The Feb/Mar 2018 issue has an article, Backcountry Water Purification by E. Donnall Thomas, Jr. We’d like to know what type of water purification you prefer. We realize you might use several types, but please vote for the one you use most often.
Results of this poll will be published in the Apr/May 2018 issue. Thanks for participating.
[yop_poll id=”5″]
TBM- While I am aware of the water borne parasites (personally having been introduced to a bad case of Giardia), I rarely filter water. However, I also mostly recreate in mountains with clean streams where I have walked the tributary. But I’ll drink out of water when I know elk, cow, and hogs are in the hills. Doesn’t bother me much.
-Preston
Generally I try to be selective about my water sources. Hunting mostly in the mountains of Alberta, once you go high enough, you come to small streams, little springs, or other sources that are very likely to be free of \\\”bugs\\\”. Those kinds of sources are not always available of course, and I generally use iodine tablets, for any water of which I cannot be sure. Before, I used the two-part liquid, that contains some form of chlorine, but the tablets leave less of a chemical taste. The water used for cooking just gets boiled as I need it, without using any chemicals.
Frans
I use a Steri-Pen
Steri-Pen for small ~1L quantities of water and a gravity filter when larger quantities are needed 3+L
Reposted after proof reading – sorry about that.
I enjoyed the article. I would though like to see a followup discussion about choosing a good water source. A clear running steam is easy (but I still filter). But what are the recommendations when it comes to more questionable sources? A marshy lake shore? Stagnant pond? A rut in the road? Cattle trough? Stock pond? I’ve got my own personal limitations, but I’ve heard of others that aren’t very picky. Where do you draw the line and does it affect your filtration method?