Water is the most basic requirement of life. It gives us the energy we need to do the things we love and is an important deterrent to sun sickness. Contaminated water however, may induce diarrhoea, nausea and exhaustion. Dealing with the effects of drinking contaminated water is not the way you want to spend your camping trip or travels abroad.
If you are planning on traveling or camping soon, it's important to remember the most basic essential of all: clean water. The purpose of water filtration/purification systems is to provide you with safe, clean drinking water wherever you may be. They aim at filtering or destroying harmful microorganisms. These include Protozoans, Bacteria and Viruses.
Protozoans are common in North American water and can cause a variety of sicknesses including cryptosporidia and giardia (beaver fever). Fortunately, Protozoans are large and easy to filter out.
Bacteria are also found in North American water sources. Bacteria are smaller than protozoa , but can be cleaned from your drinking water with a good filter.
Viruses are a common problem when traveling abroad. They are too small to be strained out by common filtration systems and require a purification system to be eradicated.
To choose between a filtration or purification system, you first need to know where you are going. If it's camping in North America, a filtration system is all you need. If you're traveling abroad to a country with questionable drinking water, a purification system is absolutely necessary. Types of filtration systems include:
Pump Filtration: This is the traditional type of water filtration system. A simple hand-pump pushes water through a filter to clean it. They take a little bit of work and are most effective for one or two people. Different pumps have different flow rates. A pump with a pre-filter will clean the water before straining out microorganisms, this increases the life of your pathogen filter.
No-Pump Filtration: These filters may have a sip-tube or rely on gravity to move water through the filter. A gravity filter is often most effective for cleaning large quantities of water for larger groups and is a convenient base-camp option.
For water where viruses are a concern, purification systems include:
Chlorine-dioxide Tablets or Drops: These chemicals have virtually no taste and are safer than the older method of using chlorine or iodine to kill viruses.
Ultraviolet light: Sterilizes water the same way doctors sterilize medical instruments. SteriPEN is a hand-held battery operated device that quickly neutralizes all pathogens. To strain out dirt you will need to purchase a secondary filter.
Oxident purifiers: This refers to using salt tablets to create electrically-charged brine that kills viruses. The device is nice because it is small and compact and easy to travel with.
Boiling: This is a simple method for effectively killing all pathogens. The downside is the time and fuel it requires.
Carrying clean water will give you the confidence you need to stay properly hydrated through your many adventures. Have fun and stay safe.
Now go play outside.