A Scout’s Campfire

Giardia - Still a Threat?

November 1st, 2006 spryken

I was reading Bruce Lewis’ blog on LightBackpacking.com and ran across his article on the new Sierra Cup.  In an aside he mentioned an article on the Sierra Club site, “Resurrect those old Sierra Club cups?”.  I read the article and was fascinated.  Is it safe to drink untreated water in the wilderness?  The article references research done by Robert Rockwell, Ph.D. 

Dr. Rockwell states:

Untreated Sierra Nevada water should be, almost
everywhere, safe to drink . . . if you ‘drink smart.’ If you don’t
‘drink smart’ you may ingest diarrhea-causing organisms. But it
won’t be Giardia. Camp cooks in particular need to pay special attention
to cleanliness. Wash hands thoroughly, especially before handling
utensils and preparing meals.

If you contract Giardia in the backcountry, blame your friends .
. . not the water. Because up to 1 in 14 of us carries the Giardia
parasite, we all need to do what we can to keep the water pure.
Defecate away from water, and bury it or carry it out.

I had to read the whole paper.  I just don’t like getting my data from third parties.  The paper was very enlightening.  I think I am convinced on the issue of Giardia.  However, I will continue to treat the water I drink in the wilderness.  Why?  Well, Giardia is just one of many water bourne bacteria and viruses.  If I run into a situation where I am without water treatment and I have fresh, running water, I will feel safer drinking it. 

But the weight of water treatment equipment or chemicals is small compared to the peace of mind you get using it. 

One point we can all take away though is PROPER CAMP HYGIENE.  What our moms have been telling us for years…”Wash your hands.”

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