[pct-l] Water treatment: AquaMira and...?

Mon Jul 20 14:02:07 CDT 2009

Katadyn's Micropur MP1 tablets, which are chlorine dioxide based, have this packaging note. 

To protect consumers, Katadyn and EPA require that packaging claims for Micropur MP1 communicate how the product performs in the most challenging water conditions (water that is very cold and dirty).  While MP1 is effective against bacteria an d viruses in 15 minutes, it requires 4 hours for cryptosporidium in cold, dirty water.  Therefore labelling requirments include a 4 hour wait time for maximum protection.  

 An accompanying chart shows that MP1 is effective against cysts in clear 20* C. water after 30 minutes.  I asked the regional rep about intermediate conditions, with varying combinations of temp and turbidity.  Here is his reply. 

We have to put the range of "wait" times from 30 min to 4 hours because of the EPA. We register Micropur with the EPA- this essentially means we say it is "X" effective against microorganisms, Viruses and bacteria- EPA sends the product to independent lab- results come back and if they are in a 99.something% effective range at killing what we say it does- boom you get a registration # from the EPA. 

If it is registered the EPA has to approve of the claims you make and how you state the claims. Thus the 4 hour wait time for Cold Turbid water. Cold turbid water is 39 〫F water that is so dirty you stick your hand in up to the elbow and you can not see your finger. In those and only in those conditions do you have to wait 4 hours. Warmer then 40 〫or clearer then the described water conditions- 30 minute wait. 

 but apparently they have to stick to what EPA requires for this class of product. 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Burge" <bill at burge.com> 
To: "PCT mail box" <pct-l at backcountry.net> 
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2009 2:02:37 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Water treatment:  AquaMira and...? 

The liquid and tablets are chlorine dioxide which the CdC feels is   
effective against giardia: 

http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/travel/backcountry_water_treatment.html 

The US Army evaluates it as such: 

"Advantages 

● Expect consistent protection from bacteria, viruses, and Giardia   
cysts when used as directed. 
... 

Disadvantages 

● Not consistently effective against Cryptosporidium oocysts when   
used as directed. 
Extending wait time up to 4.5 hours will help ensure adequate   
Cryptosporidium oocyst 
reduction. 

from: 
http://usachppm.apgea.army.mil.wstub.archive.org/WPD/WPDShare/143/AddInfo_McNettAquaMira.pdf 

BillB 

On Jul 20, 2009, at 9:39 AM, herbstroh at charter.net wrote: 

> I don't know who the Giardia Club is, but if you go to AM's own   
> website 
> they DO NOT a contend that the chemical treatment alone is effective   
> for 
> giardia. They recommend use of chemicals AND their filter for a   
> "complete" 
> system. 
> 
> So if one is using AM with a concern about giardia, you need a filter. 
> 
> Original Message: 
> ----------------- 
> From: Bill Burge bill at burge.com 
> Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:23:25 -0700 
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Water treatment:  AquaMira and...? 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Yes, AM can kill crypto and giardia:  http://giardiaclub.com/aqua-mira.html 
> 
> You didn't say if you were using the liquid or the tablets.  I carry 
> the tablets as a backup.  They have the same capabilities but take 
> longer to do their work. 
> 
> As for the Steripen; I have one, but haven't gotten to use it much. 
> Some of the problems that people have with it are the use of "low 
> grade" 123A batteries and the fact that the device needs _some_ 
> electrolytes in the water to register a current flow.  The tiniest 
> pinch of salt or drink mix is supposed to go along way in preventing 
> the "my Steripen can't tell it's in the water". 
> 
> BillB 
> 
> 
> 
> On Jul 19, 2009, at 1:18 PM, Mike Ronstadt wrote: 
> 
>> 
>> I've always used AM but I can't find anything definitive online 
>> about it being able to treat cryptosporidium so I'm looking at 
>> buying a Steripen as well (I'll still use the AM for clearing up 
>> cloudy water).  Will the combination of the two be enough?  What 
>> lightweight water treatments work best on the PCT? 
>> 
>> summermike 
>> 
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