A Scout’s Campfire

Water Treatment Options - Conclusion

December 1st, 2006 spryken

OK, So I have covered the major forms of water treatment while on the trail.

1. Do nothing
2. Boil
3. Chemicals
4. Filters
5. MiOX
6. UV

Each method has its own advocates and each is valid so there is not
really a wrong choice. There are just choices that are better for you.

Here are some key points to consider when choosing your water treatment method.

• Weight - as you try to lower you overall weight, water and water treatment will have to be considered. Water weighs 1 pound for every pint. So that is about 2 pounds per liter. Some light weight advocates suggest only carrying 1 liter and treating every time you come to water. That is a little extreme for me, I like having some in reserve - plus I drink a lot of water!!
• Cost - Let’s face it, cost is usually the determining factor. I know I don’t have money to just throw away. Even though I love gadgets and toys, I just can’t afford to buy every latest gizmo.
• Ease of Use - Everyone loves convenience.
• Time to Treat - Everyone has their own limits as to how long they can wait for something.
• Dependability - If it won’t work, what good is it?

Keeping these points in mind, I will share my reasoning and conclusion. Remember, we are different people and what I decide may not be best nor best for you.

I really drink a lot of water, probably a gallon a day with no exertion. So on the trail, I can easily go through a liter an hour. That is a lot of weight, so I would like to carry less and treat more often. I love new gadgets and so am drawn to the MiOX and UV treatment options. Love those toys!! But my budget is very tight right now. I also am a Boy Scout and live by the motto - Be Prepared. So, with toys that require batteries I would have to carry spare batteries, more weight. So, what does this boil down to? Two different options to cover two types of treks.

Option 1 - A trek with plenty of watering opportunities available.
Ideally, I would use the UV treatment and only carry 2 liters at a time. IF I didn’t drink so much, I would limit myself to 1 liter. With the speed of treatment (90 seconds), if I ran out of water before the next watering opportunity, I could be drinking while others were still pumping or waiting for the chemicals to work.

I would also carry some Polar Pure. It is a cheap, lightweight Iodine based treatment. That way if anything happened to the UV light bulb I would still have water treatment available.

Option 2 - A trek without plenty of watering opportunities available.
For this type of trip, I would tend to stick to chemical treatment. I feel more comfortable using more tablets or doses in treating larger amounts of water. I would carry at least 4 liters of water and treat at every opportunity. I would probably use Polar Pure or MicroPur tablets. I know and trust them both.

I know people who use filters. I have a few issues with them. Not that they don’t work, they do. My issues are with me and other humans. For any water treatment to work, you have to be meticulous in the application. You have to wait the proscribe time. Details count!! To me, filters seem to have too many chances for a human to make mistakes. You have to clean them properly. You have to avoid contamination. They are a lot of work. (Yes, I have pumped liters of water. You have to have several people available, as arms get tired.) So I tend to avoid filters.

Remember, your conclusions will be different from mine. We may end up at the same place, but our reasoning will be different. You have to decide for yourself. I just hope that my research and opinions can help you reach your decision.

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