[pct-l] So much water so close to home...

[Paul Magnanti]

 FWIW..here is my own personal take on water treatment:

Four common ways to treat water are:

1)    Boiling  Boiling water to a rolling boil will kill nasties in the water. But, it takes very long, makes the water tastes flat, and uses lots of fuel.  Most use boiling as a last resort only

2)    Chemically Using iodine is the old standby for water treatment up until recently. Typically known as “Portable Aqua” these tabs will treat one liter of water each. They take longer to treat water than a filter/purifier but are lighter and less complex than the filters. Iodine does have an aftertaste that some people do not like.  You can also use iodine crystals (i.e. Polar Pure) and a newer chemical treatment known as Aqua Mira. Aqua Mira takes less time to treat water than iodine and is a two stage chemical process.

3)    Filters/Purifiers Filters and purifiers are for most people the standard tool in the backpacker’s water treatment arsenal.  Though they are heavier, bulkier and can break down/clog, they will treat water quickly and without a chemical after taste. Works well for use with water that has "floaties".  If using a filter, be sure to keep the intake (dirty water) and output (clean water) hoses separate.

4)   Steripen  The equipment of choice for geeks! :)  This pen-like device uses UV radiation to sterilize water. Besides being a bit expensive (~$80 online), it also depends upon batteries. They are also somewhat fragile and need more care than other methods of water treatment. Works best in clear water without murk or "floaties".  Its main attraction is that it is quicker than other methods of treating water. 

Finally, be sure to wash your hands after “doing #2” and before eating. A simple bottle of Purrell (alcohol based hand sanitizer) can do wonders to prevent GI illnesses (tummy ache and the runs to non-medical types like me!). No point in treating water if you are sticking a dirty hand in your food..or worse yet, you may stick YOUR dirty hand in someone else's GORP. Yeeech!

There is increasing consensus that sanitation is more important than water treatment for preventing GI illnesses in the backcountry.
From http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/hygiene+sanitation.html 

"A bigger concern, Backer says, is what medical types such as him call "fecal-oral transmission." Ew, gross. But it happens. Happens a lot, in fact—and research indicates it causes many more cases of intestinal distress than does ingesting Giardia."
Waterborne pathogens such as Giardia are not as widespread in backcountry water sources as once believed. A number of researchers and medical experts believe that much water in the wilderness (particularly in remote, high alpine settings) is drinkable without treatment.

Additionally:

"Careful attention to personal hygiene can help prevent the spread of infection. Thomas R. Welch in a 2004 editorial in the journal Wilderness Medicine expressed the view that "stopping hand-to-mounth spread is the key to preventing gastrointestinal infection" and that routine universal treatment of water should be de-emphasized." 


SO....Treat water when in doubt, but more importantly: Listen to Mom and wash those hands!  :)

 

Also, here's a quick and dirty guide to the PCT that may help get you started in your planning...
http://www.pmags.com/joomla/index.php/Backpacking-and-Hiking-documents/PCT-Info.html

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