| When people get out of the city to go camping | | | | a water filter. Filters are a mechanical method to |
| and enjoy nature, they don't expect to run into | | | | separate parasites and other undesirables from |
| pollution problems. After all it's nature, right? | | | | the water. Look to buy a water filter of 1 micron |
| Everything is supposed to be pristine. Well, don't | | | | or less to strain out protozoa like giardia and |
| let mother nature fool you. The crystal clear | | | | cryptosporidium. A more refined filter of less than |
| water you see from lakes and rivers might not | | | | 0.4 micron will remove most bacteria. Or, a water |
| be as pure as you might think. | | | | filter system with a built-in iodine component will |
| Untreated water from the great outdoors might | | | | kill the bacteria and viruses. This leads to the third |
| contain bacteria, parasites and viruses that can | | | | method of water purification: the chemical |
| become harmful once ingested. Symptoms can | | | | method. |
| include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. That's why | | | | Iodine is often used in chemical water purification |
| it's important to be educated on the water | | | | tablets to kill bacteria and viruses. Tablets are |
| purification process when going camping. | | | | cheap and easy to use but they have some |
| There are three basic methods of purifying water | | | | drawbacks as well. The shelf life of tablets is |
| when camping. They are the filter process, the | | | | about six months in an open bottle and the iodine |
| chemical process and the boil method. | | | | also leaves a taste in the water. To combat this |
| The boil method is the best bet to kill all bacteria, | | | | problem, carbon filters are used to remove the |
| micro-organisms and viruses dead. However, it is | | | | iodine. |
| also a time consuming process to bring large | | | | As you can see, the most effective method for |
| quantities of water to a boil. After that, you need | | | | fast drinking water is through a combination of |
| to let the water cool down unless you wish to | | | | mechanical water filters with a chemical |
| drink hot water on a hot day. Boiling water also | | | | component of iodine. With this in mind, make sure |
| requires a fire or some other source of heat | | | | you are equipped with a good water purification |
| source. In any case, while boiling water is | | | | system the next time you go camping so you |
| effective, it isn't the most convenient option. | | | | can really enjoy the outdoors. |
| An alternative option to the boil method is to use | | | | |