Is it Safe to Drink? A Guide to Water Filtration and Treatment

It is a simple fact; we require water for survival. Maintaining proper hydration
is not only healthy, but will give you more energy and allow your muscles to
recover more quickly from strenuous exercise. But, how can you be sure that
the water is safe enough to drink?

Picture the scene. You're hiking alongside a stream rushing down the mountain.
You're thirsty from packing up a long trail and can feel the cool mist of the 33-degree
water hitting your legs. The water looks so clear and perfect that you just want to
dip in a cup and take a drink.

This water is straight from the snowmelt and has to be as pure as water can be,
right? WRONG! The clear water that you think is perfect for drinking is the same
water that the wildlife in the area and the packhorses up the trail think is a perfect latrine.
Therefore, most of the water around you may contain parasites with nice Latin names
like Giardia Lamblia or Cryptosporidium. These little parasites with big names can translate
into literally "explosive" gastrointestinal problems for you. Also, as remote areas become
more populated, bacteria and agricultural chemicals are beginning to enter the water supply
and can cause further problems.

I have personally witnessed a fellow camper with a bacterial infection from drinking
bad water, and it didn't look like he was having too much fun. It started with stomach
cramps strong enough to make him double over followed by an onslaught of severe
diarrhea, for further enjoyment.  For some it lasts only a couple of days, but others
develop complications that last for months. I don't know about you, but that doesn't
sound like a fun way to remember a trip.

It is a simple fact; we require water for survival. Maintaining proper hydration is not
only healthy, but will give you more energy and allow your muscles to recover more
quickly from strenuous exercise. One of the best pieces of advice I was given was to
drink water regularly and not wait until I was thirsty before taking a drink. But, how
can you be sure that the water is safe enough to drink?


Boiling
Boiling has been the traditional way to treat water. The drawback is that this method
requires a lot of time and fuel. Opinions vary on how long you should boil, but three
to five minutes is often recommended. Boiling just a gallon or two of water could result
in you having to pack a lot of extra stove fuel. Boiling does a good job of killing parasites
and bacteria, but it does not neutralize any chemicals or improve the taste.


Iodine
The next water treatment choice is the time-honored use of Iodine tablets. The benefit of
Iodine is that it is very packable (a small pill bottle) and easy to use. However, you can
easily tell the "iodine hikers" out there, as their water bottles turn yellow from the iodine.
Besides the coloring, unless you let it sit for several hours, the water often has a taste that
makes you unsure of how badly you want a drink.

This has now changed with recent advancements in iodine treatment kits. Potable Aqua
has a two part water treatment kit that includes their P.A. Plus, which removes the yellow
color and much of the iodine taste.

Besides being a health problem for some people, the main drawback of Iodine is, though
it is effective on Giardia, it is iffy at best at killing Cryptosporidium. While Crypto has only
been around since 1993, it has the same gut wrenching symptoms as Giardia and is not on
my list of fun things to experience.

Iodine still has a place in everyone's pack though, as the small tablets make for a handy
method of emergency purification, should your filter clog, you feel lazy, or if you are unable
to boil water.


Filters, Microfilters, and Purifiers
In the old days, filters were heavy, cumbersome and difficult to pack. Those days are gone.
Now, there is a complete line of small, hand held filters and purifiers that can handle a lot of
water, and still easily fit in your pack. After seeing a buddy handling the ill effects of Giardia,
you can bet I will always have room for my microfilter.

Before we go any farther, we need to get a full understanding of what the terms "filter",
"microfilter" and "purifier" actually mean. See the chart at the left for a full description of
each classification.


Filter: The technical classification of a filter is 1.0 to 4.0 microns. What this means is that
the filter will take out most of what you can see, and it will remove Giardia. If you go with
a filter on the tight end of the scale, at 1.0 microns, it will also remove Cryptosporidium and
small parasitic eggs and larva. In remote areas, with clear water and little human activity,
filters will usually do fine and keep you from intestinal horror.


Microfilter: The microfilter is a step up, with a filtering system from 0.2 to 1.0-micron
pore sizes. On the tight end of the scale, at 0.2 microns, microfilters will not only remove
most microorganisms, but they will also remove bacteria such as Salmonella and the
dreaded E Coli that we read about so much in the news.

I have found that in the United States and Canada, a microfilter of 1.0 micron or less will
take care of most of the goodies that can cause you discomfort, with the exception of viruses.
However, if you plan on traveling to less developed countries or have strong fears of viruses
and bacteria, a purifier may be the best bet.


Purifier: Although many people mistakenly call their filter a purifier, a true purifier filters
down to 0.004 microns and usually adds iodine to destroy viruses. What this means is very,
very clean water. A purifier usually comes with a heavier price tag, but it also comes with the
benefit of filtering out everything mentioned above plus it removes viruses such as Hepatitis A,
Polio, and Norwalk. If travel to a third world country is in your future, invest in a purifier now
and have the piece of mind that all the water you drink is as healthy, if not healthier than that
out of the tap at home.


Filter Buyer's Guide
When looking for a water filter or purifier, you first need to decide where and how often you
will use it. Filters are offered in many sizes, models, and prices to fit you and your budget.
Usually, this is based on how long the filter will last and pore size. Some smaller, less expensive
filters are perfect for day trips and occasional use, as the filters only last for several hundred
quarts.

Also, be sure to look at the output rate. One of the first filters I bought worked great, but it
took forever to filter a quart of water. It required some serious preplanning to filter enough
water for dinner. Some smaller filters may take a lot of time to filter 1 quart while some
larger models can filter hundreds of gallons at a rate of one quart per minute or greater.

Another thing to look for is a good pre-filter. These foam or mesh devices are field cleanable,
filter out all the large solid particles and help keep your expensive inner cartridge from expiring
too soon. Set up properly the cartridge can work on the microorganisms, and the pre-filter can
handle the mud, sand, and silt. Good pre-filter maintenance is the secret to getting the longest life
out of your filter. Take a look below at some of the quality filters on the market.

Click this link to view Utopia's Outdoor Gear selection of water purifiers, microfilters, and drinking water tablets.