Water Treatment Options when Hiking, Camping or Traveling
All it takes is one bad sip of water for a hiking expedition, camping trip or your dream vacation to go south quickly. Drinking untreated or contaminated water can make you sick with a range of different illnesses or even subject you to certain parasites. However, one sure-fire way to make sure the water you drink is safe and healthy no matter where you are is running it through the portable Berkey Sport Water Bottle Filter. However, there are a few other strategies you may want to consider as well. Here’s a closer look at some of them.
So just what are your treatment options when you’re in a certain location or out in the wilderness that may have unsanitary water sources? Here’s a look at some of the things you can do to purify your water and refrain from getting sick while you’re on the go:
Boil it
Ideal for when you have to drink water from a lake, river or stream while hiking or camping, boiling is a sure-fire way to kill organisms and bacteria that may be living in these water sources. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius), and you should be bringing your water to a boil for at least 1 minute to ensure that bacteria can be adequately eliminated. If you’re hiking at an elevation above 6,500 feet (1,981 meters), boil it for at least 3 minutes.
Keep in mind that in order to boil water, you’ll need a heat source. You can either create a fire or bring a camping stove.
Berkey Sport Water Bottle Filter
The Berkey light water filter is the easiest and most convenient way to purify water when you’re unsure of its quality — no matter where you are. In fact, the water filter can purify any freshwater source, making it a go-to accessory to bring along with you whether you’re out in nature or traveling the globe. The filter is small, portable and adequate for purifying water so it’s able to safely serve up to four people at a time. It’s also dishwasher safe and easy to clean and maintain in between your adventures.
Take Calculated Risks
Your third option for treating water while out in the wilderness or traveling is not to treat it at all. If you’re traveling, you can always opt to purchase bottled water, but if you’re out in the wilderness, there is a chance that your ability to drink water could be essential to your survival. If you must drink water to survive, try to extract it from a fast-flowing stream, where bacteria and microorganisms are less likely to be present. You might also be able to treat any captured water with the sun’s UV rays to kill some organisms, though this is hardly a sure thing. Again, we strongly suggest knowing how to make a fire so that you can boil water in a survival situation. It also makes sense to have the right tools handy, like the Berkey Sport Water Bottle Filter, to properly treat water rather than chance drinking anything that hasn’t been treated.
