All surface
water should be considered contaminated with giardia. In addition,
always assume a wolf is relieving itself in the water just
upstream as it feeds on a bloated, maggot-infested animal
carcass floating in the water. To reduce the chances of problems,
boil, filter, or treat all water with iodine tablets.
POTABLE AQUA
IODINE TABLET TECHNIQUE--It is very important to read and
follow the manufacturer's directions. Place two (2) tablets
(not one) in a quart water bottle. Once you can see that the
iodine tablets have dissolved, shake the bottle and reexamine
it to see if both tablets have in fact dissolved. If they've
dissolved, invert the bottle, loosen the cap slightly, and
squeeze the sides of the bottle until some of the water is
forced out through the threads, thereby exposing this hidden
area of potential contamination to iodinated water.
Note: depending
on the condition of your tablets, it may take anywhere from
2 minutes (new tablets) to over 30 minutes (older tablets)
for the tablets to dissolve before you can rinse the bottle
threads. Once the tablets have dissolved and the threads have
been rinsed, wait at least thirty (30) minutes before ingesting
the water.
To improve
the taste and clarity of iodine treated water, simply use
two of the neutralizing tablets that are prepackaged in another
bottle with some Portable Aqua iodine products. However, don't
add these tablets--or a drink mix for that matter--until the
30-minute contact time has passed as these will render the
iodine ineffective. Adding vitamin C powder is another way
of improving the clarity and taste of iodinated water (simply
grind up vitamin C tablets in a coffee bean grinder).
According
to the manufacturer, an unopened bottle of Portable Aqua iodine
tablets stored at temperatures between 60 and 86 degrees F
should have a shelf life of four years. An opened, but tightly
closed, bottle of iodine tablets should be good for about
one year, after which it should be discarded. To determine
the expiration date of a particular bottle, examine the vertical
lot number on the label. For example, the lot number "49127""
means that the product was manufactured in the 4th month of
the year 1991 and was the 27th batch produced.
Since exposure
to heat, humidity, moisture, and air will reduce the effectiveness
of iodine tablets in short order, carry a "working bottle"
containing about eight (8) tablets and a "stock bottle"
containing the remaining supply. This technique is especially
important in rainy, wet weather or when it is very humid.
For more
info about iodine tablets, contact:
WPC Brands
1-800-558-6614
http://www.wpcbrands.com
"What's
in the Water?" by Peter Jaret
"Clean Water Act," by
Dennis Lewon
"Drinking Risky Water,"
by Buck Tilton
"Thwarting the Super Cootie,"
by Therses Iknoian
"Conquering Crypto," by
Therses Iknoian
"McNett Aquamira," by
Michael Lanza
"A Long Life for Your Filter,"
by M. Lanza
"Filter First-Aid," by
Kristin Hostetter
"Gut Reactions," by Buck
Tilton
"An Issue of Purity: What's
in the Water," by Mark Jenkins
Unknown article on backcountry hygiene,
by Buck Tilton
"Just Say No to Untreated Water,"
by Fred Bouwman, et al
"Safe
Water," by Cindy Ross
1-800-755-6701
http://www.exstreamwater.com
1-800-441-8166
http://www.generalecology.com
1-888-826-6234
http://www.hydro-photon.com
1-800-755-6701
http://www.katadyn.com
1-360-671-2227
http://www.mcnett.com
1-800-531-9531
http://www.msrcorp.com
1-408-867-4576
http://www.polarequipment.com
1-800-675-4401
http://www.safewateranywhere.com
1-320-252-1642
http://www.stearnsinc.com
1-800-531-9531
http://www.sweetwaterfilters.com
1-303-440-8779
http://www.t-line.com
(Wisconsin
Pharmacal Company)
1-800-558-6614
http://www.wpcbrands.com
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In
God's wilderness lies the hope of the world,
the
great, fresh, unblighted, unredeemed wilderness.
—
John Muir 1838-1914, Alaska Wilderness, 1890
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