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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!daleske
From: daleske@cbdkc1.UUCP ( John Daleske )
Newsgroups: net.rec
Subject: Water Purification
Message-ID: <1168@cbdkc1.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 9-Oct-85 17:03:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbdkc1.1168
Posted: Wed Oct  9 17:03:55 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Oct-85 15:11:18 EDT
Reply-To: daleske@cbdkc1.UUCP ( John Daleske )
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 38
Keywords: water purification packing backpacking hiking

For hikers/backpackers/survivalists/outdoors people, what way(s) do
you prefer purifying your water?

Of the current methods, the group of people I'm currently learning
skills from uses iodine crystals in a small bottle (1 minute exposure
of water to crystals to let them settle to the bottom and then pour
about 10cc into one quart of water; boil five minutes [gets those
harder cysts' shells to "melt" and then zaps em with the iodine]; let
sit for at least 20 minutes, the longer the better;  crystals good for
about 1000 times or so).

I've recently heard from other sources that this may not be all that
safe in the long run, though one friend has used this method for some time.

Of other known methods:
- filtering (e.g. Katadyn 2 micron filter)
  Gets most microbes though does nothing about chemical pollutants.

- iodine tablets
  Not as effective as iodine crystals (?)
  Not as cheap as iodine crystals

- chlorine tablets

- solar still
  one time cost, inexpensive.
  at most one quart a day per 3 square foot still.

- distillation (e.g. wood burning still)
  Not "portable" - usable for home emergencies.
  One time cost (except fuel).

What other pros and cons can other folks identify?  Responses posted
to the net.

John Daleske
ihnp4!cbosgd!cbdkc1!daleske
(614) 860-4335 at Columbus AT&T Bell Labs