Water Filtration

I agree with pretty much everything in this article. Especially the parts about being selective and hygene. Some people use a Steripen but the sun provides much stronger UV and you just scoop it from lake away from shore. I filter but only when I don't have a really good source...that is not very often. And wash your stinking hands.


While we conservatively taught our students to purify all water regardless of source, I found that many fellow guides opted not to purify their water, instead choosing selectively among water sources and drinking from them directly


But four decades later, an evolving understanding of waterborne disease pathology implicates a different, more humiliating culprit for even this canonical incident: Lax hygiene standards while out of doors. If the real danger comes from eating after a trip to the cathole, then that’s the point that should be emphasized—not an unsubstantiated view of all water in the mountains as suspect. In all likelihood, it’s not the water that’s gross. It’s you.

I could not agree more with you Hobbydog. The water is the least of your worries that will make you sick during a canoe trip. It’s like people think they are in the woods, there is no need for personal hygiene. I have seen more than one guy come down from the thunder box and not wash thier hands. It’s even harder to preach personal hygiene in the woods than back home because back home you have a sink right there to wash.

I also agree with the article on some points. I usually go canoeing in the first week of June. Most times there is a huge pine pollen explosion and you can hardly see the water just pollen on the surface. I don’t want to drink that stuff. Then there is the algae blooms, I don’t want to drink that much either. On a hiking trip in the mountains I will agree with the article, but a canoe trip I will be filtering my water.

I didn't really delve into it too deeply, but it seems the article draws its conclusions from 1 1993 study of 41 individuals in the Tahoe area of Nevada, some of whom treated their water by various methods, some who didn't, some who reported some symptoms, some who didn't.

After seeing three members of my party suffering with giardia, after drinking from a Quetico lake, I for one will be filtering or boiling all water on my backcountry adventures. Three family members were Diagnosed and treated for giardia a couple weeks after we returned from a trip several years ago. It is not a pleasant experience to say the least. I don’t know why anybody would take any chance with the filter systems that are available to today’s outdoorsman.

hobbydog: "...Lax hygiene standards while out of doors. If the real danger comes from eating after a trip to the cathole, then that’s the point that should be emphasized—not an unsubstantiated view of all water in the mountains as suspect. In all likelihood, it’s not the water that’s gross. It’s you. "

Perhaps the most important reasons to be hygienic before handling food in the BWCA is in its preparation and the lack of refrigeration. I’d bet the main culprits for gastroenteritis, while camping, are Clostridium perfringens , Bacillus cereus , and Staphylococcal enteritis.

walllee: "After seeing three members of my party suffering with giardia, after drinking from a Quetico lake, I for one will be filtering or boiling all water on my backcountry adventures. Three family members were Diagnosed and treated for giardia a couple weeks after we returned from a trip several years ago. It is not a pleasant experience to say the least. I don’t know why anybody would take any chance with the filter systems that are available to today’s outdoorsman. "

Because giardia can happen despite filtration. Why? You are a very good vector of giardia. Yes the enemy is us.

Treat of course if it makes you most comfortable but be aware that poor sanitary practices in camp are more likely to make you ill.

boonie: "I didn't really delve into it too deeply, but it seems the article draws its conclusions from 1 1993 study of 41 individuals in the Tahoe area of Nevada, some of whom treated their water by various methods, some who didn't, some who reported some symptoms, some who didn't. "

A good point here. A few studies is a good start, but I'd like to see more in-depth and location-specific studies done before I'm ready to start gong into the backcountry without some form of water purification.

For example, none of these appear to address parasites like the tapeworm found on Isle Royale.

We keep the toilet paper in a plastic Folgers "can". The can also has a bottle of hand sanitizer. It is very easy to use the sanitizer every trip to the throne.

Mad_Angler: "We keep the toilet paper in a plastic Folgers "can". The can also has a bottle of hand sanitizer. It is very easy to use the sanitizer every trip to the throne."

+1 Even a gallon zip-lock will suffice. Germ-X, folks.

