Hiking Water Treatment Options

Never use or toss soapy water directly into backcountry water sources.

Hiking water treatment options.

Purifying and treating your water is a personal choice. Below are the best ways to treat your water while hiking or backpacking. Clean hands save lives cdc. When looking for a filter anything less than one micron will be effective for purifying.

You can choose from chemical treatment iodine or chlorine filtration ultraviolet light or boiling. Luckily there are now many simple and convenient ways to purify water obtained along the trail when you re out for a nice hike. For information on sanitation when traveling or while in the backcountry visit. When you re back at camp enjoying dinner it isn t an issue but the last thing you ll want to do on the middle of a hike is take our your stove fuel and pots to boil some water to drink.

Filters only purify the water from protozoa bacteria. Top quality great selection and expert advice you can trust. If possible wash hands with soap and clean running water before handling food or eating and after using the toilet. Each of these methods is very effective when used properly.

For example squeeze style water filters uv purification and filter bottles tend to be good for solo users and clear water sources while chemical purification and pump filters purifiers are good for larger groups and riskier or murkier water sources. It can help spawn a population of microscopic pathogens in the water. Not only will the high temperature kill bacteria protozoa and viruses but the boiling will help the sediment settle out leaving clear water on top. Dispose of soapy water by dispersing it on soil rather than rocks.

Collect water in a pot then fire up the stove. Boiling is fuel intensive and requires waiting for water to cool. Activate the substances then drop it into your water and wait. Standard shipping on orders of 50 or more.

These items are chosen because of popularity weight and effectiveness. Types of water treatment. Of all the chemical treatment systems it kills the most stuff including finicky cryptosporidium cysts. Boiling water will kill just about everything however it does take time requires taking extra fuel and is cumbersome to do while hiking.

Properly dispose of human waste at least 200 feet away from water sources. Simply bringing water to a rolling boil is sufficient.