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372 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2011 : 12:37 AM
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I do know there was a recent post on this, so bear with me. No pun intended.
I need to get a water filtration system for an upcoming expedition, but don't know if I should buy one of those MSR pumps or just go with the tablets or the purifier pens.
So tell me what You use, your personal gear reviews on how you filter the water out in the bush.
Thanks alot! |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
1654 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2011 : 01:27 AM
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You'll need to provide more details to get responses that are useful for your scenario.
Where is the expedition?
How long is the expedition?
What water sources will you be using?
Whatever advice you get here, be sure you also fully understand the limitations of the system that you choose to use. |
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1107 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2011 : 08:31 AM
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Generally if in the Rockies where I can rely on fairly clear running streams, I use Pristine liquid or Micropur tablets. Super light and effective. But there is a wait time to effectively kill some bacteria and cysts, which depends on how turbid the water is and as well, its temperature.
I just bought a Katadyn filter (see a previous thread where I received some great advice) to use when the water is really suspect.
I have used a Steripen but had the unit fail twice when I was deep in the backcountry. I then carried back up pills but questioned why I would take the pen in the first place. There are quite a few negative reviews of the Steripen and its reliability if you search the net. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3829 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2011 : 08:50 AM
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What is most important to you?
Speed - not taking too long to work the system? or being able to drink right away?
Taste - do you mind residual chlorination? Do you use drink crystals anyways?
Where are you going and what are you concerned about in the water there? |
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38 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2011 : 09:10 AM
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I've used katadyn tablets, pristine drops, MSR filters and a Steripen over the years. They all work fine and each seem to have its own advantages and limitations.
Tablets and drops are light, but as was mentioned before, they take a long time to work in cold water. (Up to four hours). This means that you have to plan ahead and sometimes carry a lot of water for a long distance before you can drink it. Last spring we drew clear water from a very remote lake. The water had a few really tiny red bugs swimming around in it (kinda looked like extremely small shrimp). I experimented using pills in one bottle and drops in the other. The katadyn pills killed the little bugs, the micropur drops did not. (I drank both anyway, live protien and all.)
Pumps are good, especially for large groups. They are a bit on the heavy side, depening on the model u have. I used to have a big MSR pump. The ceramic filter froze and cracked a long time ago and I've never replaced it.
I've never had any issue with a Steripen. I think they may have resolved a lot of their dependability issues in their recent models. Where I live, there's usually lots of clear water. Using a Steripen, I can stop and treat a liter of water really quickly(90 seconds), drink part of it right away, and then only have to carry about half a liter at a time. All in all a Steripen seems to work out being lighter than pills or drops, because I end up carrying way less water.
Out of all of these, the Stripen is my favourite for longer hikes. If I was a more patient person, then pills/drops would be fine too. |
Edited by - Clockwerkz on 03/19/2011 4:07 PM |
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372 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2011 : 12:02 PM
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| I have a three month course Nols course in the Yukon and they suggested I bring some type of water filtration device. I am not too concerned about Speed as I plan to carry some water anyways. |
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Campbell River, B.C.
Canada
118 Posts |
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north van, bc
Canada
949 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2011 : 1:15 PM
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I have a Katadyn Pocket Water Filter. it's a bit heavier and bigger then then the plastic msr type ones. but it's metal and way more solid. and rated for 50,000L vs a few thousand for the cheaper ones.
if I was on a 3 month trip I would want something strong like this. it's a bit overkill (heavy) for a weekend trip though.
if you're in a big group course you should be sharing a couple of them. each person bringing their own water system is kinda silly. |
Edited by - smac on 03/20/2011 1:18 PM |
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372 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2011 : 3:58 PM
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| Thanks, I checked out the Katadyn Pocket filter. Love every aspect of it, but don't have $300 dollars laying around. My money tree only has so much output, haha. |
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Campbell River, B.C.
Canada
118 Posts |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 04/26/2011 : 09:40 AM
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| One unpleasant side-effect from the Katadyn Micropur tablets is that not only do they kill all the bacteria, cysts, and viruses in the water, they also kill all the beneficial germs in your stomach and intestines. You won't get sick, but make sure you eat plenty of yogurt afterwards. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3829 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2011 : 7:30 PM
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| It's generally not an issue for a weekend, but they have times on them rating the maximum length of time you can use them before causing health problems.. |
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5378 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 09:21 AM
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Depends on where you are going and if you don't mind bits or brackish water in your water bottle.
I bring a filter. I love my Katydyn.
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202 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 12:01 PM
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Um, Peter, kill "all' is kind of an overstatement, don't you think?
I use the tabs, light and easy. Probably don't let them work long enough though. Ah, well *chugs*
Edit; by which I mean Aquatabs. The other great thing is you can stick a few tabs all over - in your pocket, survival kit, the car, wherever. Great for being prepared. |
Edited by - metcarfre on 04/28/2011 12:04 PM |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 12:19 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by metcarfre
Um, Peter, kill "all' is kind of an overstatement, don't you think?
I use the tabs, light and easy. Probably don't let them work long enough though. Ah, well *chugs*
Edit; by which I mean Aquatabs. The other great thing is you can stick a few tabs all over - in your pocket, survival kit, the car, wherever. Great for being prepared.
