#054 Evolution Of A Lightweight Backpacker - Water Filtration Systems
There are a variety of reasons we hikers carry our own water filtration systems. There’s more going on in the water than the dirt we can see.
Contaminated water on the trail is a real concern. Though many streams in the back country are safe enough to drinks straight from, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Moving water in higher elevations and cooler temperatures have lass chance of being contaminated. Water that doesn’t move, like a lake, or water that is overly shaded, or located in hot areas, or has a lot of human and animal activity-that water is more likely to make you sick if consumed directly from the source.
The main concern on the trail is with animals and half-witted humans leaving waste in or close to the water source. The animals get a pass on this because they don’t know any better and this is their home. Half-witted humans who do this, even the ones who may not know better, need to learn better or just go home.
There are a variety of reasons we hikers carry our own water filtration systems. There’s more going on in the water than the dirt we can see.
There are parasites and bacteria in there we can’t see. Giardia, E. coli and Salmonella are some of the contaminants we need to worry about on the trail.
There are a number of options to clean the contaminated water: A quality water filter is the most common protection against these threats.
Boiling water is an effective option but not practical during the day while hiking along a trail, it’s more useful and common when cooking meals.
Ultraviolet Light (UV) Water Purifier Steripen is a popular choice. The UV light from the device neutralizes the threats that cause sickness.
Options that are usually reserved for emergency situations are either placing purification tabs into the bottle of water or placing into the bottle one or two drops of unscented household chlorine bleach, give the bottle a generous shake, wait several minutes, then drink. Again, these tactics are usually reserved for emergency situations.
My first filter was the Katadyn Hiker Pro (11oz) pump action filter. No, it does not have a compass in the stock or a thing that tells time (yes, that was a Christmas joke).
It works by placing one hose in the water, one hose in your bottle or bladder, then slowly pumping. As the water moves through the glass-fiber filter, it catches bacteria and parasites as small as 0.2 microns to make your water safe to drink.
To give some real-world context as to how these filters work I chose an object we’re all to familiar with these days.
From the Mayo Clinic’s website:
Q. What's the difference between cloth masks and medical masks, such as an N95 mask?
A. The idea behind an N95 mask is it has a filtering ability down to, and actually below, the size of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. So the coronavirus is about 0.12 microns in diameter and N95 (masks) protect down to 0.1 microns, with 95% efficiency, which is where it gets its name.
As we’ve learned over time, some masks work better than others. Some catch most of the particles while others are as effective as shooting a BB through a chain link fence and hoping it will stop moving.
Same with water filters. The filter has to be able to catch the small stuff that can make us sick.
Example: Giardia is 4-6 microns. The filter catches every thing larger than 0.2 microns. Always check the filters micron rating before purchasing.
A large percentage of hikers who leave the trail do so because exposure to bacteria, parasites, and other related sicknesses.
I used the Katadyn filter, with replaceable core, for over a decade and for thousands of hiking miles in many states, and never once got sick. That’s saying something about the power of a good filter, as many of my water sources were quite questionable.
We were in The Ozarks several years ago and had to filter from a stagnant pond surrounded by cows. You know that water was funky. One of us shimmied out over the pond on a low lying tree limb to dip a six litter tank into the water. We filtered the water until my filter clogged up, then used someone else’s (same brand) filter to clean that water again. Even though the water was safe to drink the filter couldn’t remove the brown color or stale taste.
The trend in water filtration began leaning in the direction of a lighter and simpler design. It took me a few years to jump on the Sawyer bandwagon. Mostly because I regularly lead or participated in weekend trips with large groups. My six liter tank and pump action filter became more a communal tool. Everyone used them for convenience sake. Whoever the water ran out on would take the tank down to the stream and fill it back up.
We don’t do those types of trips anymore. I now section hike the Appalachian Trail every year where I’m only responsible for my own water needs, so I bought the Sawyer filter. They come in two sizes. I purchased the smaller of the two because it weighed only two ounces. This 0.1-micron filter catches even more bacteria and parasites than my first one.
How it works: put the dirty water into the pouch, screw the filter and pouch together, then squeeze the pouch, water shoots through the filter into your bottle or water bladder.
Smart Water Bottles also thread with this filter and are also popular with hikers due to their long thin shape that allows them to fit nicely in most backpack’s side pouches.
Always remember which is designated for clean water and which for dirty, try not to cross-contaminate.
Note: Personal hygiene and clean camp dishes play a big roll in preventing sickness on the trail. Dirty hands from shelters or the privy, or cleaning hands from contaminated water, can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and fevers. Contact with others who’ve been contaminated can cause spread as well.