Methods for ensuring safe drinking water while backpacking, hiking or cycling.
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Heat
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Filtration
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Chemical
Heat: One of the safest methods. Collect your water carefully, you do not want to end up with hot mud. Heat to boiling should be sufficient, however to be safer you can continue to boil a minute or two longer. The problem with this method is of course the time, fuel and weight. Time to boil: typically you will not stop during the day to do this. This leaves you carrying a days worth of water and extra fuel on your back. Excellent as a back up method, you should never leave your water needs dependent on one method, but as a primary method not a good choice.
Filtration: Removes bacteria and protozoa, it does nothing for viruses. In North America, viral contamination of the water is less a problem but it does exist. Do you want to take the chance? If you want the added protection you will have to use iodine or chlorine. Can be time intensive.
Chemical: Primarily iodine or chlorine. Iodine should not be used by anyone on lithium, allergic to iodine or shellfish. The medicinal taste can be masked by vitamin C or a sports drink mix. Chlorine, safer than iodine, you would not want to wait until you are in the backcountry to find out you are allergic to iodine. Also alters the taste of water, would you enjoy drinking swimming pool water? Both the above chemicals have a 30 minute wait time, before water is safe to drink. You can also run it through a carbon filter to remove the taste, but here again…time.
UV Technology: In seconds, it kills bacteria, protozoa and viruses. No need to lug a days worth of water. No need to bring extra fuel. lighter than filtration systems. No need to drink poisonous chemicals with your water. No need to hope filtration is enough. This same technology is used in water treatment plants. Please note: you will have to filter cloudy water of the particulate, but a coffee filter has always worked for me, even on two week trips. The reason for this is that ultraviolet rays do not penetrate particles. Usable, safe water in seconds.
Tags: backpacking water, iodine or chlorine for water treatment., lightweight water purification, potable water, ultralight water purification, ultraviolet water treatment, uv water treatment, water filtration, water purification outdoors
