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When
you are in the great outdoors -
There's
just one question, The kind of water that is available to you depends on the type of camping you are doing. If you are camping in a campground with a water source provided your needs will differ from a backpacking family who cannot carry all of the water needed for their trip. Generally, your water source is a stream, a lake, or a spring. The water may taste wonderfully clear -
however,
Protozoa
and larger parasites, bacteria, and viruses all can be found in
backcountry water sources.
So
how do we get rid of these 'water hazards'? 1. Boil your water.
This
is the only free water treatment you'll find -
Boiling
is the surefire way to purify water. 2. Iodine disinfection
There
are three forms of iodine treatments; crystals, tablets, and liquid.
For years iodine has been the most efficient way for backpackers to
disinfect water, because it is lightweight, cheap, and is easy to do. 3. Filtration
Filters
physically strain out microorganisms larger than a certain size.
There are two different kinds of water filters. There are kinds that
remove, or filter out, protozoa's and bacteria, and there are filters
that "purify," which means they also remove viruses as well
as protozoa and bacteria.
Filter elements These following are what your filter could be made of, and it's construction, which can be depth or surface. Most good filters today are depth filters. This means that the filter element has some thickness, or depth to it. The complex structure also captures the offending microorganisms. Depth filters can often be cleaned by scrubbing or backwashing. Surface filters, also known as membrane filters, have a thinner, sheet like construction that tends to clog quickly. Your filter's possible elements: Carbon. Activated carbon strains out organic chemicals like herbicides, pesticides, and chlorine. It is always used in conjunction with another filter material. Ceramic. By nature, ceramic is porous, intricate material with lots of little nooks and crannies that capture microorganisms. The best thing ceramic filters is they can be washed time and time again before they need to be replaced. The draw back of ceramic filters is they are fragile, especially in cold weather. Fiberglass or glass fiber. Glass fibers are long and slick and can be molded into intricate structures that effectively catch the microscopic bad guys. Fiberglass doesn't last as long as ceramics, but is more durable. If you camp a great deal a filter might be right for you. Water filters produce the best tasting water. Only water filters can remove pollutants from water.
Water
filters do require spare filters - Filtration devices are the most expensive alternative. Water filters can be a bit bulky to carry.
Whatever
method you choose -
Your
favorite campground has running water; maybe even showers. I don't think so.
Many
recreation facilities offer water that is not potable
Potable
water is considered safe for drinking -
Many
parks treat their water with the same kind of chlorine you would use
in your pool. This kind of treatment is not an exact science. Parks
that have their own water system are required to test the water on a
regular basis. The testing is simple -
Also
-
A
friend of mine used to work at and housed in barracks on site at
Campground Park. He told me there were warnings in the kitchen and
bathroom recommending that employees not drink the water. Bottled
water was provided by thier employer. When he asked about it - I would not recommend drinking water anyplace where you are unsure of its purity.
Some
recreation areas have natural springs or wells with incredibly good water. We bring large five gallon water jugs of our own water!
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