Sounds like they forgot to put the intake hose in the water.

I'm a filterin' kinda guy, myself, when I do anything. It really only takes a few minutes (PUR Hiker...I mean, Katahdin). I've never done more than a gallon at once, but even that didn't take that long. I keep my pumping arm in shape by swinging it at my side while I walk <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />