[robfindlay]

What is your BEST method of decontaminating suspect water? Iodine or bleach?

Scenario, I'm near a river/creak/lake, gutter, I dig a small trench to let water filter through (obviously not with the gutter). I fill my canteen, what method is going to give me the cleanest water?

I've heard different things about iodine AND bleach.

Lastly because salt lake has ALOT of water that is salty at least in places I might want to hide out in, anyone know of some good plans for a solar still or are we back to boiling when it comes to salt water?

-Rob

 

[razadp]

Sorry, boiling won't help salty water become less salty, unless you are distilling it. Same with other minerals. A lot of western states and prairies have ponds with a salt ring around them, and boiling won't help that.

Iodine and bleach are both effective against free bacteria, but slower to work against encysted parasites like giardia. Thats why the half hour wait time is essential. Iodine is supposed to be a little more effective, but marginally.

 

[TAKEZO]

You should get these water filtration systems. The membrane filters.

They even come in straw sizes so you can suck on goop and get pure water in your mouth.

I suggest a hand pump system and enough filter replacements to make 500 to 1000 gallons of water.

Check out REI stores. They got them, but I wouldn't by them there.

Do some interenet research on this--there are lots of systems.

T

 

[300mag]

What is your BEST method of decontaminating suspect water? Iodine or bleach?

Scenario, I'm near a river/creak/lake, gutter, I dig a small trench to let water filter through (obviously not with the gutter). I fill my canteen, what method is going to give me the cleanest water?

I've heard different things about iodine AND bleach.

Lastly because salt lake has ALOT of water that is salty at least in places I might want to hide out in, anyone know of some good plans for a solar still or are we back to boiling when it comes to salt water?

-Rob

From what I have read there is no one sure way, One way may kill parasites

yet not virus's so as I understand it it needs to be a multi process.

Step one filter it, one cheap method is to construct a 5 gallon bucket
with holes in the bottom and gravel at the bottom and fine sand as the top layer

Pour water in at top and collect what comes out the holes. I got this from

Cresson Kernys Nuclear war survival skills Booklet and it says it will filter fallout and heavy metals but the sand needs periodic changing

Boiling is not necessary IMO , keeping it at 165 deg will do fine but if you feel better than boil it.

Step 2

Add appropriate amount of Clorox and let stand for 30 Min's

Step 3

follow directions on water purification tablets an add to your water.

I may have overdone it but its is a safe way to purify water, albeit labor

intensive


salt? dunno bout that one, perhaps the sand would collect it?

 

[53convert]

well if you are trying to kill pathogen, that is one thing ,if you are trying to remove chemical and radiological that is something else.

For the pathogen, solar power................Now how does that work?
2 litter coke bottle, one gallon glass jar..........fill with water suspected and place in the sun for several hours.

It will heat up to the point to kill any pathogen in it.........

http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2006/03/24/lowtech_solar_water_purification_it_works.htm
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://home.att.net/~cleardomesolar/Finalproto-Sstillsystem-sml.jpg&imgrefurl=http://home.att.net/~cleardomesolar/solarpurewaterstill.html&h=1410&w=1638&sz=206&hl=en&start=3&um=1&usg=__dy9mHopsZWMEbAkiNx72phAB2mo=&tbnid=yutqXNkQzoS2IM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsolar%2Bwater%2Bpurifier%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Now thats a good reason to keep some of those old plastic coke bottles. Once you have let it set, just run it through a filter and there you have it


Now for a true decon try,,,,,,,,,,,,,,sorry cant help you.........

 

[Cryptkeeper]

if your in a fixed location this is the easiest/cheapest that you can build http://www.fortlewis.edu/academics/...age Supporting Docs/BSF/Basic info on BSF.htm

 

[MarkfromMD]

do the tarp method, dig a hole that water will pool in the bottom of then set a rock in the middle with a cup/pot/bottle on it, then put a tarp over the hole anchoring the edges down securely, then set a small rock in the center right over the cup/pot/bottle then let it sit. The water in the hole will evaporate, hit the tarp, bead up, run down the tarp, and drip into the cup/pot/bottle You will get clean non salty water.

 

[metrowash]

I carry a Katadyn filter. Keep in mind neither bleach nor iodine will kill Cryptosporidium. Chlorine dioxide tabs will work but a four hour wait is needed.

UV light from the sun will kill microbes in six hours. On the go, this would require you to rotate your supply. You could gather water in clear containers and store on the outside of your pack so they are sunlight-exposed. The water will cool overnight and be ready for drinking the next day. It means having to carry the next days supply with you ( an extra ten pounds) but the alternative is diarrhea,which in some situations can ultimately be fatal.

If water has excessive salt content distillation will be the only definitive answer.