This is the best suggestion I've heard. Every time I buy a Sawyer product there is a new syringe. At present I have two squeeze and one mini and because I'm a gear junkie I'm sure to end up owning a micro as well. I will use a sharpie to write "dirty" on one syringe and add it to my kit for water collection. If the water is flowing, great. If not, the syringe with tubing attached will reach into nook and cranny. I'll be kicking around ideas for something to stuff in the tube to act as a pre filter. Stainless steel wool or a clean cigarette filter?