[pct-l] Contaminated water question

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

I guess the question I'm trying to get answered is what does a  
typical water filter filter? I have a Pur Hiker filter. Will it  
filter out contaminants from water sources marked as "may be  
contaminated" in the Data Book? And does the Data Book, when it says  
"contaminated" mainly mean chemical pollution or biological  
pollution? So far the only thing I'm hearing is chemical pollution.

Sorry I'm so concerned about water, but I'm a native of chaparral  
country and I already understand the importance of water. It's just  
where I normally go, the water is never "contaminated" (green maybe,  
or yellow, but not polluted as far as I know) and I already know  
where all of it is and even some places to look when it isn't there.  
I'm just a little worried about the PCT which is unfamiliar territory  
for me, and so if I'm left to filter water at Scissors crossing, for  
example, will my filter clean it up or should I take a pass?

Diane