Desinfecting water with iodine

Hey Guys...


Alarmist marketing is what sells products

Yup,, thats why you ALL need an On/Scene Tactical Water filter Holster..

If you don't have one when you need it,, you're all Phucked !!

:D :D :D :D

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Is tactical water black? :confused:

No--it's International Orange so you can find it better if spilled.

Of course, spills are minimized by the tactical silent-closure velcro rip-stop non-magnetic puncture resistant water bladder.

Remember that orange stuff the Astronauts were drinking?

That wasn't Tang. That was Tac Water! :D
 
For starters, waterborn polio virus was absolutely rampant a generation ago. You don't think it could make a comeback??? What about the thousands (maybe millions) of illegal aliens pouring across our borders from 3rd world countries, who may have never been vacinated????

Google these: Hepatitis A, rotavirus, Norwalk virus...for starters! Hep A carriers are common! All it takes to pick up Hep A is for somebody to crap or bathe upstream from you.

Play it safe folks, and treat the hell out of your water!!!
**I direct this question to reconranger for the reason they are a medical professional (whose consintration is in this field) but would value others imput as well**

On the subject of H2O treatment I'm of the camp who feels it is important whereever you are to "treat the hell" out of my water and have been looking for a good system to do so.

I heard about a product called a steripen and I am wondering if you have heard anything about it and if it does everything it says. Here is a link to the companies website http://www.hydro-photon.com (incase it is new to you.)

So, reconranger (or others) if you have heard of this product I would be intrested in hearing your thoughts on it. If you haven't could you please review their site and give me any feed back on it that you can.

On the direct topic of iodine for H2O purification; iodine tablets shouldn't be hard to find I've found them @ Wal-mart and at Dic's sporting goods. As far as use goes they work well if you can get past the added flavoring. As others have said if you can't find it locally just order it on-line it should not be a restricted shipment chemical (esp it tablet form.)

Cheers
-Ronan
 
Is iodine actually more effective than chlorine (aside from crypto that ignores both)?

I don't know the answer, but I always stayed away from chlorine because of the statement below and what I have read elsewhere - Based on past scoopage from streams with my Nalgene bottle I know I get organics - sometimes a lot of stuff floating around in there. Obviously chlorine is better than nothing, but not my first choice...

"From the available literature, chlorine appears to be more sensitive to the issue of organic contamination and its ability to hide the nasty bugs from the treatment process. It also has the down side of outgassing rapidly from open containers and appears to be more adversely affected by colder water temperatures. When chlorine is used, it is important to eliminate organic material as much as possible, either by straining, filtering or some other means, and to ensure the water container is kept closed for the duration of the treatment."

http://www.equipped.org/watrfood.htm
 
Iodine Treatment
Iodine is light sensitive and must always be stored in a dark bottle. It works best if the water is over 68° F (21° C). Iodine has been shown to be more effect than chlorine-based treatments in inactivating Giardia cysts. Be aware that some people are allergic to iodine and cannot use it as a form of water purification. Persons with thyroid problems or on lithum, women over fifty, and pregnant women should consult their physician prior to using iodine for purification. Also, some people who are allergic to shellfish are also allergic to iodine. If someone cannot use iodine, use either a chlorine-based product or a non-iodine-based filter, such as the PUR Hiker Microfilter, MSR WaterWorks, or the Katadyn Water Filter.

Generally, the procedure is as follows:

Liquid 2% Tincture of Iodine Add 5 drops per quart when the water is clear. Add 10 drops per quart when the water is cloudy.
Polar Pure Iodine Crystals Fill the Polar Pure bottle with water and shake. The solution will be ready for use in one hour. Add the number of capfuls (per quart of water treated) listed on the bottle, based on the temperature of the iodine solution. The particle trap prevents crystals from getting into the water being treated. It is important to note that you are using the iodine solution to treat the water, not the iodine crystals. The concentration of iodine in a crystal is poisonous and can burn tissue or eyes. Let the treated water stand for 30 minutes before drinking. In order to destroy Giardia cysts, the drinking water must be at least 68° F (20° C). The water can be warmed in the sun before treating or hot water can be added. Refill the treatment bottle after use so that the solution will be ready one hour later. Crystals in the bottle make enough solution to treat about 2,000 quarts. Discard the bottle when empty.
Potable Aqua This is an iodine tablet product. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.

From princeton.edu
 
I'm an old Codger. What do you expect? I boil water. It is the surest, most effective way to kill giardia and a host of other nasties. When I make camp I have at least one if not two water bags of fresh, pure water. If I am in a hurry to cook and my food prep includes dehydrated food, I use the fresh water. If I have time, I boil local water instead for my meal. Then boil more to clean and scald my cookware before boiling more to refill the water bags or canteen. It really does not take as long as folks make out. Fuel usage is a concern only if I am using a stove, which I seldom do. It isn't a problem to push a boiler into the side of the coals and let it work while I do other things. Now, I must say that most of my camping where water is carried like this is canoe camping and the weight is no problem. I might consider chemicals if I were moving fast and light. But remember that your stomach and intestines are full of bacteria that aid in your digestion of food. Are you willing to reduce the good bacteria with iodine or whatever if you can avoid doing so?

Codger

http://giardiaclub.com/water-purification.html
 
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