Hackers Hit Water Systems in 7 States, the FBI Warns. 3 Reasons Families Are Getting a Filter Straw Now.
War, hackers and boil-water notices. Here’s the 2-ounce backup that turns a bottle of rainwater into a drink.
Updated November 4, 2026
One straw in every backpack by the door. One for each person.
- Removes 99.99% of bacteria & parasites*
- Up to 1,800 gallons per straw*
- About 2 oz, no batteries
You turn on the tap. Water comes out. You never think about it.
But that water runs on computers. Pumps, pressure, chemical dosing. All controlled remotely.
This summer, someone got into those computers.
Here are 3 reasons families now keep a filter straw in every bag.
1The War, the Tension, and Hackers in Our Water
On July 30, 2026, the FBI and the EPA issued a public warning.
Water utilities in at least seven states had reported attacks to the FBI.
In their words, some of that activity “degraded water operations.”
The hackers changed passwords and network addresses.
Some plants lost monitoring and control of their own systems.
Who was behind it? Officials suspect Iran.
CNN reported that US and state officials are treating Iran as one of the suspects.
To be clear: no formal determination has been made.
Here’s what it looked like on the ground.
In Braham, Minnesota, the pump at the treatment plant stopped working.
Crews took the plant offline. About 1,700 residents were asked to save water.
Workers got the water flowing again in a couple of hours, by hand.
No contamination was reported. This time, it was hours.
With the war and all the tension right now, nobody can promise next time.
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2Protect Your Family From Water You Can’t Trust
When a water system loses control, you usually find out by text.
“Boil water before drinking.”
That’s exactly what some towns got this summer.
And it doesn’t take hackers.
In 2022, flooding hit the main water plant in Jackson, Mississippi.
About 150,000 people lost safe running water.
In 2024, after Hurricane Helene, Asheville lived under a boil-water notice for about seven weeks.
Here’s how it really goes.
Your phone buzzes: “Boil water before drinking.”
The power is out too. Your stove is electric. Nothing boils.
You drive to the store. The water aisle is empty.
The last bottle is gone. The kids are thirsty. The tap is still “do not drink.”
That’s the gap this straw fills.
By the maker’s figures, it removes over 99.99% of bacteria, like E. coli.
And over 99.99% of parasites, like Giardia and Cryptosporidium.*
Rainwater. Lake water. River water. Fill a bottle, screw on the straw, and drink.
Pick the clearest water you can. Let muddy water settle first.
“Just knowing I have these water straws in my possession eases my mind!!!!! IF something was to happen with our water supply, 💧 I will be able to supply fresh clean water for my family and they don't expire!! You will have peace of mind knowing you would be able to survive a water contaminated issue or supply issue at that !! 😉”
Verified buyer“Excellent product to have on hand in case of emergency. Hurricane Helene took out the power and water over a wide area. Having this tool allowed folks to still have drinkable water when city water stopped flowing.”
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3Up to 1,800 Gallons Per Straw
Each straw is rated for up to 1,800 gallons.* Less with muddy water.
Ready.gov, the federal emergency site, counts one gallon per person, per day.
So one straw can cover one person for about five years.
Now do the math for your house.
A family of 4 needs 4 gallons a day. That’s 28 gallons a week.
In bottles, a week of water weighs about 233 pounds.
One shared straw also runs out four times faster.
And four thirsty people can’t sip from one straw at once.
So the rule is simple: one straw per person.
- 2 strawsyou and your partner, or one for the house and one for the car
- 3 strawsa family of 3, one each
- 4 strawsa family of 4: one each, about 5 years each at a gallon a day*
For a family of 4, that means 4 straws. Not for the deal. For the math.
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And Everything Else You Get
- 0.1-micron hollow fiber membrane inside every straw
- Stops microplastics and sediment too*
- About 2 oz and about 8 inches. Fits a pocket or a purse
- Standard 28mm thread. Screws onto most water and soda bottles
- No batteries. No pump. Nothing to charge
- No expiration date.* Replace it when water stops flowing
- Sealed pouch for each straw, until the day you need it
- Rinse syringe included with every straw
- BPA-free food-grade plastic
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How It Works: Screw, Drink, Rinse
- Screw it on. Fill a bottle with the clearest water you can find. Screw the straw on top.
