Let’s face it—sometimes, when you’re out in the wilderness, running water isn’t always available. And it can be dangerous to drink from unfiltered sources of water. That’s why understanding how to purify water is so important for any outdoor adventurer.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some easy and effective methods for purifying water while camping, backpacking, or just enjoying nature.
1. Boiling Water
One of the oldest and most reliable methods for purifying water is to boil it. All you have to do is bring your water source to a rolling boil for 1-3 minutes (depending on elevation) and let it cool before drinking.
The boiling process will kill any harmful bacteria or parasites that may be present in the water, making it safe to consume.
If you don’t have access to a stove or campfire, you can also use solar energy by filling a clear container with your water source and leaving it in direct sunlight for 6-8 hours.
2. Chemical Treatments
Another popular method of purifying water is through chemical treatments such as chlorine dioxide tablets or iodine drops. These chemicals are added directly to the water source and left for a certain amount of time (usually 30 minutes) before being consumed.
While these treatments are generally effective at killing most bacteria and parasites that may be present in the water, they can also leave an unpleasant taste behind.
For this reason, many people prefer other methods of purifying their drinking water while they are out in the wilderness.
3. Filtering Water
The most popular method of purifying wilderness drinking water is through filtration systems such as squeeze filters or gravity filters.
These systems typically consist of membranes that filter out particles larger than 0.2 microns such as dirt, silt, sediment, protozoa (like giardia), cysts (like cryptosporidium), and other pathogens from contaminated sources of drinking water.
Filtering systems require no chemicals and usually leave behind little if any taste in your filtered drinking water which makes them ideal for outdoor adventurers who rely on clean drinking sources while they are away from civilization.
Conclusion
Whether you’re planning a long backpacking trip or just spending a weekend camping with friends and family, knowing how to purify your drinking supply is essential for staying healthy in the great outdoors!
From boiling your source of H2O over an open flame to filtering through chemical treatments and beyond—there are plenty of ways that you can make sure your wild adventures stay safe!
So go ahead—get outside and explore! Just don’t forget to pack some extra supplies so that you can stay hydrated along the way! Happy trails!