[pct-l] CDC recommendations for water treatment

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good evening, ,



The use of a solar still, in all its various forms, has been well-documented
in books on survival and wilderness craft.  One example of which can be
found at:  http://www.equipped.com/fm21-76.htm  Chapter 6 - Water
Procurement



Enjoy,



Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


On Fri, Oct 22, 2010 at 8:38 PM, <jcil000-pctchat at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Mendo,
>
> You really took me back with that trick.
>
> I once saw it described and diagrammed maybe about 25 years back. I always
> wanted to try
> it to see how effective it worked, if at all.
>
> How long did it take you to obtain one cup?  Probably all day. I'm sure hot
> environments
> would be faster. Curious if it would work in the desert by digging a deeper
> hole.
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com>
> To: Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Fri, October 22, 2010 6:48:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] CDC recommendations for water treatment
>
> Dianne,  That was a very good post.  I agree.  If you are careful when
> selecting
>
> your water sources you will rarely feel a need to either filter your water
> or
> have to resort to treating it with chemicals. However, it's a good idea to
> bring
>
> along a way to purify water in an emergency. A few years ago I even
> experimented  with getting water from damp earth.  I condensed it by
> spreading a
>
> 30" square sheet of clear plastic over a hole that I dug to damp earth.  My
> cup
> was placed under the middle with a rock directly above it.  I weighted down
> the
> perimeter with more dirt and rocks.  I got a drip, drip, drip of good water
> as
> the condensation ran down the plastic.  I know - it's slow, but after some
> time
> I had a cup of water. I used to bring the plastic along, among other
> things, in
> a fanny pack on long conditioning rides.  If I had an accident and broke my
> leg and there was no water around I might be able to get some by this
> method.
> Now, I just carry a knapsack with what I might need, including water, and,
> on
> the PCT, even my sleeping bag. If your horse runs off (as Primo did, in a
> panic,
>
> in Washington when we came upon llamas) you must have everything you need
> to
> survive. Of course, I also always carry a SPOT.
>
> MendoRider
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Fri, October 22, 2010 5:01:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] CDC recommendations for water treatment
>
> For water treatment on the PCT I would bring a filter or chemical
> treatment and use it as per the instructions. Over and above that, I
> wouldn't worry too much about the water. 99% of the time the water is
> clean and clear and tastes good.
>
> I met some people in Section E this year who said they never drank
> any of the natural water on the trail. As they ate their lunch, I
> reached into the guzzler and fixed up a liter of water to take with
> me. They reacted in horror. They said they only drank water from
> cashes or faucets. I thought that was incredible and stupid.
>
> People worry way too much. I rarely treated any water beyond the High
> Sierra. I was more paranoid the first time through the Sierra and
> now, after a second time, I would treat very little of it. I admit to
> never treating water that comes from a pipe even if it is filling up
> a cattle trough, but I will filter or treat the water in the trough.
>
> I think we get so paranoid about germs in all the wrong places. We
> need some germs to keep our immune systems healthy. If you want to
> worry about germs, worry about potty germs, germs on people's (and
> your own) hands, germs on unrefrigerated foods that should be
> refrigerated. Things of that nature. Where do you think your drinking
> water comes from? It comes from the rivers and streams in your
> watershed. They put some chemicals in it and you drink it from your
> faucet after it runs through the pipes. It's probably less pure
> having to run through your pipes and your dirty faucet nozzle than it
> is running through a mountain stream.
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