Ruggedized portable water treatment system

A portable water treatment system comprising:

• an exoskeleton including a top plate, a bottom plate, a central axis extending through the top and bottom plates, a central support positioned proximate the central axis, and a plurality of external supports, the central support connecting to the top and bottom plates and extending from a central portion of the top plate to a central portion of the bottom plate, the plurality of external supports including at least five external supports spaced outwardly from the central support to define an outer periphery of the water treatment system, the at least five external supports connecting to and extending between the top and bottom plates in a radially symmetric pattern to be approximately evenly spaced about the outer periphery of the exoskeleton;
• a control panel mounted between a pair of adjacent external supports, the control panel including a power inlet, a water inlet and a water outlet;
• a water pump mounted to the central support;
• and
• first and second water filter assemblies, each water filter assembly including a pressure vessel mounted to the central support and a filter cartridge removably fitted within the pressure vessel, wherein the water pump and water filter assemblies are fully disposed within the confines of the at least five external supports, and wherein the water treatment system can be carried by an individual.