[pct-l] Contaminated water question

[Steel-Eye]

Good afternoon, Diane,

Whether it's wild water, water from a tank or reservoir, or even water from
a piped system, most agencies or individuals who own or administer water
sources prefer to avoid any possibility of criticism by posting it as
"contaminated", "not potable", or maybe just "not tested".  Since most of
that water is substantially out of their direct control, it's easy to
understand their reluctance.  There is seldom any clear definition of what
is meant by "contaminated", but in one instance I can recall at the Wind
Farm just north of Interstate-10 the tank water was posted to exceed the
recommend maximum of uranium.

Filters are pretty good at removing particulates and most bugs that could
hurt you, but most chemical constituents won't be removed.  Check the
PurHiker published information for more specifics.  What we hikers have to
face is the fact that, regardless of how the water is treated, if an animal
or fish just piddled in that water, we are going to be drinking piddle.  It
may not contain anything that will make us sick, but it will be piddle
nonetheless.

Oh, well -- that beats dehydration or carrying gallons of extra, more
reliable, water.

Steel-Eye

^^^^^^^^^^  Serious hikers gather at:  http://www.aldhawest.org/  ^^^^^^^^^^





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 10:00 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Contaminated water question


>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
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