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ADVANCED WILDERNESS
LIFE SUPPORT
6525 Gunpark Drive, #370
Boulder, Colorado 80301
1-866-830-3394
www.awls.org
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Greetings!
We hope you all enjoyed a great summer in the outdoors! With Autumn in full swing, now is the time to refresh your backcountry knowledge with our quiz on water purification and our upcoming courses. Stay safe in the outdoors!
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WATER PURIFICATION
A large group of campers spend several days trekking in the high Colorado Rockies. Three days after the expedition, a 28-yr-old male experiences gastrointestinal disease. His symptoms include watery diarrhea, cramping and loss of appetite. The group was careful to filter their water and exercise proper hygiene in camp. During one day hike, the group carried iodine tablets to purify water at streams along the route.
- What are some of the pros and cons of the two purification methods used by the campers?
- With the precautions that were taken, what is the most likely cause of the patient's symptoms? Could his symptoms have potentially started before the trek ended? What would you recommend in this case?
- Are there more thorough methods for water purifications? Do they have any drawbacks?
ANSWERS:
- Both purification methods have one major weakness. Though filtering with a lightweight filtration pump is effective at screening most pathogens, viruses are too small to be screened and filters are ineffective against them. Iodine or other halogens are ineffective against protozoa and helminths like giardia and cryptosporidium.
- While filtering, the man may have ingested a virus like Hepatitis A. Halogenation may have allowed him to ingest cryptosporidia or giardia. Giardia and hepatitis A usually don't present for a week to fifteen days, so cryptosporidium is the most likely. The incubation time is 2 - 14 days so it can potentially cause symptoms while a patient is still in the backcountry. There is no effective treatment currently, but fluid and electrolyte replacement is vital.
- Heat is effective against all pathogens, but it costs energy and specifically fuel. If you boil water, be sure to use a pot cover to maximize efficiency. New devices use UV light to purify water of all pathogens effectively. However, dependance on battery power makes some outdoor enthusiasts worry about the reliability of this method. Finally, chlorine dioxide (different from chlorine) is one of the only effective chemicals against cryptosporidium and has a much more pleasant taste than other chemical options.
Make sure you are thorough and careful with your water in the backcountry. A variety of pathogens can affect you any time from during your trek to weeks later when you go back to work, school, or your next outing. Some, like hepatitis A, can develop into more serious and complicating infections. Be sure to practice good hygiene and food-handling as well to preserve your purified water to stay safe and feeling great in the backcountry!
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