Boiling not effective?

sodak said:
Yeah, I agree with you and can be overkill, but it was a really interesting thread that answered a LOT of questions.
Click to expand...

It was my bad in the first place as you're right about nothing can do everything. I should have slowed down and read what I wrote.
 
Last edited:
How about the green algae that grown in water bottles? I have been drinking the water for years and it hasn't bother......................................................................................
 
I got a rude awakening as a teenager working in the mountains. I guzzled from a clear stream on a hot day. That night I turned my guts inside out. I found out later that there was a pulp mill upstream.
 
I read somewhere the Berkey black filters removes the toxins. Can anyone validate this claim?
 
That's the one great stuff sodak! :thumbup:

You can distill algae although cross contamination risk kinda doesn't make the juice worth the squeeze, especially in the field.

I was taught to just rely on rain collection if at all possible instead of boiling pond water, or at least moving water at best. Of course all that depends on when and where you live.
 
Last edited:
green algae is fine, and could in fact be used as food in small amounts I think. blue-green algae is actually a bacteria, that happens to be toxic, and often not blue-green colored. I think its pretty much fresh water red tide. Or close to it.

In theory, charcoal would just fix it, but with no real way of knowing if the charcoal has become saturated and stopped working, that would make me hesitant to really rely on it.
 
sodak said:
Here's a start.

http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/travel/backcountry_water_treatment.html
Click to expand...

thank you so much for this concise and precise article
It explains what threat is neutralized by what treatment

I have been able to decide what water purification equipment I need to carry

This is a better formatted PDF page of the the above link
http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/drinking/Backcountry_Water_Treatment.pdf

This thread is about boiling not effective, but that is about algae
The site shows that boiling for one minute is the effective method
 
Last edited:
General Ecology First Need. Filters to 0.4 microns. 2 microns for the least expensive one. Filters all viruses, cryptosporidia, protozoa, and chemical contaminates without needing any other treatment. I've been using them for 25 years all over the world. Have yet to experience a waterborne illness
 
Last edited:
leghog said:
General Ecology First Need. Filters to 0.4 microns. 2 microns for the least expensive one. Filters all viruses, cryptosporidia, protozoa, and chemical contaminates without needing any other treatment. I've been using them for 25 years all over the world.
Click to expand...

a link please
 
neeman said:
thank you so much for this concise and precise article
It explains what threat is neutralized by what treatment

I have been able to decide what water purification equipment I need to carry

This is a better formatted PDF page of the the above link
http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/drinking/Backcountry_Water_Treatment.pdf

This thread is about boiling not effective, but that is about algae
The site shows that boiling for one minute is the effective method
Click to expand...

Thanks Neeman, I saved that PDF!
 
neeman said:
thank you so much for this concise and precise article
It explains what threat is neutralized by what treatment

I have been able to decide what water purification equipment I need to carry

This is a better formatted PDF page of the the above link
http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/drinking/Backcountry_Water_Treatment.pdf

This thread is about boiling not effective, but that is about algae
The site shows that boiling for one minute is the effective method
Click to expand...

2009 data. Things change. There are several filters certified by the Gov to filter viruses. Sawyer came out with the first. Once it was no longer "impossible," other filtering technology was found that does the same.
 
According to the Wilderness Medical Society, water temperatures above 160F (70C) kill all pathogens within 30 minutes and above 185F (85C) within a few minutes. So in the time it takes for the water to reach the boiling point (212F or 100C) from 160F (70C), all pathogens will be killed, even at high altitude.

"To be extra safe, let the water boil rapidly for one minute, especially at higher altitudes since water boils at a lower temperature."
 
Better drink my own urine....

I have a berkey water filtration system (I love this thing), and they make a water bottle version too. Their filters have good reviews, and even used militarily and by religious missionaries who frequent 3rd world countries where there is no clean water.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top