The Water Filter Question

Wilderness backpacking is an excellent activity that offers opportunity for adventure and discovery. It can be done alone, with a partner, in a group or as a family. There is without a doubt something wonderful and unique about setting up camp miles from the city, about waking up and watching the sunrise deep in the mountains and that rewarding feeling of freedom and independence that comes with it.


Discovering a wild area on foot is not only an opportunity to boost your wilderness consciousness, you will also be able to see astonishing views that can take your breath away. Numerous great places on our earth can only be seen by foot and backpacking trips can give you unforgettable moments to reminisce. However, before you begin with your adventure in the wilderness, you need to spend time in preparing for your trip. It is essential for all wilderness travels to be safe and successful. Heading out into the backcountry unprepared and without basic wilderness skills is unwise. Don't risk your safety or the safety of people you care around you.


One of the biggest issues in wilderness backpacking is the quality of water available for consumption. Unfortunately, your simple ways of just cupping your hands into a creek for a safe drink of water is over. Water purification is no longer just for water sources that look questionable. You should use some type of purification before drinking from any water source in the wilds. Potability is always questioned since back countries are far from good water sources.


We need to fear about the diseases lurking in that crystal-clear looking water. So let's take a few examples of them. Giardiasis is the most common and widespread disease and is caused by microscopic parasitic cysts called giardia. No surface water source is guaranteed to be unaffected by these cysts, including clear-looking mountain headwaters. This intestinal disease is spread through oral-fecal transmission and is carried by humans and animals. Wild animals are not often concerned with where they urinate or defecate. And much of our public lands are used for grazing domestic animals, and they aren't very particular as well. Also, some humans are just as careless. Without the precaution of staying at least 200 feet away from any water source and properly disposing of human waste, fecal matter can contaminate a widespread water supply. Some of the symptoms for giardiasis include bloating, diarrhea, headache, vomiting, flatulence, cramping, low-grade fever, and loss of appetite.


Cryptosporidium is the next villain to be on the watch for, and it's quickly becoming a serious problem in many areas, not just in the woods. Like giardia, it is another microscopic cyst with the same transmission methods and many of the same symptoms. This particular parasite is even becoming a threat in our municipal water supplies because of its high resistance to chlorine.


There are several ways to achieve clean and healthy water. The primary methods for purification include boiling, chemical treatment, water filters and ultra violet treatment. First we can boil the water. This is the good old standby. The main disadvantage of boiling your water is carrying enough fuel to provide ample water for your trip. It also makes the water taste flat.


Second is the Chemical Disinfectants - Iodine or chlorine. Some of the most popular and effective brands are Potable Aqua Tablets, Polar Pure Water Disinfectant, and Aqua Mira. As mentioned above, cryptosporidium is very resistant to this type of purification, so it is questionable how much longer this will be effective as our water sources become more contaminated.


One of the main problems with using iodine or chlorine is the taste they give to water. If using iodine, one effective method for reducing the taste of the iodine is to add vitamin C to neutralize it, but only after the treatment itself has been completed.


Third is Filtration. With this the flavor is maintained, or even improved, by the use of water filters. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as the perfect water filter. They can not filter out viruses, and not all of them treat bacteria. But there are several situations where water filter is not enough. In those cases, you can fill the collapsible bucket with water and disinfect it with iodine tablets. After the time needed for treatment, you can neutralize the water and then filter the treated water. It would taste great and you can feel pretty protected. Also in filters we need to consider the availability of replacement filter cartridges. What good is it to get a great filter that you will never be able to find the parts for?


And the last purifying method is the Ultraviolet (UV) Light. Compared to the other treatments, this is a relatively new process for treating water in the backcountry. Innovations in design have minimized the size and weight of these water treatment devices, making them an excellent choice for the backcountry.


Although chemical treatments are lightweight and inexpensive they have, in mind, a couple of serious limitations. First, they impart an awful taste to the water. Second, they can take up to 40 minutes or more to be effective. Meanwhile, the mechanical filters are well worth their extra weight, in most cases a pound or less since they are easy to use, easy to clean, and work instantly, even in really yucky standing water.


Because there is no perfect water purifier for every situation, be sure to compare and buy one suited to your needs. Where will you be using it most? How often will you use it? How easy is it to use by yourself? How comfortable is it to use? These are all very important considerations. Purifying can take extra time and be very tiring, but your health and welfare rely on it.