Backcountry hunts what about water?

[wigeon]

I use the steripen adventure and the tablets worked well for me last year so I will be using them again

[sledge]

nope.  not stinkwater.

mini- works.

don't reckon msr will be calling me for marketing advice.

joe

[Roadkill]

Water?  Purifiers.   tablets?  You have to have a water source to use such.  We do not have many, so we carry our water.  Heavy, but necessary

[Bjorn]

20 yr old PUR still doing a great job!

[donalcorn]

Sweet-water for me, going on 20 years now. Pumps a lot of water in a short amount of time. Cleans easy. The only thing I don't like is the weight. But the trade off is a good one in my mind.

[kadbow]

I worked in water treatment for years inspecting municipal systems and pretty much do what is required for them.  I filter (there are many good ones) and then add a couple drops of bleach (unscented of course, 2 drops per quart). I personally would never use the steripen or tablets alone.

[Daz]

Do what you want, it's just my opinion and what I was taught. Clorine in municiple water supplies is monitored and tested, there is no testing after you drop a tablet into a container and wait 4 hours to drink it. Filtered water can be consumed immediately. Just trying to help out here.  

Rich, i was that annoying kid at the back of the class going "why?" and "why not?" all of the time. The curse of curiosity.
When i hear a statment given as a fact, i always wonder the source. Clarifiying it as your opinion helps.

The new generation of water purification tabs take 1/2 hour to potability, and are not iodine based (no risk to thyroid).

My friend and his family used the tablets extensively in West Africa when they lived there for a year (he is an MD), and he was the one who pointed them out to me upon his return.

[Orion]

I camp next to creeks and boil much of the water I drink.  I boil a lot in camp at night for my food, coffee, etc., and fill my canteen as well.  Use iodine tablets when I have to pull water from a stream/seep to drink.

[fnshtr]

I too worked in the water purification business for 37 years before retiring. There are several acceptable methods for making water potable.

Ultra-filtration works (especially reverse osmosis) as does Ultra-Violet disinfection and chemical disinfection.

The most common problem in the mountain west would probably be parasites (chrypto, giardia, etc.). While UV will not necessarily kill 100% of all parasites, it will render them unable to reproduce... effectively preventing illness from ingestion.

Most potable water plants (with either underground sources OR surface water sources) use "all of the above" methods.

Bottom line for me? I've used both the PUR filtering system (now Katadyn) AND tetraglycine hydroperiodide tablets. Coleman is one retailer of such tablets. They also sell a follow up treatment tablet that is basically ascorbic acid which neutralizes (removes the residual treatment chemical) the taste and smell of the disinfectant.

I prefer the tablets as I have more confidence in the chemical reaction than a physical filter.

In the streams I have used as a water supply, parasites are my only concern. I also add tang or gatorade powdered drink mix as I like the added flavor anyway.

Whichever method you use should suffice.

[Roadkill]

Good info here and an opportunity to research down to a procedure in which one has confidence.  Thanks, all.  We still carry much of our water and seldom go out for 3days without 50 gallons in the truck.

[jhg]

There is gigantic feedback on Steripen use on the web, over time and often in sketchy areas.  

If you do your part and don't get sloppy with your method they are as safe as anything out there.
The downside is the psychological part- you pretty much have to have faith that it works, there is no taste difference like some tabs, no filter you see water coming out of, nothing to tell you its safe but a light in some water for a measured period of time.

J-

[Knotter]

tablets or boiled tea... it doesn't take long and its a great way to enjoy the outdoors.  You actually don't have to heat it for long before you're ready to go. If you have a thermometer you don't even have to get it to a boil.   It takes the same amount of time to filter as is does to make tea (think herbal).  It always tastes great - even cold and the extra bottle of fuel I carry weighs the same as a filter.  (think dual purpose).

no clogs or worries with x contamination.

Tablets are fine in a pinch.  The modern ones are great and fast acting but still not my favorite.