Originally Posted by
cyccommute
You use bleach for an entirely different reason. Bleach is used to sterilize the filter. It has a very basic ph (12.5) and would do nothing for the problem I experienced. Vinegar is flushed through the filter to get rid of calcium salts. Considering that the single time I used my filter was at 11,000 feet in the Colorado Rockies that isn't know for having a lot of calcium carried in the water...it was flowing over granite and in the middle of granite peaks...I assume that the calcium clogging is due to something in the microfilter itself.
After doing some searching, this appears to be a very common problem but not one that is publicized by Sawyer. If I had been at home, it wouldn't have been an issue but if I'd been at home, I wouldn't have needed the filter.
I don't want to speak for cycocommute, but I'm guessing he's referring to a post I made after after my September mountain bike tour, also 11,000 feet in the Colorado Rockies. I called Sawyer regarding the issue and they suggested the vinegar trick. It worked great, I just wish I knew about it before the trip. I ended buying iodine tablets in the first twon I hit. From now on I'll test the Sawyer before I hit the road.