Water purification tablets

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 21:34:08 +0100, "James" <[email hidden]> wrote:

| I went out walking today for the first time in ages. Being somewhat larger
| than I used to be, I discovered that I really needed to drink more water
| than I can reasonably carry. As I live in Essex, most walks to not have
| healthy fast flowing water to top up from. I am wondering how effective
| water purification tablets would be if I topped up from local slow moving
| streams.

Ray Mears recommends a very small filter which I have seen on sale
somewhere.
--
Dave Fawthrop <dave hyphenologist co uk> http://www.webshots.com
Thousands of wonderful professional photos for your Wallpaper and
Screensaver. also 200,000 amateur pics. Four new pics each day.

What's the likelihood that these streams would have pollutants such as farm
chemicals, run-off from roads etc?

Andrew

James said:

I went out walking today for the first time in ages. Being somewhat larger
than I used to be, I discovered that I really needed to drink more water
than I can reasonably carry. As I live in Essex, most walks to not have
healthy fast flowing water to top up from. I am wondering how effective
water purification tablets would be if I topped up from local slow moving
streams.

The tabs might kill the bugs but the run-off chemicals from
agriculture will remain. Not recomended.

Solutions:

Tank up before you set off.
Suck a pebble to quench the thirst.
Stop at a pub and drink weak lime and soda or if you must have a beer
have one and two glasses of tap water.
Tank up when you get back.

Carrying more water will result in more calories being burnt which
will have the effect of making you smaller again. However it will also
tend to wreck your knees, so best get some poles too. :-)
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

"Phil Cook" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The tabs might kill the bugs but the run-off chemicals from
agriculture will remain. Not recommended.

I must admit to not thinking of the chemicals and around Essex they do use
plenty to make sure there are 2 crops per year from each field.

Quoted message said:

Solutions:

Tank up before you set off.

Absolutely I forgot to do that today and really suffered for it.

Quoted message said:

Suck a pebble to quench the thirst.

Never been keen on this but I might go back to carrying wine gums which
worked very well (not carrying them of course but chewing them).

Quoted message said:

Stop at a pub and drink weak lime and soda or if you must have a beer

Got really Pi**ed off today when after 4 hours of walking I discovered the
only pub on the route did not open on weekday afternoons

Quoted message said:

have one and two glasses of tap water.

See above

Quoted message said:

Tank up when you get back.

Yes. I managed to buy (70p - ouch) some water before catching the train
back home and felt much better.

Quoted message said:

Carrying more water will result in more calories being burnt which
will have the effect of making you smaller again. However it will also
tend to wreck your knees, so best get some poles too. :-)

I will have to start carrying more or as Dave suggests get small filter,
which will hopefully get rid of the chemicals that may be in the local
streams. I already have a decent walking stick (straight type not the one
with the curved handle) and it makes a huge difference.

Cheers

James

James said:

Quoted message said:

Stop at a pub and drink weak lime and soda...

Quoted message said:

Got really Pi**ed off today when after 4 hours of walking I discovered the
only pub on the route did not open on weekday afternoons.

I once found a very nice pub which came highly recomended was closed.
It happens in the country :-( On another ocasion I found the village
shop had closed for good. I asked people doing their gardening if they
wouldn't mind refilling my water bottle. Mind you that was in the
friendly area of the Yorkshire Wolds, it might not go down so well in
some parts of Essex.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the
wonderful person Phil Cook <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

James said:

I went out walking today for the first time in ages. Being somewhat larger
than I used to be, I discovered that I really needed to drink more water
than I can reasonably carry. As I live in Essex, most walks to not have
healthy fast flowing water to top up from. I am wondering how effective
water purification tablets would be if I topped up from local slow moving
streams.

The tabs might kill the bugs but the run-off chemicals from
agriculture will remain. Not recomended.

Solutions:

Tank up before you set off.
Suck a pebble to quench the thirst.
Stop at a pub and drink weak lime and soda or if you must have a beer
have one and two glasses of tap water.
Tank up when you get back.

A filter should take out most of the pollutants as well as the bacteria
(some of them are specifically designed for removing chemicals).

Admittedly not as well as the local water company can (theoretically) do
it with a mega-million £ treatment plant, but well enough to make it
safe to drink a pint or two if you are desperate.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Contact recommends the use of Firefox; SC recommends it at gunpoint.

"James" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I went out walking today for the first time in ages. Being somewhat larger
than I used to be, I discovered that I really needed to drink more water
than I can reasonably carry. As I live in Essex, most walks to not have
healthy fast flowing water to top up from. I am wondering how effective
water purification tablets would be if I topped up from local slow moving
streams.

i've drunk straight from springs and still lived to tell the tale 🙂
although i usually boil water i collect using a meths stive i always carry,
or just on a small fire. i've never tasted pollutants in any of the water
ive drunk, and any that are there are there in small amounts and wont harm
you.

of course, as someone else did mention, water purifiers are the best
solution, as they rid the water of all viruses, bacteria and parasites and
also any chemical pollutants. they range in price from about 30 to 150
quid. the best ones you can find in field and trek and they use a charcoal
filter with a silver metal foil that kills all pathogens.

but as i said, if you dont want to spend that a sure fire way of making
water drinkable is just to boil it.

Quoted message said:

cheers

James

On 24/6/05 23:54, in article [email hidden], "GSV Three

Minds in a Can said:

A filter should take out most of the pollutants as well as the bacteria
(some of them are specifically designed for removing chemicals).

