), viruses, and bacteria. Diseases caused by these microorganisms are often found in the food and water you consume. Lakes, rivers, streams, and local water supplies may also be contaminated. To minimize the risk, we recommend consulting your doctor, health clinic, or travel clinic four to six weeks before departure.

• When traveling, make sure that prepared foods are thoroughly cooked according to their instructions. Choose non-cooked foods that have shells or require peeling (fruits, nuts, etc.), and be sure to disinfect your hands before peeling. Wash your hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer, especially before eating or preparing food. Also, promote the concept of frequent hand washing when dining together, as microorganisms can be spread through shared utensils if members do not wash their hands properly. Do not share personal hygiene items such as lipstick, eating utensils, toothbrushes, water bottles, or water bag mouthpieces, and remember to ensure that all food is prepared and cooked thoroughly. Follow the instructions in the manual to use your Katadyn BeFree™ water filter for all water sources, including water for brushing your teeth, washing your face, etc.

• If there is any risk of viruses in the water, you can use an EPA-registered disinfectant such as Katadyn Micropur cleaning tablets in combination with a Katadyn BeFree™M water filter (Note: Please use Katadyn Micropur cleaning tablets according to the user manual and wait for the cleaning process to complete) or boil the water (the water must be brought to a rolling boil for no more than one minute) (Note: Katadyn BeFree™ water filters do not provide sterilization)

(1) Hydrapak® SoftFlask™ Water Filter Bottle

(2) Drink nozzle

(3) EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter element (hollow fiber membrane)

Katadyn BeFree™ water filters require no complicated installation.

In order to maximize its effectiveness, please familiarize yourself with its operation before using it for the first time.

Remove the two tamper-evident covers from the pipette nozzle:

Before using this new product, please fill it with 0.5 liters of filtered or treated water. After locking the EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter, invert and squeeze the bottle to allow water to flow out of the nozzle to rinse away any harmless particles or dust remaining in the filter.

See the following sections for normal operation on how to filter water.

A) Hold the top of the Hydrapak® Soft Flask™ and twist counterclockwise.

EZ-Clean Membrane™ water filter element (blue ring).

B) Fill the Hydrapak® Soft Flask™ with untreated water (no salt or brackish water) from the best available source, such as a clear lake, river, stream, tap, or fountain.

Note: If the water source is relatively turbid, please use cloth to filter out larger impurities first.

D) Gently squeeze the Hydrapak® Soft Flask™ or drink directly from the straw (for best results, turn the Hydrapak® Soft Flask™ upside down and gently squeeze it).

Note: Please squeeze gently, as excessive squeezing may cause damage to the bag.

E) Enjoy clean drinking water filtered from your Katadyn BeFree™!

To extend the life of your EZ-Clean Membrane™ water filter cartridge, use the cleanest water source possible and avoid filtering with standing water or water that has been used by humans or animals.

【Filter integrity test】

If you suspect your Katadyn BeFree™ may have become damaged for some reason, you can perform this quick and easy integrity test off-site.

Test steps
1. Make sure the filter membrane (element) is completely wet; the test is only valid if the fibers are fully saturated with water.
2. Stand the soft flask (including the filter) upright with the spout facing upwards. Gently squeeze the bottle until a small amount of water comes out of the spout.
3. Then, continue blowing through the drinking spout while keeping the bottle upside down.
4. Blow for at least 5 seconds.

Judgment result: The filter element is damaged: a stream of small, rapid bubbles continues to emerge.
Intact filter: A few pea-sized air bubbles may still be present; this is normal as the filter itself has a small amount of fiber designed to allow for air exchange.

Note: Do not use a faulty filter element, replace it immediately.

【Ensure your Katadyn BeFree™ water filter is operating properly】

A) If liquid is leaking from the Katadyn BeFree™ filter near the cap, unscrew the filter cap and then tighten it again. Make sure your filter fits directly and tightly onto the threads of the Hydrapak® SofFlask™ bottle.

B) If the Katadyn BeFree™ has difficulty discharging water, please first check the condition of the filter element and perform a filter integrity test to ensure that the filter element is in normal condition.

CAUTION: Do not touch the hollow fibers of the filter element with tools or your fingers.

(See the "Warnings" section for details)

C) If the water flow slows or the Hydrapak® SoftFlask™ bottle is difficult to squeeze, use one of the EZ-Clean cleaning procedures (shaking the bottle, rinsing the filter in water). The EZ-Clean cleaning procedures are printed on the Hydrapak® SoftFlask™ bottle.

Note: Do not flush EZ-Clean Membrane™M directly under running water.

Water filter cartridge. (See Warnings)

If shaking the bottle or rinsing the filter in standing water does not restore water flow, replace the EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter.

For long trips, please carry a spare EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter cartridge for replacement.

D) If air enters the EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter, it may reduce water flow. Fill the bottle with a small amount of water, close the cap, shake the entire filter, open the cap, and squeeze the bottle until the air passes through the filter.

Sanitize your Katadyn BeFree™ water filter before storing it to prevent microbial growth within the EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter element.

A) Fill a container with filtered or treated water and add 1 water purification tablet.

(If you don't have a water purification tablet, you can use 4 drops of household bleach instead.)

B) Pour the solution into the Hydrapak® SofFlask™ bottle. Twist the cap clockwise to completely close the container. (Includes EZ-Clean Membrane™).

C) Squeeze all water through the EZ-Clean Membrane™.

D) Allow components to air dry completely before reassembly.

NOTE: Before using a Katadyn Befree™ water filter after long-term storage, rinse the container with 2 liters of filtered or treated water to remove any contaminated water.

The life of the EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter element depends on the quality of the water source.

To extend the life of your EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter, maintain it frequently. For optimal filtration performance, replace the filter after 1000 liters of use, or if water flow slows or stops.

[Replacing the EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter element]

Replacement EZ-Clean Membranes™ for Katadyn BeFree™ water filters are available from the dealer where you purchased the Katadyn BeFree™.

Replace the EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter cap by turning it counterclockwise and remove the EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter from the Hydrapak® SoftFlask™ bottle.

Install the new EZ-Clean Membrane™ filter element by screwing it clockwise into the Hydrapak® SoftFlask™.

Katadyn BeFree™ 2-Year Limited Warranty

A) Warranty coverage: Covers defects in materials and manufacturing process.

B) Warranty period: Two years from the date of purchase.

C) After-sales service: If the product is defective in material or during the production process, please return it to the original dealer for processing.

D) Outside the warranty: The warranty does not include damage to the product caused by abnormal use, improper storage, or failure to follow the instructions in the manual, improper storage, or improper maintenance.