Discover How You Can Drink Water From a Stream Safely With a Camping Water Filter

Did you know that you can drink water from a stream or river and not get sick? It's true. You can also fall 20,000 ft from an airplane, without a parachute, and live. Alan Magee did just that when he was blown out of his B-17 on a mission over France in 1943. What are the odds? They are way too high for me to roll the dice and take a chance. And I certainly wouldn't tell anyone I care for to go ahead and drink that water from the stream or river without using some type of camping water filter any more than I would tell them to jump out of a plane at 20,000 feet without a parachute. According to the WHO (World Health Organization) contaminated drinking water is responsible for 80% of the diseases that travelers get.

Water contains 3 groups of bad things.

1. Bacteria: like Salmonella, Cholera, and Ecoli.

2. Viruses: like Hepatitis, Norwalk, Rotovirus and Poliovirus.

3. Protozoans: like Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

You've probably heard of Salmonella, and Ecoli. The Norwalk virus is what many people call the stomach flu. Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Giardiasis is an infection of the small intestine caused by this little microsopic protozoan Giardia lamblia.Cryptosporidiosis, we just call it crypto, is a disease caused by Cryptosporidium, another protozoan that you get by drinking contaminated water, among other sources. You acquire these by drinking water from lakes or streams where animals like beavers or muscrats or any other animals happen to spend time in the water and contaminate it. Even agricultural products such as DDT have been found in mountain lakes.

Any water can be transformed into safe drinking water. And it also depends on if the water is clear of if it is cloudy, muddy, dirty etc. There are 3 ways to reduce the risk of drinking contaminated water. The best way is to boil your water. It will kill everything. The down side is that it takes some time to boil, it takes fuel, it takes a pot or container to boil the water in, and then it takes time again for the water to cool. And the higher the elevation the longer you have to boil it. The other ways are to use a camping water filter or a water purifier.

Purifiers use chemicals to treat the water and kill the bacteria and viruses. Those could be chlorine, chlorine dioxide, iodine, silver or UV treatment. These should be used in clear water. Chlorine is the most widely used. Iodine is similar to chlorine but it tastes terrible and if you only use that while camping or hiking for an extended time it can build up in your system and cause hyperthyroidism. You can use a filter of activated charcoal to get rid of the iodine after it's done it's job. Silver works slowly but is great for storing water as it prevents germ growth.

Filters will remove bacteria and protozoans. Protozoans are big, 1-15 microns but bacteria can be much smaller. To be safe I would use a filter with a pore size of.2 microns. You could get by with a pore size of .3 or .4....but why take the chance. With filters you will have to clean them out and replace the cartridges.

Whether you are going on a vacation, especially out of the country, camping or a short hike, it only makes sense to make sure you are drinking safe water. The fact is that drinking contaminated water can make you sick. Paradise can turn into a nightmare.

I love camping and hiking and you really need the right gear to protect yourself and your family. I advise everybody that one of the most important pieces you need is a camping water filter [http://camping-water-filter.org]. Learn more about the different types and brands at [http://camping-water-filter.org]

Don't Drink The Water - Guide To Selecting Water Purification Systems For Camping

Imagine you are out in the middle of the wilderness, hiking across tundra or through fields of grass, thousands of tiny flowers surrounding you of every color and hue imaginable. The sun is beating down raising droplets of perspiration on your brow and in the distance is a glistening, snow-capped mountain range. Between the snow in your sights and the sweat on the skin, you are developing a raging thirst. You come upon a creek with icy-cold water rushing across rocks and pebbles, crystal clear as the best bottled water you could find in the store. Before dipping your water bottle in the creek and raising it to your parched lips for that needed draught of cold water, stop! That water is probably not very healthy. Even though it may be glacial runoff from those mountains in the distance, along the line animals have walked through it, urinated it, things may even have died in it. Yes, disgusting thought, I know. But important to remember because all of that contributes to Giardia, cryptosporidium, E. coli, cholera, just to name a few. These can cause bloody diarrhea, cramps, kidney failure, dehydration, typhoid fever, etc. If you are out in the wilderness with no possibility of emergency help, these could end in death. Not a pleasant way to end a trip, wouldn't you agree?

There are three different possibilities for ensuring you have safe, drinkable water. The first and easiest is to just boil your water. Bring the water to a rolling boil and then continue for three more minutes. If your water was cloudy, filter the sediment before boiling using a coffee filter or paper towels. I have been told that if you are over 1000 feet above sea level, you should boil the water an additional minute for each 1000 feet. The drawback to the boiling method is that it takes both time and fuel. The time does not bother me, but using precious fuel for drinking water does.

