How many of you trekers use some type of water purification, whether pc or not? Do yu use iodine tablets, filters, or just boil your water? RD

Rockerdog,

We use a filter. It's small effective and not too expensive if used alot. I've used it for water needs for a bigger group....say 10 man trapping party. By myself I will usually boil water for the next day's needs and replenish at the midday repast. This prepares me for the next camp and once set up I'll have finished my water and am in chore mode for the rest of the evening....I abhor the taste of chemicals.

regards, stump.

I carry a eye dropper bottle filled with
Clorox Bleach. I use 1-drop per liter.
Kills 99% of most known microbes. Yes it tastes
a little bleachy but beats the alternative.
If the water source isn't clear to begin with
I strain it through a rag first. Never had a problem. The one once bottle goes a long, long
way. I would only do this if I was in a tough
situation.

I carry a water filter & pump, as when you need water you need fast, and it has to be 100% reliable. Bleach works if the water is cold, but if you boil it and add the bleach before it cools (some folks use both boiling and bleach to be doubly sure) you use up the bleach without any benefit. IF you use too little water, and you apply bleach or iodine tablets, you also disinfect your bowels..., otherwise known as The green apple quick-step, and the iodine isn't good for youngsters or folks with shellfish allergies.

LD

I also use a filter. I have a Kaytydyn (sp?) Hiker Plus, and it works very well. Haven't got sick once!
Now when I was in Alaska, I didn't use anything because the water is clean. Back in the 18th century, it was clean around here as well, I am told. Don't forget that PC stands for Pretty Careful!

I also use a filter like Shadow's, nowadays iodine, bleach, and halizone tablets can leave gihardia(sp)in the water. While on the move I'll use the pump, but while in a camp I boil the water to fill canteens and cook with, to me that's the safest way, nothing worse than being back in somewhere an gettin Montezuma's revenge!

You definitely DON'T want "beaver fever." Did that once in the high country in my youth. All alone. Wasn't sure I was going to live through it. Carry a filter.

With the scouts I've had the chance to use most every filter out there and the most economical and durable in my eyes it the MSR Waterworks line. It uses a ceramic main filter and the one I use has a second membrane filter too. I have the EX and I’ve used it for several years with groups of boys and it’s still going strong. We even filtered glacial water which will plug up a filter real quick. All you have to do is use the included scotch bright pad to scrub the element clean and go back to pumping. I read somewhere it will clean 2500 gallons of water before you need to replace the filter. I don’t see the Waterworks on their site but the miniworks is the same thing without the secondary membrane filter.

http://www.msrgear.com/watertreatment/miniworks.asp


Jon

It depends on where I'm going and for how long. If we have a decent source of water for cooking, I carry drinking water for up to a couple of days and cook with water from the natural source. Otherwise I use a filter. I have used a Sweetwater for probably 15 years.
Chasing Crow