Making Water Safe to Drink when you�re Camping
If you�re camping or backpacking, one of the biggest concerns is having water that is safe to drink. Each gallon weighs over eight pounds, and it can be impractical to haul it around with you. And while nearby lakes and streams have water that is crystal clear and looks safe to drink, drinking this water without treating it first can make a camping trip memorable for the wrong reasons.
Water everywhere has organic contaminants such as bacteria, protozoa, and viruses as well as all sorts of other impurities. It is essential to treat any water properly before drinking to make sure that it doesn�t make you ill and ruin your time in the wilderness. Camping supply stores sell lots of different types of portable camping water filters and other methods for purifying water, and the costs run from just a few dollars to well over $200. This article will focus on several simple, inexpensive, and practical ways to make water safe to drink when you�re camping and the pros and cons of each method.
Boiling
Boiling water is probably the easiest way to ensure that microorganisms are eliminated. You�ll want to bring water to a rolling boil for at least five minutes to ensure that any critters are killed.
- Pros Boiling water has no effect on the taste, is very effective, and you�re probably going to have a campfire anyway.
- Cons Boiling does not remove any non-living contaminants, must be done in small batches, and you have to wait for the water to cool before drinking.
Chemical Tablets
Chemical tablets, usually iodine, are cheap, lightweight, and very easy to carry with you. If you use these, you�ll want to make sure that the water is stirred and allowed to stand for at least 30 minutes.
- Pros These tablets are cheap, easy to find, and are effective at eliminating most organisms.
- Cons This process can be time-consuming, especially if the water is very cold or cloudy, some folks have adverse reactions to these chemicals, some protozoa are resistant to iodine, and these tablets can add an unpleasant taste.
Portable Water Filters
These devices can be easily found in stores, and advances in design and technology make them an essential component of any well-prepared camper.
- Pros These filters are lightweight, compact, easy to use, and, depending on the manufacturer, are very effective at removing most water contaminants.
- Cons They can be expensive, will eventually clog up and fail to perform correctly, their effectiveness is largely dependent on the materials used in the filter media, may or may not eliminate the smallest bacteria and viruses.
Chlorine Bleach
Unscented chlorine bleach can be used to eliminate some water impurities when you�re camping. You can take an eye-dropper and add eight drops of bleach per gallon or 16 drops if the water is cloudy, but you�ll want to stir the water well and allow it to stand for at least 30 minutes before drinking.
- Pros Bleach is good for killing microorganisms and inexpensive, is easy to use, and it you don�t have to carry much for water purification.
- Cons Bleach can be poisonous if not used carefully, the taste, even in small doses can be unpleasant, and it will not remove chemical impurities.
Summary
If you are camping or find yourself stranded in the wilderness for any time, you must make sure that drinking water is your first priority. You can survive for around three weeks without food, but only about three days without water. All of the methods mentioned above will be effective under most situations and eliminate almost all water contaminants.
Make sure to double-check all of your camping supplies, especially water purification gear, before heading out, and you�ll be able to enjoy the great outdoors without having to worry about waterborne illnesses that could be a big problem if you�re unprepared.