[pct-l] Bleach vs. aqua Mira

[Robert Henry]

I used 2-part liquid Aqua Mira drops to treat water.  I didn't notice
any smells or bad tastes. I was never sick on the trail.  You can now
buy Aqua Mira in CA, as the company has changed their labeling to meet
both Federal and CA EPA requirements.

One precautionary note:  The phosphoric acid "Part B" is an acid, and
if spilled and not washed away immediately, will burn holes through
nylon, as I found out the hard way.  I also knocked over the small
mixing cap several times in the course of the hike, to see my
hard-carried chemicals drain away uselessly into the soil.

On Mon, Mar 4, 2013 at 12:34 AM, Eric Lee <saintgimp at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Ben wrote:
>>
> Why would I use aqua Mira when bleach costs a fraction of the price? Does
> one work better than the other? Is one safer than the other? Taste? Really
> curious about this one.....
>>
>
> The short version is that bleach (free chlorine) and Aqua Mira (chlorine
> dioxide) are not at all the same chemical, in the same way that sodium
> chloride (table salt) isn't at all like bleach.  They kill pathogens via
> different mechanisms; bleach kills via chlorine, Aqua Mira kills via oxygen.
> Generally speaking, Aqua Mira will have less-bad side-effects than will
> bleach, especially over multiple months of use.  (That's not to say that
> there are no side-effects, of course.)  Aqua Mira is also more effective
> against Giardia and Crypto than bleach is.
>
> Also, I personally find Aqua Mira to be almost undetectable in my water but
> I think bleach smells and tastes nasty.  Some people have other opinions on
> that part.
>
> Aqua Mira is unfortunately a lot more expensive than bleach is, so if money
> is a critical limiting factor then bleach might be your only reasonable
> choice.  However, if you've got the money to be able to afford Aqua Mira (or
> any other chlorine dioxide-based water treatment) then I don't think it's a
> waste of money.  It's what I use.
>
> Eric
>
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