When
hiking in the backcountry or doing some international travel with your family
it is important to consider that water sources may have contaminates. Drinking
unclean water can lead to a barrage of illnesses including parasites. It is
hard to tell if a water source is clean as parasites are invisible so even
crystal clear water may be teaming with bacteria. Locals from other countries
will have a different tolerance to the microbes in water so you may get sick
from water sources that they do not. Therefore besides hiking gear, always make sure that you also bring a water filter or a water purifier. Water purifiers are different than water filters as water filters do
not filter out viruses. A purifier typically uses chemicals or UV light whereas
a water filter only removes large contaminants.
Some
of the most common types of portable water filters are:
Pump Filter: This kind of filter allows the
simple method of putting a hose into a water source and is very practical for
smaller volumes of water due to the time and effort involved. Some added
bonuses are that they can be used in very shallow water and have filters that
are easily changed.
Gravity Filter: Using gravity to pull the water
through a filter this method is great as energy expenditure is very low
compared to the pump filter. The only real problems occur when it is difficult
to find a place to hang. Also using it in shallow water conditions can be
difficult.
Bottle Filter: A bottle filter is great but only
for single person use. Some are designed to be used along with a straw and
other styles have it more like a coffee type filter that you press through to
catch all the particles. Given that only low volumes of water can be filtered
at any time it would require the use of many to be sufficient for a family.
(Note:If
you already have a backcountry water filter remember that with any filter
repeatedly using it will cause it to become clogged. So be sure to clean it
regularly)
When
traveling out of the country, if you only use a filter designed for backcountry
use, you may be at risk to viruses. Water filters typically only trap bacteria,
debris and other protozoa and cannot catch the smaller viruses. A water filter
can be used in tandem with a purifier firstly using it to filter out any large
particles such as dirt and leaves. This is especially useful when having to
filter a large volume of water. So if you are planning international travel be
sure to travel with a water filter and a water purifier. Some water filters
like the “Village Bucket” described businessconnectworld.com. Are
actually water filters that also act as a water purifier. Using sediment which
naturally causes viruses to clump together and get caught in the filter which
is at the 0.1 micron level.
When
considering which type of filter to use it is very important to consider the
circumstances that they will be use. Ask yourself the question “will I need
this for bacteria or viruses?” so sometimes a typical water filter will get the
job done such as one that uses gravity for multiple people or a portable pocket
sized straw filter. The easy of transport and the volume of water needing to be
consumed should be your two most important means of determining which you
should choose. If leaving the country you should always choose a water purifier
or a water filter that is strong enough to filter at the 0.1 micron level.
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