I always carry a filter when trekking in areas such as the Pyrenees and much
of the alps. But Essex? Most people will happily let you fill your water
bottle up.

I always use an MSR Waterworks which is quite a big filter - but there are
some small ones around. Mind you, I suspect some of these agricultural
chemicals would still get through.

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

To mail simply put back the dots ...

"nickl" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >

Quoted message said:

Have you got a rucksack?

If yes then why not use a hydration system. Platypus do a 3 litre
bag/hose/bite valve combo for <£15.00

I am thinking about this as it would enable me to drink little and often
rather than having to go into the rucksack for the bottle when thorsty and
drink larger quantities

Quoted message said:

This + a small flask of hot juice easily gets me through a hard day in
the lakeland fells so should suffice down there in the Essex Flatlands
( I was born over in Kent - Dartford by the way).

Quoted message said:

Suggest you look at the whole subject of hydration if you are having
real problems.

I actually understand the whole hydration thing, but was still surprised at
how much water I needed to drink to replace lost fluid. As you mention
later overdoing the water can cause problems and I am careful about this. I
tend to eat plain biscuits to get the needed salt and sugar to keep the
endocrine balance correct.

Quoted message said:

Try adding a pinch of salt and sugar to your water supply ( and I do
mean only a pinch) this will help your body maintain its chemical
balance - too much 'pure' water can cause a number of problems that can
knacker you on a long walk.

Quoted message said:

Similarly, don't take tea/coffee as your hot drink but weak(ish) squash
- tea/coffee dehydrates you. Try telling this to my climbing partner
though - he takes hot bovril!!! Mad!

Also don't eat salty food during your walk - crisps, nuts, pies and
pasties - all v.nice but they can build up a real thirst.

Hope this helps.

Very useful indeed Nick.

I was out for some slightly more gentle exercise today (Firle beacon and
Cliffe hill in Sussex) and did not suffer at all due to a change in regime.

Regards

James

On Sun, 26 Jun 2005 17:31:17 +0100, nickl
<[email hidden]> wrote:

| Try adding a pinch of salt and sugar to your water supply ( and I do
| mean only a pinch) this will help your body maintain its chemical
| balance - too much 'pure' water can cause a number of problems that can
| knacker you on a long walk.

The British diet is too high in both salt and sugar, so there is zero
chance that your body will run out of either on a day's walking.

--
Dave Fawthrop <dave hyphenologist co uk> http://www.webshots.com
Thousands of wonderful professional photos for your Wallpaper and
Screensaver. also 200,000 amateur pics. Four new pics each day.

"James" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Stop at a pub and drink weak lime and soda or if you must have a beer

Got really Pi**ed off today when after 4 hours of walking I discovered the
only pub on the route did not open on weekday afternoons

Ah, just come back from a week in Cumbria doing some good walking, had the
same problem! Both pubs, within a short distance of each other, in
Allithwaite, were shut. One would have been bad, but two!

Luckily, when I got to Kents Bank..

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=339500&Y=476000&width=700&height=400&gride=339981.998013272&gridn=476081.380974185&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&zm=0&scale=10000&out.x=3&out.y=2

or http://tinyurl.com/9mrbf

The little post-office had cold bottles of beer in the fridge, excellent!

And the owner asked me if she wanted me to open it for her, she had a
bottle-opener behind the counter! Bought a beer, crossed the railway onto
the beach and drank the beer overlooking Morecambe Bay.

Surely the best post-office.

Andy

"Dave Fawthrop" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >

Quoted message said:

The British diet is too high in both salt and sugar, so there is zero
chance that your body will run out of either on a day's walking.

Generally speaking true Dave but I am on a sugar free diet and also take no
additional salt with meals, not even in cooking them, so the advice is
definitely worthwhile for others in the same circumstances.

cheers

James

James said:

I am thinking about this as it would enable me to drink little and often
rather than having to go into the rucksack for the bottle when thorsty and
drink larger quantities

They're certainly worth a try. I find that they do make a big difference
in the heat. It's surprising how little you can sip and then feel a big
difference.

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

To mail simply put back the dots ...

andy said:

Surely the best post-office.

Sounds like it. Just hope this doesn't catch on in some urban areas ...

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

To mail simply put back the dots ...

Andy Howell said:

andy said:

Surely the best post-office.

Sounds like it.

There's at least one Post Office in a pub.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4432893.stm

Quoted message said:

Just hope this doesn't catch on in some urban areas ...

With the franchising out of even Crown Offices you would be surprised
what you can buy "at the Post Office."

--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

On 28/6/05 11:39, in article [email hidden],

Phil Cook said:

With the franchising out of even Crown Offices you would be surprised
what you can buy "at the Post Office."

What, you can buy Paramo at the post office !

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

To mail simply put back the dots ...

On 28/6/05 11:39, in article [email hidden],

Phil Cook said:

With the franchising out of even Crown Offices you would be surprised
what you can buy "at the Post Office."

What, you can buy Paramo at the post office !

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

To mail simply put back the dots ...

Andy Howell said:

On 28/6/05 11:39, in article [email hidden],

Phil Cook said:

With the franchising out of even Crown Offices you would be surprised
what you can buy "at the Post Office."

What, you can buy Paramo at the post office !

Not quite, but see here http://tinyurl.com/8nyqq

--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

On 29/6/05 15:13, in article [email hidden],

Phil Cook said:

Not quite, but see here http://tinyurl.com/8nyqq

Great stuff. They deserve to be supported!

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

To mail simply put back the dots ...