BajaNomad - water purification

water purification

chrisx - 12-30-2010 at 06:53 PM

Anybody know something about portable water filters? I mean backpacking style light weight filters or purifiers for ground water in the back country. Is there a difference between a filter and a purifier? What needs to happen before the water collected from the ground is healthy?

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burnrope - 12-30-2010 at 07:00 PM

Now that's the funniest thing I''ve read on BN.

DENNIS - 12-30-2010 at 07:21 PM

Woody never forgets.

wilderone - 1-2-2011 at 10:04 AM

I use the Sweetwater filter. It's a pump style that uses a filter, supposedly removing 99.9% of all contaminants, including giardia. You could purify filtered water, to kill certain bacteria, with Potable Agua tablets. You can use Potable Agua tablets by themselves with questionable water, but you have to wait about 1/2 hour for it to work. One or the other will usually give you want you need. Consider your water source - if it's a running spring (not a standing pool of spring water) and you can tap from the source, it's probably good drinking water without need for treatment. I've used a section of cut plastic bottle, with spout, to press against a rock seep to collect water, which then pours from its spout into a collection utensil. I've used my Sweetwater filter to filter water from scummy, algae filled ponds and not gotten ill. Rocky areas might collect water in tinajas which you can collect from. I carry a few coffee filters in my essentials kit to use in a pinch.

Mike99km - 1-2-2011 at 10:59 AM

Filters or purifiers are not the same. The purifiers filter out more. They will take out chemicals and virus. The more you pay the more they will pull out.
For the most part a backpack filter is all you need.
Stay away from systems that have paper filter or can't be cleaned in and serviced in the field. I have used the MSR filter for years and am very happy with it. Go to a backpacking store (REI)and check them out. Some fit to hydration systems and need a hose to fill anything else.
There is a light that kills virus and anything bad in the water but not clean up. You still get the grit. If you want to 100 percent, filter the water and use the light. I have done this in some way out places,never Mexico.
Collecting h2o is up to you. I will use a cloth and let the h2o sit and clear before pumping so I don't have to service the pump as often.
This Information is provided by proud American that has yet to hit a biker in Baja, :yes:

racheldarlin - 1-2-2011 at 12:30 PM

Chris - mi amigo

I have taught and practiced wilderness survival for many years. After reading several of your posts my advice to you would be to do yourself a favor and stay out of the Baja outback until you have gotten some basic training for such travel.

Please accept this advice in the spirit it is intended

woody with a view - 1-2-2011 at 01:53 PM

Quote:

This Information is provided by proud American that has yet to hit a biker in Baja, :yes:

watchit Mike. i posted something about "ask the fat lady in the honda" as the first reply and the sensitive side of the board deleted it! :light:

Bajatripper - 1-2-2011 at 02:18 PM

Quote:

This Information is provided by proud American that has yet to hit a biker in Baja,

Amen, brother!

mcfez - 1-2-2011 at 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view

Quote:

This Information is provided by proud American that has yet to hit a biker in Baja, :yes:

watchit Mike. i posted something about "ask the fat lady in the honda" as the first reply and the sensitive side of the board deleted it! :light:

Yeah...about 6-7 posts went out the door. I thought it had something to do with the breakdown