Air, food, and water are the three things humans can’t live without. They help us maintain our bodies, achieve a healthy internal and external balance, and ultimately, simply allow us to live. It’s clear that without air, a human can’t really live at all. Without food, we can survive for a few weeks. Without water, however, that timeframe shrinks to only three days.
In most modern countries access to clean, drinkable water is as easy as turning a lever. When out and about though, especially when in the wilderness, on a camping or hiking trip, we don’t have that luxury. The water supply you bring with you is everything that you have and can be certain is safe to ingest.
Sure, there may be streams nearby, especially when you’re in forested areas, but how can you be absolutely sure that water is safe for drinking? To avoid such conundrums, there are ways of making sure the water you’re about to drink is absolutely safe and pure, no matter where you got it from. Here are the most common of them.
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Water Purifying Tablets to Prevent Water-Borne Diseases
Water purifying tablets are an excellent way of making sure the water you’re about to use is safe. It’s very important to understand that it’s not only drinking water that should be your concern. The water you use for washing or brushing your teeth can also have harmful effects if it’s not pure.
Water treatment tablets make sure that any harmful agents in your water are neutralized and bring it to a safe drinking level. You can find water treatment tablets in stores that deal with outdoor sports and equipment.
The way these water purification tablets work is very interesting. They take about half an hour to purify the water they’ve been added in and can keep it safe and drinkable for up to six months. One tablet can be used to purify one litre of water. They also have a pretty long shelf life, so you don’t have to worry about them expiring and not being able to clear your water out for years after you’ve bought them!
These purifying tablets are usually a mix of chlorine and silver ions, which, when working together, help disinfect water just like an alcohol solution helps disinfects your hands. Silver ions are a common part of water purification systems, often found in places where water safety is of utmost importance, like hospitals, for example.
The way they work is that the silver kills existing bacteria and prevents further bacteria from developing. It also prevents algae and other dangerous things like lead from floating around in your water supply.
Simple enough but extremely effective, and now available in a convenient form of a tablet, the silver ions technology has been popular for quite a while and proven to be extremely effective time and time again.
If you worry about ingesting the silver used to purify your water – don’t be. It has absolutely no bad effect on human health and the water it’s been added to is completely safe for both drinking and washing.
A Good Water Container
A quality water bottle or a sturdy thermos can really make a difference in the quality of the water you carry with you. Not only can it keep your water from outside contaminators, but it will also maintain its temperature, whether it’s supposed to be hot or cold.
Stainless steel thermoses are probably your best bet as they are quite sturdy and come in various sizes, so you can choose how much to take with you on the go.
Stainless steel is also an excellent material as it doesn’t corrode, it doesn’t rust, it’s extremely easy to clean and maintain, and it also stays hygienic for a long time. You can find such thermoses at stores that sell hiking and camping equipment.
What’s more, a good thermos bottle will help you carry your water more easily, as they usually can be attached to a backpack. The special technology used in their lids will keep the water in and will keep it fresh, so you won’t have to worry about losing any precious liquid or drinking stale water.
Getting Creative
If you happen to find yourself without any of these things on your camping trip, don’t worry! There are still things you can do to make sure you have a quality water source!
For example, you can fill up a pot with river water and boil it to kill off all the potential bacteria. This will disinfect the water and make it quite safe to consume. It might take a bit of time and then you’ll have to wait for it to cool off, but if it’s your only option, it’s better than nothing.
Other things you can use are UV lamps. These portable gadgets work really well and are quite easy to use. Just pop the UV light into your water bottle and turn it on. The light itself will make sure there are no viruses, bacteria, or anything else that may harm you in your water, though, they won’t remove things like lead, other sediments, or de-cloud murky water.
That’s why purifying water tablets and a sturdy water bottle are your best bet, but these other two methods can also work when needed. Another thing you can do is carry a pocket filtration system with you. A bit more complicated, but functional nonetheless, it will provide you with the quality of water you need.
To Wrap Up
No matter how clean a water source may seem it’s always smart to purify it rather than catch a disease. Whenever you’re heading out to camp, don’t forget to include your tablets, your water bottle, a good headlamp, and a heat source in your backpack as these are going to come in handy most.
Enjoy nature and remember to clean up after yourself so the next person can take in the scenery as much as you did! Stay safe and have fun!