Designed to go along on business trips, vacations, or anywhere safe drinking water is not assured, this handheld water purifier destroys viruses, bacteria, and common protozoa. It weighs just 3.6 ounces with two non-rechargeable, disposable batteries (included) and purifies 16 ounces of water in 48 seconds. The purifier employs ultraviolet light (UV) to destroy the DNA of microorganisms, making them unable to reproduce and cause illness. It's effective against outdoor microbes like giardia and cryptosporidium; pathogens that cause diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis, and Legionnaire's Disease; household germs such as bird flu, E. coli, and salmonella; staph and strep; and natural-disaster risks like botulism, cholera, smallpox, and typhoid. No pumping, no chemicals, no test strips, no timekeeping, no lubricating, and no replacement filters are required. All that is required is to push the water purifier's button, place the pen-like lamp in a glass of clear water, and stir until an indicator light turns green. Water has no aftertaste after being purified. Measuring 6.1 inches long, the purifier comes with a nylon case and a user's guide. It exceeds U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for testing microbiological water purifiers.