The second possibility is the use of iodine tablets. There are many different brands and not all brands kill everything dangerous in the water, you may need to do some research. They are inexpensive, easy to pack and lightweight. Pop a pill in your water and wait approximately an hour, give or take depending on the manufacturer. That is quite a bit of time, but can be done before you go to sleep at night and water will be ready in the morning. Unfortunately, some of them do leave an aftertaste of chlorine. Another thing to be aware of is that once the packet of tablets is opened, there is a limited shelf life. Incidentally, if allergic to iodine, consider instead boiling your water or purchasing a filtration system which I will discuss next.

The third method is to carry a water filter with you. There are many different systems ranging in size, weight, and cost. They typically operate by use of a hand pump. One end of the tube goes in the water, and the other side into your water bottle or cook pan. Pump until you have the amount of water you need. These systems work by filtering out large particles first. As the water goes through the system, there is a second filter which screens out the bacteria. The final result is a bottle of very safe, drinkable water. Water filtration systems are much more expensive than iodine tablets and may take as long to pump the water as it does to boil it. However, filtration systems don't have a shelf life and the only energy they require to work is your own.

Always remember, if you plan to be someplace where the water may not be the best, be prepared. Humans can go without food longer than we can go without water.

Camping Water Filter

It is safe to say that you should never assume that just because you are at a campground or near a running stream that the water is safe for you to drink, even if the water comes from a spigot. Hidden in the pristine waters lies illness-causing bacteria and protozoa, something you definitely don't want to remember your camping trip for. Therefore, one of the most important things that you should pack in your camping gear is camping and water with filter.

Designed for long term use, a camping and filter possess a lightweight and compact design, made from high quality materials that helps to make the camping water filter durable, reliable, and perfect for extreme conditions. Yet if you are on the way producing water for a group of people, you should get a camping and water with filter that has high enough capacity to meet the demands while if you are collecting water from such treated and untreated water sources as rivers, streams, lakes, and such, you need a camping water filter that you can trust as well as has been proven reliable, durable, and effective.

As with other water filters, you should do your homework and price your camping and water according to your economical demands in addition to your personal needs and wants. Go on the Internet or even go to a sports store or a store that sells camping water s, check out the products and ask questions that would help you find that perfect camping water filter immediately.

Are you looking for more information regarding Camping Water Filter? Visit http://www.best-water-filter-guide.com today!

Portable Water Filters for Camping - Wilderness Survival Kit

Portable water filters for camping are very important for outdoor activities and adventures. It keeps your drinking water clean and safe for drinking during these events. Although, for most outings and camping activities people or campers usually bring bottled purified water along with them in order to gain easy access to safe drinking water anytime of the day whenever they are thirsty; however, being prepared for unexpected events is very important for survival.

Consequently, having portable water filters for camping should be part of your wilderness survival kit because this is very crucial for the survival of every individual. Keep in mind that unplanned events or sometime disasters strike anytime; forcing campers to stay in the woods or wilderness for a much longer period of time. As the stay gets longer, supplies of food and potable water also start to run out; thereby forcing individuals to get food and water from various natural sources to ensure survival.

Water is one of the main concerns; and it is important that each individual have a sufficient amount of water in order to extend the number of survival days. If stranded in the forest or woodland then water is not much of a problem since there are usually a good amount of water sources in the woods; such as lakes streams and rivers. However, the main issue is the quality of the water if it is safe for human consumption.

In most cases, water coming from streams and rivers are usually contaminated with various elements found in the soil along the riverside or on the riverbed; as well as from the animals that come into contact with the river. However, if you have portable water filters for camping along with you then this is not much of an issue, since these water filters can tremendously lower the contamination level of the water in order to make it much safer for drinking.

Without this tool, you will be forced to drink water without undergoing filtration and purification; making you highly susceptible to various health issues in the ensuing days where being healthy is very crucial for your own survival. Hence, whenever you go out on your camping trips and other various outdoor fun and adventures then make sure to always bring along some portable water filters for camping to ensure that you have an unlimited supply of clean and safe drinking water in case of an emergency situation.

D Leveque has built his career installing and servicing water filtration systems and is offering his experience about reliable clean water for everyone. To learn more about these systems including, Reverse Osmosis, water ionizers, well and lake water systems visit Dave's website, http://clean-water-store.com
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