That's another very important point.

I've talked and hiked with people who use household bleach, and that will work to kill bugs, but there are other issues like what you mention, and from what I recall Phat mentioning in a previous post, chlorine dioxide does not combine with bacteria into chloramines, like household bleach does, which are really not good for you.

Charcoal filtering and boiling is probably the best and most economical way to clean and sanitize water while backpacking, but I don't want to wait for boiling water to cool before drinking it, so I need something to solve that problem. Right now, that LifeStraw looks like the best solution. I will get back to this forum after using it. I'm pretty picky about water too, if I taste anything nasty, or it's not easier and lighter than anything else I've done, I will let you know.