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Date:         Wed, 1 Jan 2003 17:22:14 -0700
Reply-To:     Ben McCafferty <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ben McCafferty <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Water Treatment / Purification
Comments: To: Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <3E1338BF.7070904@eoni.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hey Larry, Applying backpacking experience to this.....

There are basically two approaches to the problem, filtration or chemicals of one sort or another. Most ceramic filters these days can filter out all bacteria (giardia, cryptosporidia, etc.) but will miss viruses, because viruses are so much smaller than bacteria. Chemical treatments (tablets, iodine crystals, etc.) will get everything, including viruses. The old way to use a filter and still kill viruses was to run water through an iodine pre-filter, then the main filter which removed the iodine taste and bacteria. This meant you could only filter a certain amount per hour, to let the iodine pre-filter recover. Another trick from the trail is to let the iodine or chlorine tablets do their thing, then set the open bottle of water in direct sunlight for about 20 minutes, and the iodine/chlorine taste would disappear as the treatment oxidized out of the water.

Whatever you decide on, keep in mind that you should always have a method to clean your filter, and a backup plan. On the trail, I carry a Sweetwater Guardian filter with a cleaning kit and an extra filter for long trips. I also have a small bottle of iodine tablets in case the filter clogs. If you are filtering really murky water, a sock or a sediment filter on the intake hose will increase filter life dramatically.

I may have missed something in recent technology and am open to corrections, but I think Jim actually has it backwards below--filtration misses some things, and chemicals get everything. I do endorse the tequila method, though.... :)

tx, bmc :) Ben McCafferty ben@volkscafe.com

Volks Cafe 1823 Soquel Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 95062 831-426-1244 http://www.volkscafe.com

> > AFAIK the only way to ensure safe drinking water from an unknown source > is filtration. Chemicals apparently miss some of the more persistant > bacteria. > > Tequila works too... > > Jim > > Larry Chase wrote: > >> >> There was talk of filters (charcoal and such) and other treatment >> approaches. >>


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