| While growing up on the range, most
of our water came straight
from creeks. We’d just lie on our stomachs and drink
like animals. Giardia is more prevalent these days, though
how much seems debatable. I know a half dozen people today
who drink straight from the source in the western US and
BC. Some people are no doubt more immune than others though
I highly suspect Giardia is not as widespread as often
believed…at least in truly remote areas.
That said, I am not recommending
you test my suspicions and drink from the source. Depending
on the location, there may be other contaminates in
the water besides Giardia. These might include bacteria,
viruses and even chemicals,
believe it or not. For those
reasons, I recommend that you treat your water. How
though is up to you based on the level of protection
you believe is needed. Below are some options.
Bottle
filters
The bottle filter is one of the best inventions to come
out of the outdoor industry. It is simply a water bottle
with a replaceable filter cartridge under the lid. To
use, take off the lid/filter, dip the bottle in the
river, replace the lid/filter and squeeze/suck for potable
water. You can even do this while in the boat which,
means no more excuses for becoming dehydrated.
 |
| Note
the duct tape on this bottle filter. I carry it
in several places including on person wrapped around
a lighter. |
No pumping, no extra water bottles
to carry, simple, always available and only slightly
heavier than a conventional water bottle. The only drawback
is that they will clog rather quickly in silty and or
brown water. For reasonably clear water though, these
bottles are tops!
It should be noted that most bottle
filters do not deactivate viruses...or in other words,
purify. If viruses are thought to be present, pre-treat
water before filtering or use a purifier. Also, though
some bottles may look identical to others, not all are
not equal in the taste department. After using several,
I have come to prefer the Aquamira...though I have noticed
some taste inconsistencies in their filter cartridges
too. Changes in manufacturing, materials and suppliers
can change the tastes to any filter at any time. You
may have to experiment with different brands to keep
your palate happy.
Pump filters & purifiers
Filtering and purifying with hand held pump units are
the most common methods of water treatment. The two
methods should not be confused though. While filters
and purifiers both have filter cartridges
and are used the same way and look identical,
they do not provide equal amounts of protection. A filter
does just that. It filters. However, some organisms
are so small they can not be filtered. This is when
the purifier comes in. What isn't caught in the purifiers
filter is then eradicated by a purification process.
This is typically done with iodine. Unfortunately, almost
all purifiers that use this method leave some degree
of iodine taste behind. Purifiers also cost more and
most are a bit heavier.
Filter or purifier, the
one you choose depends on the level of protection you
believe you need. Filters will take care of protozoa
(Giardia) and bacteria while purifiers do that plus
destroy viruses. Most believe a filter is sufficient
for backcountry use in the western US and British Columbia.
You make the call.
| Chemicals
in backcountry water? How could that be? Believe
it or not, there are several ways chemicals
can end up in the backcountry water you are cooking
with & drinking. One route is via air masses
as noted below in 'No single raindrop believes
it is to blame for the flood'. Other avenues
are herbicides used to kill poisonous plants in
campsites; & various chemicals from upstream
development, ranching & remote
marijuana growing operations. |
It should also be noted that some
manufacturers claim their filters (including some bottle
filters) or purifiers "reduce" "some"
chemicals. Considering the options, or lack of, this
may offer a small piece of mind when paddling where
chemicals might be in the water. Yes, one is probably
far more likely to get struck by lightning than die
or even get sick from acute chemical poisoning in the
backcountry. However, there are other and far more complex
issues associated with low dose chemical exposures...issues
that, for now, are beyond the scope of this page.
Filtering tips:
- Whichever method of water
treatment you use (filter or purifier),
search for the cleanest looking water and where
it’s not moving fast, or at all. The faster
the water is moving, the more particles there will
be suspended and the more you’ll unnecessarily
put in your filter or purifier's filter cartridge.
- Use a prefilter when using
a pump style filter or purifier in muddy or silty
water.
- It’s a good idea to let
muddy or silty water settle several hours or better
yet, overnight before filtering/purifying. Instead
of carrying a special bucket for this, fill the
stern of an empty kayak and stand it upright against
a rock, tree, or steep bank. I like to do this as
soon as I get to camp so I can filter later that
evening and again the next morning.
