Tea-colored water typically has a high concentration of decaying vegetation adjacent to, or in, a water source, resulting in a variety of organic acids. These acids, and the accompanying water conditions, are very hard on ALL types of water filters. Get your water elsewhere if you can.

However, if no alternatives exist, we recommend backflushing/cleaning your filter more frequently, even after each use. This will help minimize the clogging of the filter.

A DayCap that has been recently used to filter water will have wet hollow fibers, which can freeze and break the fibers. Broken fibers no longer filter water. It is important to prevent hollow fiber filters from freezing.

If you are expecting freezing or near-freezing temperatures, we recommend carrying or stowing the filter cartridge near your body (e.g., in a chest pocket) and bringing the filter into your sleeping bag overnight. (Place it in a plastic bag to prevent it from leaking).

If you think your filter may have been damaged by freezing, perform a filter integrity check before the next use to determine if it is still safely filtering water (see instructions for your filter product). Consider carrying a replacement filter as a backup in case of a failed integrity test.