- Drink. Sip like a normal straw. Water goes through the filter on its way up.
- Rinse. After use, push clean water back through with the syringe. Let it dry.
No instructions to memorize. You can do it in the dark.
Questions People Ask
Why not just store bottled water?
Do it! Bottled water is the easy first step. But a gallon weighs about 8.3 pounds, and it runs out. Store shelves empty fast. The straws are the backup for when the bottles are gone.
Why not just boil the water?
If you can, boiling works. The problem is a power outage: no power, no electric stove. The straw needs no heat and no power.
Does it remove viruses or chemicals?
No, and we’d rather tell you now. By the maker’s figures, it removes over 99.99% of bacteria and parasites, plus microplastics and sediment down to 0.1 micron. It is not made for viruses, chemicals or heavy metals. Always follow your local water authority.
How long does one straw last?
Up to 1,800 gallons per straw (maker’s figure). Muddy water wears it out faster. Rinse it after use. When water stops flowing even after rinsing, replace it.
Does it expire?
The maker gives it no expiration date. Keep it in its sealed pouch until you need it.
Will it fit my bottles?
It screws onto the standard 28mm thread of most water and soda bottles. You can also drink straight through it.
Do you ship to Canada?
Yes. Shipping is $3.99 to the US and Canada.
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What Buyers Say
Verified-purchase reviews of this straw, word for word
“These are perfect for everyday carry. I keep one in my purse, bag, and vehicle. A must have as a survival or emergency when you have to drink unclean water.”
Verified buyer“Everyone should have one of these straws in their emergence kits. A must have if a disaster happens and your water supply is computerized and if you have no power to your system.”
Verified buyer“These straws work excellent and are a reassuring item to always keep on hand. Water is so crucial to survival. I bought several to hand out to unprepared family and friends. I like that they are individually shrink wrapped making them easy to store and transport. I always keep one in not only my prep stuff but glovebox, brief case, suitcase etc. Great company too.”
Verified buyer“I’m very pleased with the size and sturdy design of this product. Very easily stored in a backpack, UTV or a vehicle. I purchased the five (5) Survival Emergency Water Filters for family members as well as myself. At this time in our crazy world, one must be prepared for the unexpected!”
JPB7mm“Was excited to get these in. Have had to use them in the past during emergency situations and they work great.”
Retired VetMom
These Keep Selling Out
Every time water hits the news, people rush to buy.
On November 2, this same straw’s 5-pack was out of stock on TikTok Shop.
We restock as fast as we can. We can’t promise how long each batch lasts.
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The Only Problem…
Most people wait for the text from the city.
By then, the water aisle is already empty.
Never need them? They sit in a drawer, a backpack and a glovebox.
If you do need them, they’re how your family keeps drinking.
- Removes 99.99% of bacteria & parasites*
- Up to 1,800 gallons per straw*
- About 2 oz, no batteries
- ✓ $3.99 shipping US & Canada
- ✓ Secure checkout
- FBI & EPA, Public Service Announcement I-073026-PSA, July 30, 2026: “Malicious Cyber Actors Targeting Water and Wastewater Sector Internet-Facing Programmable Logic Controllers, Causing Operational Disruptions.” ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260730.pdf
- CNN, “Sweeping cyberattack on water systems in multiple states has US officials on edge,” updated July 31, 2026 (boil-water notices, manual mode, Iran treated as one of the suspects, no formal determination, no contamination reported).
- NPR, “Are hacks of U.S. water facilities a new front in the Iran war?”, August 12, 2026 (Braham, Minnesota).
- The Hill, “Water system cyberattacks hit 7 states; FBI has yet to confirm who is behind the attacks.”
- Ready.gov, “Build a Kit”: one gallon of water per person per day. ready.gov/kit
- Jackson, Mississippi water crisis, August–September 2022; Hurricane Helene and the Asheville boil-water notice, September–November 2024 (news reports, city of Asheville).
- * Maker’s figures: hollow fiber membrane, 0.1 micron; over 99.99% of bacteria and parasites; microplastics and sediment; up to 1,800 gallons per straw, less with muddy water; about 2 oz; no expiration date. “About 5 years” = 1,800 gallons at 1 gallon a day for one person.
- “Out of stock”: the 5-pack listing of this straw on TikTok Shop US, checked November 2, 2026.