Do I Need Portable Water Filters And Portable Water Purifiers For Travel And Hiking?
You are traveling to an undeveloped country or hiking in an unfamiliar area. You want to be safe and hydrated, so you decided to buy portable water filters and portable water purifiers for travel and hiking. But before you do so, you have some questions that you need answered.
The first thing you will want to know is that there is a big difference between filters and purifiers. Filtration is the process of filtering dirt and debris from the water while killing microorganisms with the use of boiling or chemicals. Purification, on the other hand, utilizes carbon with reverse osmosis to filter particles out of the water.
Filtration. The main reason to use filtration is to destroy bacteria and viruses. Additionally, some sediment may be removed during the process. The best way to filter water is to boil it for at least three minutes. Although it will not kill all of the harmful bacteria, it will destroy most of them. To filter out dirt and debris, the water will need to poured through a cloth.
Chemical filtration. Another way to filter water is by using chemicals such as iodine or chlorine. These methods are much quicker than boiling and can be used while hiking or when it is not feasible to boil the water. Both chemicals are very cheap and can be carried in small packages or bottles. The major drawback to chemicals is that they can be harmful if overused or improperly used.
Iodine kills most microorganisms, but it may take some time for larger quantities of water. It should not be used for long periods of time and can be hazardous to pregnant women or people with thyroid problems.
What about chlorine? Chlorine makes the water thinner, causing sediment and dirt to sink to the bottom. This results in the top water being clear and drinkable. Chlorine is very poisonous if overused. Mixing too much chlorine can cause severe illness, organ failure, and death.
Water purification. A more costly, but safer method to clean water is through the use of purification containers. Purification uses a combination of carbon and reverse osmosis to filter out particles and sediment that is dangerous. The carbon is effective at making the water taste better and removing odors, pollutants, and chemicals from the water. Reverse osmosis completes the cycle by removing toxic metals like lead and other impurities.
Ultraviolet purifiers. Most water purifiers recommend that you boil the water after it is purified to kill the remaining microorganisms. Sometimes, however, you are not able to do this. If you cannot, there are purifiers that have ultraviolet (UV) light mechanisms that disable the ability of bacteria and viruses to reproduce, making them less harmful.
Also relatively new to the market are solar water disinfection. These can kill many harmful microbes by using radiation and temperatures provided by sunlight. This can be a very effective way to disinfect water in hot and tropical environments.
Doing research and having your questions answered are the most important steps to selecting portable water filters and portable water purifiers for travel and hiking. Once you are familiar with their advantages and disadvantages, you can choose the best one for you. Stay safe and stay hydrated.
Gretchen Robertvine plans on using the SteriPEN Sidewinder Water Purifier once she is backpacking and camping out in the Appalachian Mountains next year. She is a freelance article author who writes for businesses including Survival Camping World and Better Health Innovations, two leading internet outfitters.
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