Chems, pumps, and pens

Rick,

The advent of treated water is probably the single most important public health advancement in history, saving more lives than any other practice or cure that has been developed. So, in general- No, in this case, chemicals are not bad for you. Some of the 100% all natural viruses, protozoa, and bacteria are.

If you ever drink water from the tap (or even many bottled waters are actually taken from a treated water supply I'm told) then you know this. I will let others talk about the proses and cons of various brands, but in general for most of the chemical treatments the pool water taste will dissipate if you let the container stand for a while with the cap off.

However, given your "paranoia" you may want to consider a gravity filter system.

-Mark

P.S. I shop at Whole Foods and buy organic when I can.

I sympathize. The suggestion of a gravity filter is good, but you may need to do something else if harmful viruses are present. Sawyer does make a filter that filters viruses (0.02 micron).

Use a woodstove (bushbuddy etc.) and boil your water. I've met hikers that boil all their water.
For me, the smoke would trigger my asthma, so I'll probably use iodine or chlorine based chemicals.

Although the residual chloride from chlorine dioxide treatment is not harmful, the taste can be improved by adding a few drops of hydrogen peroxide after treating the water. This forces the remaining chloride to escape from the water in the form of a gas, leaving nothing behind but pure, microbe free, oxygenated water.

Well now there's the rub, huh?

You'll have to decide which is most important for you…

Either use chem. for the little nasties or use a heavy filter.

If you choose to go with Chlorine dioxide or household bleach, know that there are lightweight filters that use charcoal filters (some don't). The charcoal filter will remove the chem. taste from the water.

Much has been written…search the forums for posts from members such as Ben Tang, Dan Cunningham, and Chris Chastain.

Good luck with your "struggle". :-)

> steripens are carbon footprint heavy
So is any gear you buy, for walking or just for living. For that matter, so is a lot of food.
However, I have been using my Steripen with some rechargeable Tenergy batteries (the blue ones) and a solar recharger for years.

> Are chemicals bad for you?
Do remember, won't you, that the oxygen you breathe and the water you drink are also chemicals. So are salt and sugar. There is no hard boundary between ordinary everyday life and chemicals.

Mind you, when I look at the list of ingredients in some processed foods, I do wonder why the hell we have to put up with them! Emulsifiers, preservatives, synthetic flavours and colours, …

Worse imho are the cases of contaminated foods; even worse are the cases where it is all hushed up and the consumer is left as the dumb bunny.

Cheers

Thanks everybody.

Mark, I agree water treatment is vital but I get that "gross out" feeling even when I drink "city water". I am fully aware it's not logical but, well some people can drink diet coke, some can't. I didn't know about the cap off trick, thanks. I think if I can get rid of that taste I can get over it.

Walter I didn't know there was a filter that got viruses, I'll check that out. I've been looking at bushbuddys anyway.

Can you put hot water in a platy?

Lynn I didn't know the peroxide trick either. Guess if I put that in and leave the cap off…

Kent I'll search for those posts and charcoal is another good idea.

Roger are you being sarcastic? hehe. I know even my spit is a chemical but that chemy taste in some water treatment gives me the heebegeebees. What's your solar powered battery charger set up?

I have some experimenting to do. Oh dang more time in the woods playing with my toys.

thanks

Hi Rick

> Roger are you being sarcastic? hehe.
In this case, actually no. :-)

> that chemy taste in some water treatment gives me the heebegeebees.
Oh, I agree. We live on a farm and drink rainwater. I can't take the heavily chlorinated stuff any more.

> What's your solar powered battery charger set up?
Basically, I got a solar recharger box from Hydro-photon and hacked it a bit. The solar panel can output up to 12+ volts with no load, but when you stick two CR123R batteries across it the cell is current-limited. When the CR123R batteries are fully charged the internal circuitry inside the battery stops accepting charge. Self-regulating. There's also a little circuit which turns a white LED on when the batteries are fully charged.
.

.
Unit sitting on top of my pack.
Cheers

Waaay cool Roger,Have you posted how you put that together? All-right you mad scientist, when are going to invent ultra light weight beer?

"when are going to invent ultra light weight beer?"

Already been done. It's called cask strength whiskey. Add enough of it to your water and you have chloride-free sterilisation ;)

Wait, total brainstorm, dehydrated beer pills that purify water and taste like beer! I have seen the future and it is beerification!

Hi Rick

There are many threads here on solar panels and recharging. Someone … should collect the techie stuff and put it on the Wiki.
I posted this somewhere … not sure which thread.
.

Cheers

Groovy, thanks.