Boiling
While boiling is recognized as being a surefire method
of dealing with protozoa, bacteria and viruses, it has
several shortcomings. Boiling will not remove chemicals;
the water will taste flat; it's time consuming; it takes
a lot of fuel; no sediments
are removed; and lastly, unless you like your water
hot, you’ll have to wait until it cools. Even
then, the water will only reach the ambient air temperature.
There is also some disagreement over boiling times.
Some say a hard boil is sufficient while others maintain
several minutes are needed.
However, other than chemicals that
could potentially be in the water, none of these weaknesses
are a problem when cooking a meal that requires boiled
water. In these regards, boiling is actually
the preferred route as you'll get food in you mouth
quicker and be saving your filter or purifier's filter
cartridge along the way. The boiling treats
the water so no need to filter/purify. Just dip your
pan in the creek/river, boil and eat!
Chemically treating
There are several disinfectants that have been used
to treat water over the years. Treating with iodine
is one of these methods and is the old standby. It has
been used for eons simply because it’s known to
do the trick, is cheap and weighs nearly nothing. Iodine
is however known to produce unhealthy disinfection byproducts
and it definately leaves a distinctive odor and taste
in the water. A few people don’t mind this odor
and taste but many dislike it or can't stomach it, myself
included. There are things one can add to help mask
the iodine taste but that's just another step and the
fact remains; you'll be putting chemicals in to your
body...some thing I personally refuse to do if not absolutely
necessary, even in small amounts. It should also be
noted that iodine, or any other chemical disinfectant,
will not remove other chemicals which may be in the
water.
A slightly heavier alternative,
which is relatively new to the backcountry scene, is
a two-part system consisting of Chlorine Dioxide and
Phosphoric Acid. When mixed together, the Chlorine Dioxide
is activated causing a release of oxygen in a highly
active form. This process supposedly eradicates protozoa,
bacteria and viruses while producing fewer disinfection
byproducts than other chemical treatments. Besides that,
this treatment method leaves no nasty iodine flavor
or, as the name may imply, no chlorine tastes either
(Chlorine Dioxide has a different chemical
structure than that of chlorine and produces an entirely
different behavior and byproducts). This
chemical also comes in tablet form. More on that later.
Sounds great, but this latter treatment
is not without pitfalls. First off, it is still a chemical
and just like iodine, the effects are not immediate.
You must give this chemical time to do its thing; 30
minutes. This is after a mixture of equal amounts of
Chlorine Dioxide and Phosphoric Acid have been mixed
together and left alone for several minutes. By the
time that cold spring/creek water is "safe"
to drink, it won’t be so cold anymore. Secondly,
just like boiling and treating with iodine, this method
will not remove any sediments. This is fine if the water
starts out clear, but if in the desert, you’ll
be drinking grit. Despite these inconveniences, this
product could prove to be a good alternative for those
who need to deal with viruses and prefer not to filter
or boil.
Ultraviolet (UV)
light purifiers coming.....
General tips
No
single raindrop believes it is to blame for the
flood. Some of the most toxic chemicals
known to man are carried on air masses and deposited
in places we assume to be the most pristine. Just
a few examples would be the well-documented struggle
the Inuit peoples of the Arctic are having
with dioxins; the
agricultural chemicals and other compounds found
at high elevations in many North American national
parks; and very high levels of mercury in
the waters of southern Idaho near some of the
most remote self-support runs in the Lower 48.
It is unknown how these chemicals may or may not
affect the self-supporter. That isn’t
the point though. The point is this:
never assume you’re in a ecosystem unaffected
by mans actions and two, remember that you contribute
to this issue each time you support the PVC industry,
eat non-organically grown food and turn the light
on.
Just
in, Feb 26, 2008: National Park Service
overview and announcement of the Western Airborne
Contaminants Assessment Project. Click
here. |
- If not using a bottle filter,
take one 32 ounce or bigger bottle. Otherwise, you'll
have to take the time to dig your pump out of your
kayak and filter in between camps to stay hydrated
throughout the day.
- Consider adding measuring graduations
to your bottle with a permanent marker for meal preparations.
- Need a water bottle? Reuse a
sports drink bottle. They are free, lightweight and
as long as they are relatively new and haven't been
smashed, don't produce that cruddy plastic aftertaste.
- If you are launching anywhere
below human development, whether it’s a farm,
single cabin, small village or ranch, assume the water
is contaminated with undesirables, including chemicals.
While some methods may disinfect the water fine, your
safest bet is to treat water from small side streams/springs.
10.11.08 |
