Potable water

or how to make it potable.

There are a number of ways to make questionable water, drinkable.

1. Build a fire, put the water in a pot and boil it.

2. Get some of those little water purification tablets and follow the instructions.

3. Get a water filter.

Beginning with number one; boiling water is the surest way to remove bacteria. It will not remove mud or debris. A strainer can be built out of cloth and clean sand to remove the debris. Fill the cloth with sand (clean sand) and catch the water in another container. This will strain out algae and mud. All water needs to be boiled at least ten to twelve minutes to remove harmful bacteria and parasites.

Iodine tablets and chlorine drops are often used as a low-cost water disinfectant. Recent studies, however, have shown that these chemical treatments are ineffective against Cryptosporidium. Cryptosporidium is a common waterborne protozoa that will cause some nasty diarrhea along with fever, headache, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Chemical disinfectants also require considerable contact time that varies with the temperature and pH of the water. These methods leave a very unpalatable iodine or chlorine taste to the water.

There are water filters and water purifiers. Water filters don't adhere to any guide lines. Water purifiers follow EPA Microbiological Purification Standards for virus, bacteria, and cysts. There are ceramic filters and purifiers. Ceramics remove bacteria, protozoa and many chemicals (pesticides, iodine and chlorine) and most can be cleaned over and over again. Glass fiber filters eliminate Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and most bacteria. Pump filters employ glass filters.

Whatever your choice, be certain the water purifier or filter matches your needs.

Pur Guide Microfilter Water Filter
The Pur Guide Microfilter water filter delivers a high water output with little effort. It has a large filter surface area for easy cleaning and a carbon core to improve taste. Includes a pre-filter, a universal adaptor and a carry bag.

Coghlan's Water Filter
The Water Filter from Coghlan's is a portable, lightweight, effective filtration system for the removal of Giardia and other Amoeba from drinking water.