"June 2, 2002 Jeremy Baldwin and I, Mark Orton, set out on a 9 day hike covering 110 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park. We organized this hike to raise money for Diabetes Research. Thanks to the support and help of companies such as General Ecology, we were able to make our hike a success.

We designed our hike to be a lightweight hike. We wanted to keep our total packweights below 30 lbs, and with the equipment we possessed it would have been impossible. So we set out asking equipment manufacturers for help. One of the companies that answered the call was General Ecology, Inc. General ecology provided Jeremy and I with a First Need Deluxe Water Purifier. The chemical-free technology to offer the highest level of water purification without chemicals, pretreatment, double pumping or holding time. The First Need Deluxe is also independently certified to meet EPA Microbiological Purification Standards against cysts, bacteria and viruses.

The first test of this purifier was enough to relieve any doubt we had in the purifier's performance. Both Jeremy and I had used other brand filters and purifiers before setting out on this adventure. On more than one occasion I have had to rely on a back-up of iodine tablets while out on a trip due to filter problems. Jeremy has also had problems with priming other brand filters.

As we began pumping the First Need Deluxe water purifier we found that the output was amazing! The pump is double-acting, pumping on both the up and down strokes. This saves an incredible amount of time. The speed and volume of this purifier would be enough to sell some of the hardest critics, but once you taste the water, you know you have just used the best pump on the market. Most purifiers available use iodine to purify the water. Due to the unique "Structured Matrix" design of the First Need Deluxe water purifier, they don't use iodine in their system. This may not sound like it would be of much significance, but if you have ever had to endure a trip drinking iodine flavored water, this would be a very welcome change.

We encountered many people on the trail who resorted to carrying only iodine tablets to save weight. Others we encountered decided that if there was a spring available, they would trust the source and not filter or treat the water in any way. Jeremy and I used our First Need Deluxe water purifier at all the water sources we encountered and while we saw people leave the trail due to Giardia, we were able to continue hiking because we had safe water.

Jeremy and I both agree that this is by far the best water purifier we have ever used. We saw others having problems with their filters/purifiers on the trail, as our purifier functioned problem free for the entire length of our hike."

General Ecology, Inc. is pleased to be part of such a worthwhile venture through our donation of First Need Deluxe water purifiers providing great tasting, safe drinking water.