As spring approaches and we are getting ready to get outside and have fun, it is important that we remain vigilant in the awareness that although water is an absolute necessity and is a huge part of our lives, what lives in the water can be very dangerous to our health.
We have had a great winter with a lot of snow and rain, therefore the entire planet has shed its impurities into the water due to natural “run off”. The simple truth is that as we go out and have fun, elated that spring is here, we could lose the awareness of all that has happened over the past several months.
Conditions have changed a bit and since we have endured mud slides, floods, earth quakes, live stock lost and wild life geographically relocated, we should be aware of what has leeched into the water table.
Experienced outdoorsman know the rules and sometimes are the greatest “rule breakers”, the novice simply does not know the rules and need to have resources to help.
Back to the basics for all: DRINKING WATER
1) If it is clear, cold and smells good: still dangerous.
2) Boil it, chemically treat it, or most of all filter it.
3) You can’t fix everything, i.e. chemicals, industrial waste, you just need to be aware of where you are and evaluate the risk.
4) If you can boil, GREAT approach but most likely you will not have the time.
5) If you can wait for a few hours use the chemicals, they work fine but leave a taste.
6) Since these (protozoa) resist chlorination, FILTRATION IS THE KEY.
7) Giardia and Cryptosporidium partum are the heavy hitters that make us sick and destroy the times we schedule for fun.
A SIMPLE WATER FILTRATION DEVICE CAN OVERT ALL, THEY ARE LIGHT AND TAKE LITTLE TIME TO REFILL A HYDRATION PACK, MAKE BASE CAMPS SAFE, AND ENSURE THAT THE WATER YOU DRINK WILL NOT PUT YOU IN HARMS WAY.
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