Water Purification - Hiking Merit Badge - Scout Eric Adventures
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What is your preferred method of filtering water? We will explore multiple options during this video from Boiling to purification tablets. Depending on your application weight may be a concern, especially for backpacking. No water purification system is 100% effective at removing impurities and can cause illness. Boiling maybe the best option in most cases for at least 1 minute after boil.
Water Filtration
Water filtration is the process of removing or reducing the concentration of particulate matter, including suspended particles, parasites, bacteria, algae, viruses, and fungi, as well as other undesirable chemical and biological contaminants from contaminated water to produce safe and clean water for a specific purpose, such as drinking, medical, and pharmaceutical applications.
Clean drinking water. This should be at the top of everyone’s 10 Essentials list. It keeps you going on the trail and staves off needless injuries associated with dehydration. Luckily, there are now many simple and convenient ways to purify water obtained along the trail when you’re out for a nice hike. You can choose from chemical treatment (iodine or chlorine), filtration, ultraviolet light, or boiling. Each of these methods is very effective when used properly. You don’t need to use all four, just choose one that’s easy for you to use and stick with it faithfully. Just one lapse in purifying your water could take you off the trail for quite a while.
Dehydration is a preventable and often overlooked problem while hiking. Symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, headaches, chapped lips, crankiness—even nausea. Dehydration is a gateway sickness that can lead to the even more serious conditions of heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Be sure to familiarize yourself with all the watering holes on a trail – you never know when you might run out.
Backcountry water hasn’t been through a treatment facility so you’ll need to purify it to avoid water-borne illnesses such as Giardia. Here are the typical methods for making water potable:
• Bring to a rolling boil for one minute. Advantage: foolproof. Drawbacks: uses a lot of fuel, is inconvenient in mid-hike, and on a sweltering summer day, hot water does not satisfy like crisp, cool spring water. Plus, you’ll still have to filter out all solid particles if drawing from a muddy or questionable water source.
• Iodine solution, tablets, crystals. Iodine is relatively convenient and comes in a number of forms that can easily fit in your budget. It kills bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, except Cryptosporidium. Advantages: lightweight, easy to use. Drawbacks: 20- to 30-minute delay before drinking, not safe for pregnant women, and some tablets leave a strong aftertaste that some people dislike. After dropping a tablet in your bottle and shaking, tip the bottle upside down and unscrew the lid slightly. This will allow the iodine to get onto the threads of the cap.
• Chlorine drops. Kills bacteria. Advantages: lightweight, in
Water Filtration
Water filtration is the process of removing or reducing the concentration of particulate matter, including suspended particles, parasites, bacteria, algae, viruses, and fungi, as well as other undesirable chemical and biological contaminants from contaminated water to produce safe and clean water for a specific purpose, such as drinking, medical, and pharmaceutical applications.
Clean drinking water. This should be at the top of everyone’s 10 Essentials list. It keeps you going on the trail and staves off needless injuries associated with dehydration. Luckily, there are now many simple and convenient ways to purify water obtained along the trail when you’re out for a nice hike. You can choose from chemical treatment (iodine or chlorine), filtration, ultraviolet light, or boiling. Each of these methods is very effective when used properly. You don’t need to use all four, just choose one that’s easy for you to use and stick with it faithfully. Just one lapse in purifying your water could take you off the trail for quite a while.
Dehydration is a preventable and often overlooked problem while hiking. Symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, headaches, chapped lips, crankiness—even nausea. Dehydration is a gateway sickness that can lead to the even more serious conditions of heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Be sure to familiarize yourself with all the watering holes on a trail – you never know when you might run out.
Backcountry water hasn’t been through a treatment facility so you’ll need to purify it to avoid water-borne illnesses such as Giardia. Here are the typical methods for making water potable:
• Bring to a rolling boil for one minute. Advantage: foolproof. Drawbacks: uses a lot of fuel, is inconvenient in mid-hike, and on a sweltering summer day, hot water does not satisfy like crisp, cool spring water. Plus, you’ll still have to filter out all solid particles if drawing from a muddy or questionable water source.
• Iodine solution, tablets, crystals. Iodine is relatively convenient and comes in a number of forms that can easily fit in your budget. It kills bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, except Cryptosporidium. Advantages: lightweight, easy to use. Drawbacks: 20- to 30-minute delay before drinking, not safe for pregnant women, and some tablets leave a strong aftertaste that some people dislike. After dropping a tablet in your bottle and shaking, tip the bottle upside down and unscrew the lid slightly. This will allow the iodine to get onto the threads of the cap.
• Chlorine drops. Kills bacteria. Advantages: lightweight, in