I've tripped with people who have gone an entire week without drinking filtered water, and I've dipped my bottle in BWCA lakes and drank while paddling and suffered no ill effects. However, I always filter a couple gallons at camp and carry a lifestraw for when I dip while paddling. I agree with the article to an extent, but filters are not as expensive as the article claims them to be. I've had the same Pur Hiker (since acquired by Katadyn) for 15 years and I've replaced the filter a few times, but in those 15 years, I've spent about $200 total. $60 for the original filtration system, and 30-40 bucks each time I replace the filter. My point is, that $200 I've spent over 15 years seems like a small price to pay for peace of mind, and to spare the misery of riding the porcelain (or fiberglass) horse for a week. If you take care of your filtration system and properly clean and dry it out after each trip, they will last years. The replacement filter I'm currently using has been on about 8 or 9 trips with me and it's barely slowed down at all. When I solo, I don't even bring my Pur Hiker, just the lifestraw for drinking from the Nalgene bottle. My lifestraw is about 5 years old, and still working well and it's tough to beat at $20 a piece. I guess everyone has their own style that works for them, I just don't think the cost of filtration systems outweighs the safety and piece of mind that comes with having one with you.

Tony

Mad_Angler: "We keep the toilet paper in a plastic Folgers "can". The can also has a bottle of hand sanitizer. It is very easy to use the sanitizer every trip to the throne."

Same here. I also have a small bottle of hand sanitizer in my cook kit that I use right before I start making any type of food.

Minnesotian: "I also have a small bottle of hand sanitizer in my cook kit that I use right before I start making any type of food. "

This is the most important thing, since some of those little nasties live in plain old dirt or on your skin, not necessarily poo.

A couple doors down is a medical company that uses human donor feces to provide healthy intestinal flora as therapy for various medical conditions. I hope I never need that type of medicine!

According to my personal study of drinking directly from lakes in the BW for over 30 years. I conclude that I have never gotten sick. I avoided water from rivers, areas with Beaver activity, and my camp water came from 30 yards from the shore. Full disclosure. I have recently brought a filtration system so I can get my camp water from shore instead of paddling out to get it. I also tested a Katadyn BeFree on a couple of trips.

It's enlightening to see a discussion on the relative risk of giardia from poor hygiene (huge) versus unfiltered water (much less). Botany Guy did a mini treatise on this with statistical analysis some years back on another board.

Misinformation and paranoia can be a killer, literally. A couple capsized and died on frigid, wave-tossed Alton when they went out to dip and filter water. Their diary showed they were windbound and had gone a couple of days without drinking water. Did they think that they were not safe from giardia unless the water was BOTH taken from the middle of a big lake AND filtered? So unfortunate.

I appreciate how much this board has helped me face risks, take reasonable precautions, and still enjoy tripping with a light load.

I have done much the same as Blatz, also for 30 plus years, drinking 80 - 90% of my water unfiltered if it was gathered away from shore. I do bring a filter or SteriPen in the event that my water source is "moving" or taken close to shore.

My daughter is the one who gave me the suggestion to add a small bottle of hand sanitizer to each of the Ziploc TP bags.

I haven't been in a group that has had any issues.

walllee: "After seeing three members of my party suffering with giardia, after drinking from a Quetico lake, I for one will be filtering or boiling all water on my backcountry adventures. Three family members were Diagnosed and treated for giardia a couple weeks after we returned from a trip several years ago. It is not a pleasant experience to say the least. I don’t know why anybody would take any chance with the filter systems that are available to today’s outdoorsman. "

Could not agree more. Plus hand sanitizer and wipes. Some people are just not conscious of personal hygiene at home or the outdoors. Hence the reason my family refuses to eat from a buffet.

For general Hygiene I bring baby type wipes. They work for hands, butt and pits. Or any other part of your bod that needs attention. They also burn if you let them sit out a bit. My daughter when she was in the Marines said they used those a lot when in areas with limited water. I keep them in a separate zip lock in my zip locked TP.

Giardiasis is a disease caused by a parasitic protozoan and is usually spread by waterborne Giardia cysts, not by casual contact with people having poor hygiene, unless they are already suffering from the disease.

That said, not all gastrointestinal disturbances are caused by the parasite. Most are caused by bacteria and Noroviruses. This is the main reason to have proper hygiene before preparing food.

I definitely agree that poor hygiene is more likely to get you than a bug from the water. We are also in the camp that has sanitizer with the TP and in the kitchen. Heck, with all the chemo and immune suppression drugs that I’ve had, I keep a bottle in my pocket even in town.

But just because I’m taking steps to get rid of he most important risk doesn’t mean I’m going to reduce my efforts to reduce other risks. So we still filter, have iodine as a backup in case of a filter failure, and often get our water from out in the lake (depending on circumstances).

I don't understand the issue. A sawyer filtration bottle is no more time or difficult to use then a Naglene bottle. You dip both in the lake and drink. Why take a chance when there is no real time savings, and the cost of a Sawyer bottle is less then $39. Our Sawyer bottles have lasted for 5 trips to the BWCA. Just back flush and keep going.

