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Post by greeny on Apr 12, 2016 8:42:15 GMT -8
dayhiker -- I have a SteriPen (Adventurer). It has been great, and I would probably bring it -- just in case. As I recall, it needed a full minute or more for a full liter. The CR123 is somewhat pricey, but fairly lightweight. Big problem is being able to find one on the trail. On my first trip on the JMT, I miscalculated the number of cycles my two sets of batteries would provide, and was lucky enough that a hiker we met who abandoned her JMT attempt gifted us some extra batteries. Next trip, I took enough batteries. And, FWIW, as you probably know, the UV doesn't "kill" anything -- it damages the DNA/RNA so that bacteria / viruses can't reproduce -- which is the real danger. Edit: I also bring Chlorine Dioxide tablets -- in case of a complete failure; I just don't like the taste, and the time required to treat Crypto oocytes, which tend to be chlorine-resistant.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2016 10:33:17 GMT -8
There's these guys:
They do not use water filtration for their family.
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Post by Lonewolf on Apr 12, 2016 15:15:55 GMT -8
Note the water in the Wonderland Trail video. For those who don't know, it's called "glacial milk" and will clog a filter faster than you'd believe.
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Post by dayhiker on Apr 13, 2016 7:29:47 GMT -8
dayhiker -- I have a SteriPen (Adventurer). It has been great, and I would probably bring it -- just in case. As I recall, it needed a full minute or more for a full liter. The CR123 is somewhat pricey, but fairly lightweight. Big problem is being able to find one on the trail. On my first trip on the JMT, I miscalculated the number of cycles my two sets of batteries would provide, and was lucky enough that a hiker we met who abandoned her JMT attempt gifted us some extra batteries. Next trip, I took enough batteries. And, FWIW, as you probably know, the UV doesn't "kill" anything -- it damages the DNA/RNA so that bacteria / viruses can't reproduce -- which is the real danger. Edit: I also bring Chlorine Dioxide tablets -- in case of a complete failure; I just don't like the taste, and the time required to treat Crypto oocytes, which tend to be chlorine-resistant. I did know that, in fact some say viruses are not alive to begin with . . . (I have been told that athletes foot cream does not kill fungus either but keeps it from reproducing in the acid until your skin dies and sloughs it off , nails besides being harder take much longer to grow out so take a longer treatment) "two drops of household bleach or five drops of tincture of iodine per gallon of water." I think you need less chemicals for viruses (than for cysts) and bleach dissipates overtime and in the heat so maybe the taste would be ok? Of course if you are doing this to make sure of things in case your filter has an unknown problem then you would need something other than bleach. (Filters aren't checked by anyone but the manufacturer I think, unless they pay for approval by ?? which last time I checked no backpacking filter have)
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Post by greeny on Apr 13, 2016 8:10:04 GMT -8
I've read a few research articles that do some testing of various manufacturer's products, but you're right that it's not like filters are rigorously tested. Seems the whole SteriPen / UV deal has been researched extensively, though.
Maybe I'll try a different approach: if Sawyer's .1 micron filter, which has good flow and responds well to in-field backwashing could be followed by a nice .02 micro filter, or that "survivor" .05 micron filter -- well that might have enough flow to support the over-engineered overkill I'm looking for.
One comment on the iron-stomachs of experienced backpackers: if resistance to virus, bacteria & protozoa is developed through exposure, then the real test of a trail's water problems will be from the relative newbies (like myself), not from folks that have traversed the PCT, JMT, Appalachian and a variety of trails on multiple continents.
I'm just glad I'm not going to Brazil for the summer Olympics -- the water down there is so bad even minimal contact can cause weeks of illness!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2016 8:52:51 GMT -8
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Post by greeny on Apr 13, 2016 17:12:15 GMT -8
@ohm -- that looks pretty cool -- I wonder if I can modify it for gravity-feed operation? I just can't do the pumping thing again -- it takes way too long compared to filling up a 4-liter bag, returning to camp, and letting gravity do the work. I have the storied Katadyn Pocket pump filter, which was indestructible, but heavy. My arms hurt after pumping 4 liters!
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tomas
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Post by tomas on Apr 13, 2016 18:34:04 GMT -8
Maybe I'll try a different approach: if Sawyer's .1 micron filter, which has good flow and responds well to in-field backwashing could be followed by a nice .02 micro filter, or that "survivor" .05 micron filter -- well that might have enough flow to support the over-engineered overkill I'm looking for As Dayhiker mentioned upthread, boiling will deal with all biologicals. Sure you'll be carrying extra fuel weight, but it's a process that pretty much will take care of everything.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Apr 13, 2016 21:59:50 GMT -8
I boiled water for two days once after a filter died. It made the water taste flat and unappealing. I've heard people say that shaking vigorously to aerate after cooling off helps. Maybe so.
Until disaster strikes, I'm now fully converted to gravity filtering. My backup is a Sawyer Mini.
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crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on Apr 14, 2016 11:23:59 GMT -8
BigLoadYep, shake it up, it does help a bit. The other reason it sometimes tastes odd is because of the sediment/whatever was in the water that was changed by the heat.
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Post by ecocentric on Apr 14, 2016 12:15:15 GMT -8
I boiled water for two days once after a filter died. I'm pretty sure that 3 minutes would have been enough. :( Is everyone all that turned off by the taste of iodine? I have to admit, that I'm ok with a certain amount of chlorine, especially if I mix it with instant drink mix, or add some bourbon, but I can barely taste the iodine. I just get impatient waiting for it to work.
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Post by Coolkat on Apr 14, 2016 12:19:22 GMT -8
It made the water taste flat and unappealing. I haven't yet had to boil water because of a failed filter but nasty tasting water is why I carry these... Powdered Propel PacketsMuch smaller and lighter than the Gatorade equivalent.
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almostthere
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Post by almostthere on Apr 15, 2016 6:11:28 GMT -8
I boiled water for two days once after a filter died. I'm pretty sure that 3 minutes would have been enough. :( Is everyone all that turned off by the taste of iodine? I have to admit, that I'm ok with a certain amount of chlorine, especially if I mix it with instant drink mix, or add some bourbon, but I can barely taste the iodine. I just get impatient waiting for it to work. Iodine is not really very effective against Giardia. This is reflected by the CDC's change of recommendations for emergency water treatment -- it used to be iodine. It's now chlorine bleach. Iodine also is not at all effective against crypto. If I had to use chemistry, it would be chlorine dioxide -- MicroPur tablets are my backup.
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