Water Purification

[dazdidge]

As I mentioned in an older thread I usually carry my water with me if out for a couple of nights, this obviosly weighs a few kilos which I could do without. My mate has a fancy pump thing that gets rid of everything but it cost him a small fortune (well over £100), he does a lot more hiking/camping than me so can justify the cost, but I can't. I have seen various pumps, filters etc but really don't know what to go with.What is quick, easy and cheap to get rid of the nasties as well as the solids? Or is it a case of a simple filter and boil it before use. I must be getting old as I used to drink straight out of streams all the time as a kid and never had a problem, but these days I worry about picking up crypto whatever it is and all the other things you keep being told about.
Any6 suggestions or recomendations gratefully received.

cheers
daz

[Fishtales]

I've never used anything in all the years wandering the hills. If it looks clean it gets drunk, if it looks mancy I go somewhere else

[Wildfisher]

I'd never drink from a lowland river or loch, but up in the hills I don't worry about it. Been doing it for 40 years and not been ill once as a result. You have to be sensible of course, don't drink from burns if there is a ski area upstream of it.  :lol:  If camping you will be cooking or boiling water for tea / coffee anyway, so I can't see there being a problem.

[Wildfisher]

You're really selling this Etchachan stravaig to me Tony :lol:

anyone can catch fish from lochs with fish in them.  :lol:

[alancrob]

http://www.needlesports.com/Catalogue/Accessories/Medical-Cosmetic/Water-Purification/Classic-Handheld-Water-Purifier-STE-STERIPEN

Seems simple. Wish I had taken 1 to India, I can still taste the iodine.

A.

[Traditionalist]

As I mentioned in an older thread I usually carry my water with me if out for a couple of nights, this obviosly weighs a few kilos which I could do without. My mate has a fancy pump thing that gets rid of everything but it cost him a small fortune (well over £100), he does a lot more hiking/camping than me so can justify the cost, but I can't. I have seen various pumps, filters etc but really don't know what to go with.What is quick, easy and cheap to get rid of the nasties as well as the solids? Or is it a case of a simple filter and boil it before use. I must be getting old as I used to drink straight out of streams all the time as a kid and never had a problem, but these days I worry about picking up crypto whatever it is and all the other things you keep being told about.
Any6 suggestions or recomendations gratefully received.

cheers
daz

There aren't many alternatives, They are listed here;

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/purifying-the-water-while-camping.html

Obviously some don't think it is much of a risk. I would not take the chance myself. I have known a few people become very ill indeed and people do die of it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterborne_diseases

TL
MC

[alancrob]

Try here.

http://www.gofastandlight.com/Water/products/18/

This is a site dedicated to travelling light. They do extreme things like trimming straps and removing all labels just to save another couple of grams.

A.

[Otter Spotter]

Each to their own... but in 20+yrs drinking water from burns, streams, rivers and lochs I've never had a problem with 'raw' water... Sure it's wise to be precautious and I wouldn't drink from lowland rivers - but up in the hills I don't see the risks as viable enough to stop me drinking the stuff. If there was a dead sheep or deer in the water; drink from above the area... With lochs I don't have much issue though I'd instinctively sup from water around a rocky shore than a reedy or grassy one. If the area is one where climbers, campers, trekkers etc frequent - then I'm far more cautious... The wee glen that leads from the Hutchinson Bothy to the Etchachan plateau is reknowned for high coliforms in the burn because so many folk 'perform' there; so when I have drunk in the area - it';s been on the plateau itself or from Loch Etchachan... Didn't see any fish though in 3-4 times I've been that way...

& water's too heavy to carry in!

E.

Daz I would never have thought to 'just drink' what is available but between Tony Joe and John on the tript last season it opened my eyes to the fact that I dont have to carry water in. Not so much as a stomach cramp and it adds something to the experience drinking what has been provided for you by nature.

[Traditionalist]

Be careful with filters.  Not many conform to EPA standards:

http://www.amazon.com/General-Ecology-First-Water-Purifier/dp/B0009RP8T2

http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/icr/gloss_path.html

Using cheap filters and stuff like that which does not conform to EPA or other recognised standards merely lulls you into a false sense of security.  Some of these things are only designed for emergency use when you are dying of thirst!  They are not for casual camping use.

The cheapest and most efficient way of making most water safe to drink is by adding bleach ( Pure Sodium Hypochchlorite, NOT household bleach, although this can be used in an emergency);

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hypochlorite

This does not make it taste any better!

http://www.doh.wa.gov/phepr/handbook/purify.htm


More comprehensive info;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_water_purification

http://zenbackpacking.net/WaterFilterPurifierTreatment.htm

TL
MC

[Bobfly]

Hi Folks,

The simplest thing for anyone worried about drinking from UK hill sources is to use only water well upstream from any bothy or obviously used camp spot and just pop in one water purifying tablet per litre and leave for 30 minutes whilst putting up the tent and stuff. Tabs can be bought from Boots at £7 for 50 tabs. A very few tabs will do a weekend and weigh nowt. Even three tabs would just be 42 pence in total. Abroad you should wait for two hours to kill Giardia. This is a chlorine tablet and the results are not all that  dissimilar to many small local rural collection systems managed by local authorities. During 50 years of hill-bashing and fishing in the UK I have not felt the need to treat any water (if collected sensibly) but have used the tabs abroad.

Not for use with any dram though !!