For in camp, the time savings is the other way. Those that want to dip have to get in the canoe and paddle to the middle of the lake for camp water. We use a Platypus gravity system and just fill the bags at the shore line about 2 feet from shore. Big time saver.

ockycamper:
For in camp, the time savings is the other way. Those that want to dip have to get in the canoe and paddle to the middle of the lake for camp water. We use a Platypus gravity system and just fill the bags at the shore line about 2 feet from shore. Big time saver. "

If you dip from the lake (or if you filter and want to save on back flushing your Platypus) you fill your water containers when you are on the lake before you paddle to camp. No added time penalty.

If I can get roughly 100 yards out in 50 plus feet of water, I usually just dip. I keep a backup pen for if I ever can't make that happen.

And there is usually some back up system in the emergency kit for if I ever have to do a Hugh Glass routine and crawl out!

Banksiana: "

ockycamper:
For in camp, the time savings is the other way. Those that want to dip have to get in the canoe and paddle to the middle of the lake for camp water. We use a Platypus gravity system and just fill the bags at the shore line about 2 feet from shore. Big time saver. "

If you dip from the lake (or if you filter and want to save on back flushing your Platypus) you fill your water containers when you are on the lake before you paddle to camp. No added time penalty."

I've read and read and read ad nauseum over the years. I'll dip my cup and my water as I please, doing so judiciously. Tripping since '84 only one person in my party ended up with Giardia. On the way out on the Monument Portage my friend accepted the gift of a drink from another party's water bottle. About 9-10 days later when the explosive diarrhea began he counted days from that drink....yup, that had to have been the source. Not trying to convert anyone, but I feel my choice is perfectly safe if you drink from away from shore, away from shallow water, away from beaver activity, etc.

Oh, BTW, better not go swimming if you're so worried about swallowing unfiltered water!

Just saying. . .there is no time savings as there are plenty of filtered water bottles out there. Doesn't seem to be a reason not to use one.

In camp is a different matter. We use only filtered water for drinking, cooking and washing dishes.

ozarkpaddler: "
Oh, BTW, better not go swimming if you're so worried about swallowing unfiltered water!"

Exactly!

I only swim in filtered water.

"Oh, BTW, better not go swimming if you're so worried about swallowing unfiltered water!"

We go in late September. Not much of an issue!

ockycamper: ""Oh, BTW, better not go swimming if you're so worried about swallowing unfiltered water!"

We go in late September. Not much of an issue!"

Sorry, I stole that quote from Michael Furtman's book "A Season for Wilderness" but on the page it comes off more "Smart a$$" than funny! My apologies.

ozarkpaddler: "

Banksiana: "

ockycamper:
For in camp, the time savings is the other way. Those that want to dip have to get in the canoe and paddle to the middle of the lake for camp water. We use a Platypus gravity system and just fill the bags at the shore line about 2 feet from shore. Big time saver. "

If you dip from the lake (or if you filter and want to save on back flushing your Platypus) you fill your water containers when you are on the lake before you paddle to camp. No added time penalty."

I've read and read and read ad nauseum over the years. I'll dip my cup and my water as I please, doing so judiciously. Tripping since '84 only one person in my party ended up with Giardia. On the way out on the Monument Portage my friend accepted the gift of a drink from another party's water bottle. About 9-10 days later when the explosive diarrhea began he counted days from that drink....yup, that had to have been the source. Not trying to convert anyone, but I feel my choice is perfectly safe if you drink from away from shore, away from shallow water, away from beaver activity, etc.


Oh, BTW, better not go swimming if you're so worried about swallowing unfiltered water!"

And both you and I will, I guarantee you, filter on the Current at Cedar Grove after 35 horses have crossed.

True enough. We try to swim every day. But I am careful not to swallow the water. Still going to filter. I can reduce risks even if they aren’t zero.

yellowcanoe: "

ozarkpaddler: "

Banksiana: "

ockycamper:
For in camp, the time savings is the other way. Those that want to dip have to get in the canoe and paddle to the middle of the lake for camp water. We use a Platypus gravity system and just fill the bags at the shore line about 2 feet from shore. Big time saver. "

If you dip from the lake (or if you filter and want to save on back flushing your Platypus) you fill your water containers when you are on the lake before you paddle to camp. No added time penalty."

