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The only surefire way is to bring it with you from home - but for many people who go hiking, they are not able to carry adequate supplies of water. In emergency situations, or if you get lost, you might need to drink from a natural water supply. This page will let you know how to prepare for this situation and what to do if you find yourself in it.
Why can't I just drink from a stream or pool of water? It looks so clear...
Looks are usually deceiving. This is how many people involved in outdoor activities such as hiking contract serious illnesses. There are some nasty things that could be in the water that you might be able to see, true - if you're hiking around a less developed country, feces and sewage could be present - it's often just dumped into the nearest stream. There can also be a lot of chemicals and pollution. Think the Hudson in the 1970's. But a clear water source doesn't mean a safe water source. For one, there are many microscopic creatures that can get into water without you seeing it. These range from bacteria to viruses to very common protozoa such as giardia, the cause of "Traveler's Diarrhea" or "Montezuma's Revenge." Some are more serious than others - but getting holed up for your entire trip with diarrhea isn't worth the risk when there are easy solutions to the problem.
Ways to Purify Water When Hiking or Camping:
1) Get a camping water filter. These are generally very small and they're probably your best bet. Many of them use several of the traditional ways to purify water, and they don't weigh much at all - they're only going to add about 25 ounces or less to your backpack weight, and they ensure that if you run out of water you can drink any you come across with a good degree of safety.
There are some problems to watch out for, though. DON'T skimp on the filter if you're planning to use it. There are a lot of cheaper filters out there - many are only designed to get rid of the most common kinds of microorganisms. Of all the pieces of camping equipment you can get, I think this is the one you should refuse to settle for low quality on. If you do, you're playing with your health, and that's not a risk you should be taking.
Also, don't overuse it without changing the filter. You have to replace them after a certain period of time, depending on the filter. If you overuse it, the filter will become clogged with junk and often less effective. It's essentially the same thing as not having a filter at all.
2) Bring along iodine tablets. This is a good way to purify water chemically - the iodine kills most microorganisms that could be living in the water. It's not ideal, however. First, it tastes like garbage. You can neutralize this, however, with other tablets. Second, it can be dangerous for some people. Some people are allergic to it. It can also make thyroid problems worse.
3) Boil the water. Boiling is the classic solution, and it will kill off dangerous microbes. For serious hikers it's a way to save space - you use your backpacking stove to boil it, and that keeps you from having to pack anything separate to purify the water. Generally boiling it for one minute is enough. BUT - remember that this time has to be extended if you're at a higher altitude. If you're hiking in the mountains, boil for longer - at least 3 minutes. The downside is that the water will taste kind of bad, and usually you have to drink it pretty hot unless you can let it sit there for awhile to cool down. You also have to wait for your stove to cool before you can move around again.
4) Get water purification tablets. There are lots of different brands, and lots of different ways that they can work. You might want to look into Polar Pure, Potable Aqua, and Micropur. Most use either chlorine or iodine, but there are now some using silver.
5) Use bleach. Bleach can actually purify water because it contains chlorine, so it kills off most of the microbes in water. This is NOT an ideal solution - there's too much of a risk of you dumping in too much bleach and poisoning yourself. This is a camping tip to know for emergencies - but if you are planning ahead, use something else. You are only supposed to use a couple of drops per quart of water, with the amount depending on the concentration of chlorine in the bleach. I'm going to wash my hands of it and send you here to an EPA page on how to do it if you really want to, but don't say I didn't warn you.
Realistically, your best bet is to bring both a filter and a few tablets for backup. Water is a serious issue - don't skimp on it, because it can be deadly if you do.
How much water do I need when hiking around?
The easiest way to avoid this whole problem is to carry enough water with you. That may or may not be practical depending on how far you want to hike. Generally, you need about 3-4 liters per day per person. This can vary dramatically, however. If you're hiking in the desert, obviously you need to be carrying well above that - you aren't likely to come across a water supply, and water is your lifeblood if there's an emergency. It can also be different depending on how big you are, how physically fit you are, how hot it is, the humidity, and any number of other factors. The best rule is just to carry as much as you can - you can't have too much water. Carry several water canteens if needed.
How can I find water if I run out?
It's always good to know how to find a water supply, just in case. First, be aware that your preference should always be for moving water over still water. If you've got a choice, take a river or stream. You can only really find these by wandering around and looking. You can often find water on the leaves or the grass (because it condenses there in the morning as dew), and you can also find it sometimes inside tree stumps.
Other than standing water, you should also watch out for green colored water (which has algae, and is likely to have microorganisms), shallow water, and any place near beavers (which carry giardia).
If all else fails, you can make a solar still, which is a way to draw water out of the soil so that it is drinkable.
What if I'm truly in an emergency with no water and no way to purify it - should I drink?
Probably - it's a tough call. If you get giardia or another illness, it could bowl you over and stop you from moving - a dangerous proposition. But if you don't drink, then dehydration could kill you anyway. There's probably no good answer, but most people recommend that you drink in that situation.
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