Woods Water Purification

averageiowaguy

averageiowaguy

Joined
Mar 22, 2011
Messages
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I keep things really simple. I like the Coleman's 2 part water purification tablets. What do you use?
[video=youtube;YSDQleWqYaQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSDQleWqYaQ[/video]
 
I usually carry two-step tabs just in case, but usually carry enough bottled water to last a trip or boil water if needed. Often, with a bit of searching, I can find a fresh water spring which does not need treatment, other than suspended solids filtering. A coffee filter or clean dishcloth will accomplish this. None of these methods will remove disolved heavy metals and chemical contaminants though, thus the preference for bottled spring water, even though those contaminants are not a known problem with my local water sources.
 
Coleman tabs have a place in my kit, as does a stainless cooking jug and alcohol burner. I recently picked up an MSR mini works filter system that seams to work well. I generally bring enough water for a day hike, but longer duration water weight is a limiting factor and the MSR reduces the chemical and biological contaminants (use a coffee filter for a pre-filter and keep the hose off of the bottom of the water source). It does not remove virus but can always treat or boil after filtering.
 
Codger_64 said:
http://media.cascadedesigns.com/pdf/31-966_MiniWorksEX_Inst_EN.pdf

The MSR manufacturer's sheet warns not to filter chemically contaminated water with it?
Click to expand...

It is a ceramic filter with a charcoal core. It would not filter all chemical contaminants but is effective for many pesticides and heavy metals etc. I believe the military uses both the MSR and the katadyne. I would rather get some filtration if drinking from a surface water source. If I were in the mountains or somewhere with less industrial/agricultural pollution I would just use tabs/or boil.
 
Cool, thanks for the video. I've had first need filters that worked well, and I keep supplies on hand for fist stage filtering then boiling. I have been looking more at highly portable options.
 
The only thing that I don't like about water purification tablets that come in a "bottle," once the bottle is open and the seal is broken you gotta use'em all up within 6-12 months or you gotta throw'em away.The single most time honored method of purifying water is to boil it.

Above Ground Pools
 
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My primary is always boiling, I carry a bottle of iodine as a back up and because it is multi use. Somewhere in my kit I have a few pills too.
 
I always have Aqua Mira two-part drops or iodine tablets around, or the ability to boil. I also try to bring enough water along on a day hike.

I was given a Steri-pen as a gift recently. It is quick and simple to use, and also light and compact. You just stick it in a liter of water, push a button, and swish it around for ninety seconds. The hardest part for me is getting past the mental block of feeling like I'm not really doing anything.
 
MSR autoflow, or MSR Sweetwater. I always carry tablets (cant remeber which, but they ll kill everything in 2 hours).but despite all these purification tools, mostly, i just boil it.
 
I have a Katadyne ceramic filter(0.2 micron). The filter is infused with Silver to preclude the growth of bacteria. Back up is a pot and stove.
 
Most trips, I get by with the water that I bring. When I do have to have more, like my trip last week on the Withlachoochee river, I use my Katydn Hiker Pro filter.
 
For me...

Day Trips - Chlorine dioxide, specifically Micro pur tabs. Have used for many years.

Multi-day - Boil and rarely 2% tincture of iodine.

And unless you are at a very high elevation, you just have to get your water to a boil to kill all biological pathogens. According to the Wilderness Medical Society, just a couple minutes at 185* kills everything. So by the time you get to 212*, your good.

Other major factors besides treatment that can't be ignored in an overall strategy are hygiene and collection strategy.
 
Different horses for different courses: MSR Sweetwater pump filter, PolarPure, Katadyn Basecamp gravity filter, MicroPur tabs (impossible to find now and replaced with faster, longer shelf-life MSR Aquatabs in my packs).

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
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