I've read and read and read ad nauseum over the years. I'll dip my cup and my water as I please, doing so judiciously. Tripping since '84 only one person in my party ended up with Giardia. On the way out on the Monument Portage my friend accepted the gift of a drink from another party's water bottle. About 9-10 days later when the explosive diarrhea began he counted days from that drink....yup, that had to have been the source. Not trying to convert anyone, but I feel my choice is perfectly safe if you drink from away from shore, away from shallow water, away from beaver activity, etc.



Oh, BTW, better not go swimming if you're so worried about swallowing unfiltered water!"

And both you and I will, I guarantee you, filter on the Current at Cedar Grove after 35 horses have crossed."

Now now, on the Current we just carry enough beer to eliminate the need for water.

Banksiana: "

ozarkpaddler: "
Oh, BTW, better not go swimming if you're so worried about swallowing unfiltered water!"

Exactly!


I only swim in filtered water. "

LMAO!!!!

inspector13: "


A couple doors down is a medical company that uses human donor feces to provide healthy intestinal flora as therapy for various medical conditions. I hope I never need that type of medicine!


"

I once made a prototype of a pill that was designed to deliver that donor flora. It actually had a micro motor and control board that would open it up after a set amount of time. The thought of popping a pill that contained someone else’s s*** was always a little off putting in my mind, but I guess the other delivery options are no better.

walllee: "After seeing three members of my party suffering with giardia, after drinking from a Quetico lake, I for one will be filtering or boiling all water on my backcountry adventures. Three family members were Diagnosed and treated for giardia a couple weeks after we returned from a trip several years ago. It is not a pleasant experience to say the least. I don’t know why anybody would take any chance with the filter systems that are available to today’s
outdoorsman. "

This happened to me back in 94' after a BWCA trip. Since that time I filter no matter what!

Again. . .the question not answered by those who do not filter is why? If dipping a bottle with no filter is no different then dipping a Sawyer bottle with filter? Same amount of effort. . .vastly diferent risk

Not filtering is selfish in the way that declining vaccines is selfish. Everyone practicing prevention reduces the risk for all. And absolutely use hand sanitizer. A travel bottle of hand sanitizer is the perfect size to wrap TP around for the ziplock throne packs.

Abbey: "Not filtering is selfish in the way that declining vaccines is selfish. "

Not really the same

ockycamper: "Again. . .the question not answered by those who do not filter is why? If dipping a bottle with no filter is no different then dipping a Sawyer bottle with filter? Same amount of effort. . .vastly diferent risk"

Maybe the answer can be found in the subordinate headline of the linked article:
"The outdoor community (and industry) has made filtration a must. But a look at the scientific evidence shows that this mandate rests on a shaky foundation."

If the risk of contracting a waterborne illness is minimal (when implementing common sense practices of water acquisition) why bother? I didn't treat water when I first began tripping in the late 70's and despite near obsessive levels of wilderness paddling since I've never had an issue. If water levels are very high or I'm heading to an area with questionable water I'll take a filter. Otherwise I pull far from the shore and drink with abandon. I also swim underwater with eyes and mouth open like a crazy person- even deep into September.

Though I still pack silver bullets, a cross and a wooden stake due to my concern for wilderness based werewolves and vampires.

The only reason I ask is simply curiosity. One canoe has a Naglene bottle. The other a Sawyer filtration bottle. Both are "dip and drink" systems. One can only be used in the middle of the lake. The other can be used safely anywhere (although back flushing will be required on longer trips). Is it a taste issue to not used the filtered bottle? A one with nature thing?

I was backpacking in the Tetons with some friends this past summer and filled up my bottle from a snowmelt stream at the top of the mountain. The rest of my group thought I was crazy and that I only had a few days to live after that. I just laughed and watched them filter water!

My point is that the general practice (especially in my generation) is to filter filter filter. I think it stems from the simplicity and access to affordable technology, and marketing by companies that have instilled this idea. Don't think it'll change anytime soon, but that doesn't affect me.

For 25 years, I never filtered. Never got sick. We practiced good habits like getting water in the middle of the lake, no pond water, etc. However, when my sons started to trip with me, I thought "hey better be safe than sorry". And so it began, I now filter all the water I drink. Let's just call it cheap insurance and a very small time investment.
When I backpack, most of my water comes from still ponds, pools, slow moving streams. I ALWAYS filter that.

So, my take away is that I don't need to worry much about Giardia, but I do need to filter water for coliform bacteria since it's likely that some dumb shit didn't use good wilderness toilet practices. And not to partake in any group food offerings since it's likely someone else in the group didn't wash their hands.