Camping Water Filter...
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Camping Water Filter...the truth behind them. Do you really need a water filter in the backcountry or for that matter, in your home? Let's first look at those crystal clear mountain streams in the backcountry.
Lot's of Bugs in That Water...
Those quaint mountain streams may not be so quaint after all. There's a lot of little things living in those streams, microscopic pathogens.
Typically you might find Giardia, Cryptosporidium or even Hepatitis A. All of these guys are small, unseen by the naked eye yet ready to attack you. Your crystal clean quaint mountain stream is not so quaint anymore.
How do you suppose these microscopic pathogens get into the crystal clear mountain streams? They typically enter the water system through animal or human waste, feces, or as our kids say, "poop".
A mountain goat high upon a ridge line can relieve himself and potentially contaminate your quaint crystal clean stream. Or the backpackers who relieved themselves upstream from you. You just don't know what is awaiting you.
If you should come in contact with these microscopic pathogens by ingesting them, that means drinking them, you are liable to get sick. How sick? That depends upon your immune system.
If you do get sick you will likely experience stomach cramps, diarrhea, fatigue...in other words you don't feel good. I speak from experience.
While I was traveling and hiking throughout India I thought I was extremely careful of what I ate and drank. (I even drank Coke through a straw because I didn't want my lips to touch the outter portion of the bottle.) While I was on a hiking trail, a long ways from civilization, I came across a small spring bubbling from the ground. It looked crystal clear and smelled clean.
With my geology background, I thought the water was coming from an underground source filtered through various rock layers. Therefore, I drank the clean water and filled my water containers. Within a couple of hours my stomach began feeling wheezy. Not long after I started to experience stomach cramps then severe diarrhea.
I was out of it for two solid days. I cramped up so much I couldn't even walk. I was also dehydrated from the diarrhea. It took nearly a month before I felt normal again.
Never Leave Without Your Water Filter...
Now, I never travel or hike without my water filter. If you follow the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention you shouldn't have any problems like I experienced.
1. Filter the water with your water filter.
2. Treat water with chlorine or iodine.
3. Let water stand for 15 - 60 minutes.
4. Then it is safe for drinking; however, I add another step.
5. I filter the water again to remove the chlorine or iodine taste.
I like the Katadyn WaterWorks EX Filter camping water filter for hiking. It's light and easy to use. It has a ceramic element with an activated carbon core. Treat the water with some iodine and you should be safe from those microscopic pathogens that want to attack you.
For camping purposes I like the Katadyn Gravidyn Drip Filter. You can filter a lot of water, on-going. It takes a little longer but that is "ok", you'll be busy with other things, like having fun while your camping water filter is working.
There's also the little filter bottles in the marketplace. I use these only with treated water, tap water. I don't take any risks when it comes to drinking water. These little filter bottles don't have the same capabilites as your water filter, the Katadyn WaterWorks or Katadyn Drip Filters.
Build Your Own Emergency Camping Water Filter...
You can build your own water filter, but use it ONLY in an emergency. It will not perform as well as some on the marketplace.
1. Punch very small holes on the bottom of a container.
2. Rinse off some fine sand and place in the bottom of the container.
3. Rinse off some coarser grain sand and place on-top of the fine sand.
4. Pour water into the container.
5. Collect the clean water in another container.
Remember this is only for emergencies. If you have some bleach or iodine, use it after filtering your water. If not, boil the water for a at least 15-minutes. You want to ensure all of those little bugs are dead.
Do You Use A Filter At Home...?
Are you using a filter at home? If not I suggest that you do. City water is not necessarily as clean as you may think. And even if it is, you can have some good clean water without the added chlorine by running it through the bottle filter.
Do you like or drink bottled water? Do you realize that most bottled water comes from a municipality? The water is simply treated and submitted through a filtering process. You can do the same at home. Just fill some bottles with your own filtered water.
PURE WATER for less than a penny per gallon. Just like drinking water from a mountain stream.
An added safety note, never-ever, leave without taking your good first aid kit. What's a good first aid kit ? We never go anywhere without our first aid kit...it can save a life.
These added tips about the water filter comes from Northwest Travel Tips.
Any info you'd like to pass onto others regarding a camping water filter, please contact us.
Craig Dahl - Senior Editor
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