Posts filed under 'Backpacking'
December 1st, 2006
spryken
OK, So I have covered the major forms of water treatment while on the trail.
- Do nothing
- Boil
- Chemicals
- Filters
- MiOX
- 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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Entry Filed under: Backpacking, Boy Scouts, Camping, Gear, Hiking
November 28th, 2006
spryken
Disclaimer…. I have never used either type of water treatment covered in this article. All my information I have gathered from the Internet and Retail Stores.
There are 2 fairly new methods of treating water. MiOX and UV-C treatment.
MiOX is Mixed Oxidants. MSR has a MiOX Purifier. It uses salt and electricity to form a mixed oxidant solution that will inactivate viruses, bacteria, Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium. You have to carry salt and batteries (2 CR-123 - Lithium Camera Batteries). The purifier uses a brine solution and ionizes it with an electrical charge. This is similar to the treatment some municipal water treatment centers use. You pour the ionized brine solution into the water to be treated and wait: 15 minutes for viruses and bacteria, 30 minutes for Giardia, and 4 hours for Cryptosporidium.
Forum entries have expressed some trouble in getting the brine solution to the correct concentration. Cold water and dirty water require additional treatment - extra brine solution.
Cost: $100-130
UV-C treatment uses UltraViolet C radiation to treat the water. There are several products available: AquaStar, and SteriPen. According to the AquaStar site:
Ultra-violet C-band (UV-C) purifiers work differently from filtration
systems by generating ionizing radiation at 254nm that quickly and
effectively disrupts the cellular chemistry of all known pathogens,
halting DNA replication, and breaking down organic components of alien
living organisms into harmless material.
Both the AquaStar and the SteriPen use batteries. AquaStar uses 2 CR-123 Lithium Camera batteries, while the SteriPen uses 4 AA batteries. The AquaStar is contained in a Nalgene type bottle while the SteriPen is open and inserted into you water container. Both using a UV light can treat a liter of water in about 90 seconds. Dirty water should be prefiltered as dirty water will require additional time/treatment. This is definitely the quickest water treatment available.
Cost: $100-130
These last 4 articles have covered what I consider to be the facts involved in water treatment methods. In Part 5, I will make some conclusions and offer my opinions.
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Entry Filed under: Backpacking, Boy Scouts, Camping, Gear, Hiking
November 22nd, 2006
spryken
In part 3 of my series on water treatment options, I want to cover Filters….
Filters come in many different forms. Some have prefilters to remove the “floaties” in the water prior to treating the water. What to keep in mind with filters is the pore size. Giardia cysts are about 6 microns in diameter while some bacteria is as small as 0.2 microns. Getting a filter with a nominal size of 0.1 or 0.2 should be best for removing bacteria. However, viruses are even smaller!!
Filters range in size and weight, so that is a factor when buying. How much space and weight do you want to devote to water treatment? DON’T forget to calculate in the water weight that will be added after you use the filter. You can dry it out immediately, so you will be carrying extra water.
Filters have to be cleaned and inspected. The actual filter has to be replaced eventually.
All of that said, filters work when properly tended. There is not a long wait time for chemicals to work. There is not the extra fuel required for boiling. Filters are convenient.
In Part 4, I will be covering some new methods of water treatment. Then in Part 5, I will summarize and draw my conclusions.
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Entry Filed under: Backpacking, Boy Scouts, Camping, Gear, Hiking
November 20th, 2006
spryken
Continuing my series on Water Treatment, I want to look at chemical disinfection.
Chemical Disinfection generally falls into 2 categories….Iodine and Chlorine. It is not surprising since both elements belong to the same chemical family.
Iodine
Iodine can be used in tablet form (Potable Aqua, eg.), liquid (tincture of Iodine), or as a saturated Iodine solution (Polar Pure).
Tablets are convenient and easy to use. One tablet will treat 1 liter of water. However, the tablets loose their effectiveness with prolonged contact with air. The bottles should be tightly sealed and replaced every few months. Cost is about $.40 - $.50 per quart/liter of water.
Tincture of Iodine is difficult to use due to the imprecise measuring that is usually available on camping/backpacking trips.
Iodine Solution (Polar Pure) is easier to use. The crystals are stored in water, so the solution is always ready to use. Cost is about $.005/quart/liter.
Pros for Iodine are cost and ease of use. Iodine will eliminate bacteria and giardia cysts. It will neutralize viruses.
Cons - taste, although that can be hidden with drink powders, and I have heard that cryptosporidium is not affected. Another con is the time involved. To effectively treat all but viruses you need to treat the water for 1/2 hour, up to 4 hours for viruses.
Chlorine
Chlorine in the form of chlorine dioxide can be used to disinfect water. This is a typical treatment for municipal water systems. Chlorine dioxide can be used in tablet form (MicroPur eg.) or liquid (Aqua Mira).
MircoPur tablets treat 1 liter of water and cost about $.40 per liter.
Aqua Mira is a system that uses 2 liquids to generate chlorine dioxide. Cost is about $.12 per liter.
Pros for Chlorine Dioxide - cost and ease of use. Chlorine is effective against bacteria, viruses, giardia cysts and cryptosporidium.
Cons - taste, although it can be hidden with drink powders. Some people complain of a “lemony” flavor or swimming pool taste. Another con is the time involved. To effectively
treat all but viruses you need to treat the water for 1/2 hour, up to 4
hours for viruses.
For both chlorine and iodine, cold temperatures will affect treatment time. Prefiltering is needed for “dirty” water.
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Entry Filed under: Backpacking, Boy Scouts, Camping, Gear, Hiking
November 16th, 2006
spryken
This is the start of a series on Water Treatment. I will be covering the different types of treatment options available, discussing the pros and cons of each.
Do Nothing
The first method of water treatment is to do nothing. That’s right nothing. Probably not the safest thing to do, but you can get away with it. You need to be aware of possible contaminations and the source/environment of your water. Water from the source of an underground spring is likely to be safe to drink. Water from a lake or pond is probably not safe. Check the surrounding area, is there fecal contamination? Then you probably want to treat the water. In an article on Giardia, Dr. Robert Rockwell asserts that poor camp hygiene is responsible for most gastrointestinal ailments related to backpacking and camping, not poor water quality.
Boil the Water
The next method to consider is boiling the water. According to the Center for Disease Control,
Boiling water is the best method for making water safe to drink. Boiling water as recommended will kill bacterial, parasitic, and viral causes of diarrhea. Adding a pinch of salt to each quart will improve the taste.
Most campers and backpackers have a stove and fuel, making boiling water a good option for water treatment at least as a backup to other methods. Some of the drawbacks to relying on boiling water are:
- you have to carry a significantly larger amount of fuel
- it is harder to treat water multiple times during a day, so you have to treat the day’s worth either before starting the day’s trek or at the end of the day’s trek
- the treated water tends to taste a little flat
According to the CDC -
Directions for Boiling Water
- Boil water vigorously for 1 minute and allow it to cool to room temperature (do not add ice).
- At
altitudes greater than 6,562 feet (>2,000 m), boil water for 3
minutes or use chemical disinfection after water has been boiled for 1
minute.
The next post in the series will cover the chemical treatment options. Look for it on Saturday, 11/18/2006.
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