For travelers who are off the beaten track, water treatment sooner or later becomes an issue. After all, around 75 percent of motion sicknesses are a result of contaminated water. No one will drink water that is not visually appealing. Clear water, for example from a mountain spring, is often used to quench thirst. However, even seemingly clear water can contain pollutants, chemicals, bacteria or viruses. That’s why treating this water makes a lot of sense. The following article explains what options there are and their advantages and disadvantages.
Types of contamination
Basically there are three common types of contamination and they are:
- Microorganisms, including viruses such as hepatitis A viruses, bacteria such as Salmonella or E-Coli and protozoa such as Giardia,
- agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides,
- Turbidity and suspended matter in the form of sediments and undissolved particles.
How useful is water treatment?
Only about one percent of the earth’s water supply is available as drinking water. And even this small proportion is not always clean water. Drinking water that flows from the tap at any time is anything but a given. In this respect, treating water definitely makes sense. This is especially true when on the go. Diseases of the digestive system are among the most common travel illnesses. These are often attributed to unfamiliar food, but the real cause of the symptoms is often contaminated water. To avoid this, water treatment is worthwhile. The following methods are most commonly used here.
Boil water
The simplest method for producing germ-free drinking water is boiling. Heating causes viruses, bacteria and protozoa are killed. A gas or gasoline stove is part of every outdoor traveler’s equipment. However, it should be noted that the boiling temperature decreases as the altitude increases. Example: On the North Sea coast water boils at 100 degrees Celsius, on the Zugspitze it boils at 90 degrees. So if you are at higher altitudes, you should let the water boil a little longer to be on the safe side. This ensures that even stubborn pests are killed.
Advantages:
- simple and common method,
- no chemical additives,
- Pests are reliably killed when used correctly,
- cost-effective.
Disadvantages:
- takes a comparatively long time,
- Heavy metals do not dissolve from the water,
- no improvement in the smell or appearance of the water.
Water treatment through UV irradiation
A simple and popular method is this UV water disinfection. The UV filter required for this is handy and can be carried along on every tour. The preparation works by holding the UV stick in the water while stirring regularly. The UV light emitted destroys viruses, bacteria and protozoa in the water. It only takes about two minutes and clean drinking water is available even in the most remote corners of the world. However, it is recommended to filter the water before UV water disinfection. This ensures that there are no more suspended particles. UV radiation does not change the taste or smell of the water. A UV stick works using batteries. That’s why sufficient replacement batteries are always included Outdoor travel luggage.
Advantages:
- rapid treatment of water,
- handy size and user-friendly operation,
- works against all microorganisms.
Disadvantages:
- Electricity is required
- relatively expensive.
Mechanical water filters
A water filter provides quick refreshment without a long wait. The lightest filters only weigh around 100 grams. With such a mini filter and a water bottle, hikers and outdoor fans are prepared for any tour. The small pores allow water to pass through unhindered, but retain viruses, bacteria and other pests. With an additional layer of activated carbon, even the smallest pathogens no longer stand a chance. Such combination filters are particularly recommended for trips outside of Europe. Another advantage of a water filter is that it can also trap taste and odor.
Water filters come in different sizes and designs. The smallest resemble a straw and allow hikers to drink directly from the body of water. A higher flow rate is possible with pocket filters. Depending on the product, the filter speeds may vary. They all have one thing in common – the bottle is full of clear, pure drinking water in about a minute.
Advantages:
- very low volume and weight,
- taste and smell improve,
- The filtering process is very quick and
- With a combination filter, almost all pollutants are removed.
Disadvantages:
- relatively expensive,
- needs to be cleaned and replaced regularly,
- have differences in the type of filtering.
Chemical processing
Another type of processing is chemical disinfection. There are also tablets that are so small and light that they fit into the smallest compartment in your backpack. Chemical tablets contain chlorine or silver ions and purify water from most viruses as well as bacteria and protozoa. However, this form of cleaning takes time. It can take up to two hours until all microorganisms are killed and the water can be consumed safely.
It is important to note that chemical treatment using tablets or drops only works with clear water. Possibly in the water Suspended solids, such as plant remains, may not disappear completely. If a filter is used before chemical treatment, the drinking water becomes completely clean. Although water purified in this way may taste somewhat of chlorine, this taste can be neutralized with additional tablets.
Advantages:
- makes the water last particularly long,
- easy to use,
- Volume and size are particularly small,
- kills most microorganisms.
Disadvantages:
- only works with very clear water,
- Suspended matter cannot be removed
- Water can taste like chlorine after treatment,
- long waiting time.
Which method suits which tour?
If you are traveling within Germany and are planning a shorter hike, a mechanical filter is a good idea. For a longer tour lasting several days, a gas or gasoline stove is usually part of the equipment. In such cases, boiling the water is the best solution. When traveling abroad, we recommend disinfecting with a UV filter. If large amounts of water need to be purified and there is enough time, chemical tablets are the right choice. These also have the advantage that most pathogens can be killed with their help.
12/27/2023