How do you check drinking water for critters?

L

LittleHairyApe

Joined
Mar 30, 2006
Messages
494
I'm thinking of getting a microscope so that I can at least know what I'm drinking in case of homesteading or long term survival. I have wondered for a while what stains are used and what are some of the tricks for making up slides to look for bacteria, and such, with a microscope? What would be a minimum magnication power for this type of application? Where can I get stuff like that, i.e. what are the optimal google search terms for suppliers of slides, stains, etc.?
 
It would not be worth your time and money IMO (based on my limited micro knowledge from my Bio degree). First of all you would have to know the taxonomy of EVERY microogranism out there to be able to do a definitive ID. Many of the little guys in our water are completely harmless, and there are TONS of them in water. Most any scientific supply company would have enough supplies and knowledge if you are serious about your endeavor. In a long term survival knowing what is in the water would not be that much of a big deal because you would still have to be able to kill them before drinking anyways. Much better to just boil the hell out of your water before drinking.

Just my opinion though.
 
Microscope is a wonderful tool.
Looking various creatures through it is so much fun.
I love it.
But it's too heavy, bulky and delicate for taking to outdoor.
I have a x20 double lens magnifier. Quite useful and interesting tool for its size.

I'm not sure but quite doubtful in judging water with it, though.
 
I taught Microbilogy lab a few times when I was a graduate student....a long time ago!

First off, bactreia are super small, so you need a high quality microscope with very high magnification, and an "oil immersion" lense (like 1000X !!!)....so that microscope in your kids science kit probably isn't going to cut it. Usually a "gram" stain will show up the basic things that are there....but you have lots of problems. First off, unless the water is heavily contaminated, you probably aren't going to even see anything at all....

The way water is tested, is it is run through a filter that catches the bacteria. The filter is then placed on a pad of growth media that soaks up through the filter, and the individual bacteria grow up into colonies. Different kinds of colonies will have different colors and shapes, and the tech can then stain them and look under the microscope to complete an identification.

At least this is how it was done back it the day. Now, it is possible to pop a sample in a mass spec (I have one of those that cost $500,000, to play with!) and get an identification in seconds!

And we haven't even talked about viruses (which you can't see and are very difficult to culture), or protozoa, and other things that would like to take up residence in your body.

The best practice in any outdoor/survival situation is to treat all water like it is contaminated!! If you have just sunk a new well or you are permanently locating at a water source, the best thing is to have it checked by an experienced professional. Also, have it checked for other contaminents like arsenic, etc.
 
Last edited:
Here is a gross story! An exgirlfriend had an excellent well, and a huge water tank, but everybody in the family was feeling sick. I decided we needed to clean the tank (hadn't been done in years!), and when I did I found a huge dead rat floating in there.....
 
reconranger said:
Here is a gross story! An exgirlfriend had an excellent well, and a huge water tank, but everybody in the family was feeling sick. I decided we needed to clean the tank (hadn't been done in years!), and when I did I found a huge dead rat floating in there.....
Click to expand...

WRONG! Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. That is just wrong. :barf: I'm drinking my coffee here! :foot::D



Guess you didn''t need a microscope for that one.
 
Last edited:
reconranger said:
I taught Microbilogy lab a few times when I was a graduate student....a long time ago!

First off, bactreia are super small, so you need a high quality microscope with very high magnification, and an "oil immersion" lense (like 1000X !!!)....so that microscope in your kids science kit probably isn't going to cut it. Usually a "gram" stain will show up the basic things that are there....but you have lots of problems. First off, unless the water is heavily contaminated, you probably aren't going to even see anything at all....

The way water is tested, is it is run through a filter that catches the bacteria. The filter is then placed on a pad of growth media that soaks up through the filter, and the individual bacteria grow up into colonies. Different kinds of colonies will have different colors and shapes, and the tech can then stain them and look under the microscope to complete an identification.

At least this is how it was done back it the day. Now, it is possible to pop a sample in a mass spec (I have one of those that cost $500,000, to play with!) and get an identification in seconds!

And we haven't even talked about viruses (which you can't see and are very difficult to culture), or protozoa, and other things that would like to take up residence in your body.

The best practice in any outdoor/survival situation is to treat all water like it is contaminated!! If you have just sunk a new well or you are permanently locating at a water source, the best thing is to have it checked by an experienced professional. Also, have it checked for other contaminents like arsenic, etc.
Click to expand...

Nice rat story. That is exactly what I needed. Water filtering. Culturing samples. Gram staining. 1000x. I just needed an overview of what the drill is, and you answered that with authority. Knowledge is power. Thanks for the power. - Harry
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top