The water-purification tag has no wiki summary.
26
votes
3answers
9k views
Is drinking urine safe?
We've all heard stories about how people saved their lives by drinking their urine. Is drinking urine safe when there are no other water sources available? Can I filter it with a water purifier?
24
votes
3answers
15k views
How long does water need to be boiled for to kill all bacteria / viruses?
This has come up a few times in a few other questions, but I've heard varying opinions from different people in a number of answers and comments on here - some saying that just boiling for a moment is ...
22
votes
7answers
706 views
What is the safest way to purify water?
There are a number of ways to purify water, off the top of my head we have filters, iodine, and boiling. Clearly each has some advantage/disadvantage (iodine tastes terrible, boiling takes time). ...
20
votes
3answers
3k views
Do iodine water treatment tablets have negative effects?
I've heard that iodine water treatment tablets can have negative side effects.
Is this true?
If so, what are some healthier alternatives?
16
votes
2answers
2k views
What are the different methods to purify water?
What methods can I use to purify water? And what's the difference between those several methods (safety, duration needed, ...)?
14
votes
4answers
412 views
Where in the Alps is it safe to drink the water without filtering?
In some places, the Swedish Lappland for example, it's perfectly fine and even recommended to drink water directly from streams.
Is it also recommended whilst hiking in the Alps, and if so is it only ...
12
votes
4answers
1k views
Can any waterborne pathogens survive boiling?
I know that boiling does little to break down chemical contaminants or heavy metals. But I'm unsure if it kills all microbial life. Are there any waterborne illness-causing ...
12
votes
1answer
148 views
Will Iodine Tablets Ruin My CamelBak?
In the past, I have gone backpacking with some fairly expensive, heavy water purification tools. But the more I read about water safety in California's Sierras (here and here), the less I think these ...
9
votes
1answer
81 views
Safe to use Old Water Filter?
I have a PUR Hiker Microfilter and a Katadyn Water Microfilter sitting in my closet that I only use once in a great while (I don't go on overnight backpacking trips very often).
Whenever I do plan on ...
8
votes
2answers
218 views
Will boiling be enough to decontaminate standing water from pathogens and toxins?
Will the boiling of the water itself be enough to decontaminate water taken from such standing water reservoir as that:
This water looks horrible, and probably drinking it raw would cause serial ...
8
votes
2answers
498 views
How do I desalinate seawater?
I know I shouldn't drink seawater (because of the salt it contains), but how can I desalinate it?
8
votes
2answers
319 views
Is it safe to use water purification tablets after their expiration date?
As I understand it, water purification tablets (Chlorine, in this case) are just chemical tablets sealed in foil. So what causes them to expire? Are they still safe to use after their expiration date? ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Where can I find an iodine crystal water purification product?
For years I used a product called Polar Pure for water purification when weekend backpacking. It was an iodine based solution, so not great for a thru-hike, but fine for a week or less. Specifically, ...
8
votes
2answers
103 views
Will any filter/pump purifier last through longer hikes?
I've been reading a lot of product reviews, and filter/pump solutions seem to be very high maintenance, very heavy, or both. Are there any lightweight filters which can be relied on for many liters ...
5
votes
2answers
168 views
What backwoods trick to get pure water produces the most safe water?
So I read this answer and I was wondering what contraption produce the most water when you don't have a water source? So what water trap produces the most water? Specifically, what should I do with my ...
