Backpacking Water Purification

Backpacking water purification is an absolute must if you are venturing into areas with surface water as your only drinking water source.

But should a hiking water filter be your first line of defense against dirty drinking water?

Not necessarily.

Let's take a look at the problem of providing safe drinking water on a hiking trip.

Lots of surface water looks clean: a sparkling stream cascading down the rocks, for instance. Or a cold, deep, crystal clear mountain lake.

But there are many sources of water contamination lurking in that "clean" water.

For instance, heavy metals or other contaminants leaching from the rocks.

And there are microscopic troublemakers which other people and animals leave behind: viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and worms from sweat, feces or urine.

So unless you absolutely have to in a survival situation, don't drink the water without treating it.

Which brings us back to the subject of choosing a method of backpacking water purification: lightweight, convenient to use, and reliable.

I started using an MSR water filter about 15 years ago. My filter is rather heavy, using a ceramic core with a plastic pump handle. It has a plastic tube with a float, which is placed into the water source. The pump handle creates suction to draw the water through the filter, and the clean water flows into a water bottle attached to the other end.

I've noticed several problems with this filter.

The first problem was that I had to pump hard to get enough water flowing through the filter. I took apart the entire apparatus, cleaned the ceramic core with the recommended abrasive pad, and reassembled it. Not much improvement. I get a good workout every time I pump water!

Another problem was created by my own clumsiness. I was cleaning the filter in my kitchen sink and accidentally knocked the ceramic core against the metal side of the sink. CRACK! That set me back about $80 to replace the ceramic filter.

And when I had murky or debris-filled water sources, the filter clogged often. I had to take it apart, clean off the debris, and reassemble it. Irritating! And it added time to my preparations for the next day, robbing me of relaxing time.

One more thing: There's no way to know if the filter has failed. After a week long backpacking trip near Mt. Adams, my hiking companion came down with blastocystis - even though we filtered all of our water, including our dish washing water. Obviously, something was amiss!

This filter also will not remove viruses, the smallest of the human pathogens. This is a huge consideration if you are traveling to areas known to be contaminated with human feces. And that's just about anywhere that humans have access to surface water - mountain lakes and streams included.

So I'd recommend looking at the newer filters on the market as you ponder backpacking water purification options. They are definitely lighter, and reportedly faster, than mine. They still can't deal with viruses, but are a good way to go for routine water filtering needs.

Here are some tips on how to buy and maintain a hiking water filter.

But you're not locked into using a hiking water filter. There are other avenues to clean drinking water:

1. Boil the water.

This means you have to carry more fuel. If you're camping at high altitude, it will take more fuel and more time to supply your drinking water & cooking needs.

The good thing about boiled water: it kills all microscopic pathogens, including viruses.

The bad news? Boiled water can taste flat. You might need to add a little something to jazz it up. Flavored electrolytes might do the trick, AND provide you with skeletal muscle benefits.

2. Chemical treatment. I remember adding iodine to my drinking water way back when.

It tasted awful.

And I remember adding flavored drink mixes to the water, just to be able to choke it down. But at least it was a safe backpacking water purification method, right?

Today, you have the option of using chemicals which won't leave you with a horrible after taste. Read about it here.

3. UV light. Ever hear of a SteriPen? I'm investigating these right now, and will report what I find.

As a microbiologist, I understand how UV rays can kill microorganisms (mutating DNA). I'm just waiting for some field reports, to confirm that these devices work as advertised.

Meanwhile, here's a forum that's tracking the issue - check it out.

A water filter may be just the piece of equipment you need for backpacking water purification.

Or it may not be.

If you have questions, drop me a line with your specific situation, and I'll give you some answers.

Need more gear ideas after reading about backpacking water purification options? Go HERE.