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I actually had a very unpleasant few days after using them over a long weekend. I'm talking about the Micropur, although I carry both them and the Aquatabs. No question that they're great to have as a backup though, if your filter breaks, or if you're stuck somewhere. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1325 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 12:50 PM
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| I don't think any of these water treatment chemicals are going to make a dent in your natural bacteria. Wouldn't chlorinated water in the city cause the same problem? I think the only ones with limitations on how long you can use them are the iodine ones, and that's for an entirely different reason. |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
1654 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 1:20 PM
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I carry the Katadyn Micropur tablets as my back-up option because they claim to be effective against Cryptosporidium and the Aquatabs are not. If it's my last option, I might as well use the one that is most effective. They are with me on every hike (including day trips.)
http://www.aquatabs.ca/faq.html#15
I haven't actually been in a situation where I've needed to use the tablets yet (my primary methods haven't failed.)
My primary method is a filter, followed by UV pen. Depending on the situation, I may use boiling instead. Boiling was good for Cape Scott where the water wasn't clear (UV pen may not be effective) and the firewood was plentiful (wasn't worried about running out of fuel.)
For this summer, I'm thinking of picking up the MSR HyperFlow Microfilter to use on long day hikes in hot weather. It sounds like it is a little sensitive so I wouldn't make it my primary choice for multi-day trips. I use the MSR MiniWorks EX Water Filter for overnighters (and I have managed to break a filter cartridge while out on a trip.)
Things to make sure you understand:
- What will your tablets kill or not kill?
- What are the temperature and time requirements for your tablets? (in dirty 5 degree water, Micropur tablets take 4 hours to kill cysts/spores)
- What are the limitations of your UV pen (it can't see the insides of dirt particles...)
- What are the limitations of your filter (most won't eliminate viruses although one manufacturer claims that their unit will)
- What happens if your filter freezes? Many can sustain damage which might not be noticed by the user but will allow the bad stuff to get through.
- Will your method do anything to protect against toxins, man-made or natural (such as those from Cyanobacteria)? (the answer is probably not)
And finally, good camp hygiene, water source selection and water storage can go a long way to ensuring clean water. Using an alcohol hand sanitizer after going to the washroom and before collecting your water is a good step. Does that stream run through another campsite higher up? Does that pristine creek drain from a beaver pond? Is that snow pink with algae/bacteria growth?
At the end of the day, I love drinking water in the backcountry. It's the only chemical free water I drink.
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2011 : 11:28 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by swebster
Wouldn't chlorinated water in the city cause the same problem?
Just speaking from personal experience. Try it and find out. 
I must admit, though, that the problems I've run into have only occurred when I've been drinking treated water for a while, and not usually over just a day or two.
That being said, the levels of the various chemical compounds that produce chlorine in city tap water are much lower than in, for example, a swimming pool. City water has any number of pretreatments, including settling ponds, filters and flocculent to remove particles, UV light, oxygenation/aeration and whatever else has been designed into the system, so the amount of chlorine that is needed is minimal. The Kinsman Pool in Edmonton (25 m x 50 m x 2 m deep) now uses a UV system that has reduced the amount of chlorine being added to the equivalent of one jug of Javex per day, way lower than in other pools.
At a regular swimming pool, or a river or lake, you have to remove every possible contaminate that might be in it; at the pool you add sodium hypochlorite to what starts as 'clean' tap water, but the result isn't meant for consumption. You have the same problem with lake or river water, so I would think the chlorine levels added by the tablets would have to be higher than you would normally encounter in your faucet.
One other possibility is that if you add a tablet to relatively clean water, the chlorine isn't used up on oxidizing organic compounds so it's still available to bleach your insides. If you smell chlorine at a pool, it's only because the gas is being produced as a byproduct of the oxidation of organic compounds, like urine. If there's no smell, it's still there. It may also be that since it's often in an enclosed container (like a Platypus or a Nalgene bottle) the chlorine that's released is contained instead of venting to atmosphere. |
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82 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2011 : 10:19 AM
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Hello. I use the MSR Miox purifier. I have made a few changes (suggested by a friend) in order to make it more reliable. Instead of using untreated water in the salt chamber and shaking it to create a brine solution, I carry a small dropper bottle with a buffered saline solution. This prevents eventual "fouling" of the electrodes, which is what seems to have caused most of the problems that others have had with this purifier. Prior to the MSR Miox, I used a Katadyn Mini Filter for about 10 years, and it never let me down. But would I ever go back to pumping water throught a filter ? Nope ! The Miox has never let me down either, in the last 5 years....
Andrew Klinzmann |
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1107 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2011 : 08:38 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by peter1955
One unpleasant side-effect from the Katadyn Micropur tablets is that not only do they kill all the bacteria, cysts, and viruses in the water, they also kill all the beneficial germs in your stomach and intestines. You won't get sick, but make sure you eat plenty of yogurt afterwards.
Please provide the scientific proof. |
Edited by - FamilyGuy on 05/01/2011 08:59 AM |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2011 : 08:51 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by FamilyGuy
quote:
Originally posted by peter1955
One unpleasant side-effect from the Katadyn Micropur tablets is that not only do they kill all the bacteria, cysts, and viruses in the water, they also kill all the beneficial germs in your stomach and intestines. You won't get sick, but make sure you eat plenty of yogurt afterwards.
Please provide the scientific proof.
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You're just being argumentative. Please provide scientific proof to the contrary.
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Water Filtration Systems
