When visiting places with unknown water quality—whether you head to a remote location to camp or hike or travel to a new place—it may be necessary to disinfect the water to kill waterborne germs before using it.
Drinking contaminated water or using it for cooking, washing food, preparing drinks, making ice, and brushing teeth can make you sick with diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Treating these symptoms can be difficult while you are away from homeor abroad and without access to medical care.
Knowing the Source of your Water
When planning on camping, hiking, or traveling abroad it is important to know where your water comes from.
It is also important to know if it has been treated, and whether it is safe to use for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth, or for other activities.
Exposure to contaminated water is more likely in places where there is no sanitation or water treatment infrastructure, such as at campgrounds, remote areas, or in some foreign countries.
Water contaminated with bacteria, viruses, and parasites can sometimes look clean, which is why it is important to know the source of the water, if and how it has been treated, and whether it is safe before drinking it. Bottled watercan be an easy option, but it is also important to know where your bottled water comes from and how it has been treated, especially when traveling in remote locations.
Young children, pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems may be more likely to become infected if exposed to contaminated water.
Treating your water
There are many ways you can treat or purify contaminated water while outdoors or when traveling.
Boiling Water
Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites.
- Bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes), then allow it to cool before use.
- If boiling is not possible, use tap water that is too hot to touch, which is probably at a temperature between 131°F (55°C) and 140°F (60°C). This temperature may be adequate to kill pathogens if the water has been kept hot for some time.
- For travelers with access to electricity, bring a small electric heating coil or a lightweight beverage warmer to boil water.
Disinfection
Important
Water that has been disinfected with iodine is NOT recommended for pregnant women, people with thyroid problems, those with known hypersensitivity to iodine, or for continuous use for more than a few weeks at a time.
If boiling your water is not possible, you can make small quantities of filtered and settled water safer to drinkby using a chemical disinfectant such as unscented household chlorine bleach.
- Disinfectants can kill most harmful or disease-causing viruses and bacteria, but are not as effective in killing more resistant organisms, such asCryptosporidium and Giardiaparasites.
- Chlorine dioxide tablets can be effective againstCryptosporidiumif the manufacturer’s instructions are followed correctly.
- If the water is contaminated with a chemical, disinfectants will not make it drinkable.
Filtration
If you are using a portable water filter, try to use one that has a filter pore size small enough to remove parasites. Most portable water filters do not remove bacteria or viruses.
- A filter labeled as certified by NSF Standards 53 or 58 will remove parasites if used properly, but will not remove viruses or all bacteria.
- Reverse osmosis filters remove bacteria and viruses and can also remove salt from water, which is important for people who may need to use salt water.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using filters and check the label of your filter product.
Ultraviolet Light (UV Light)
Ultraviolet Light (UV Light) can be used to kill some pathogens.
- Portable units that deliver a measured dose of UV light are effective to disinfect small quantities of clear water. However, this technique is less effective in cloudy water because small particles may block germs from the light.
- It’s important to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
FAQs
Boiling water is the most reliable way to kill germs.
How to purify water when hiking? ›
Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes), then allow it to cool before use.
How to purify water while traveling? ›
Boiling. Bringing water to a rolling boil for one minute is the simplest way to kill most types of germs, even if the water is cloudy and at high altitudes. If water is cloudy, allow it to settle and filter through a clean cloth or coffee filter before boiling.
What are the 4 water treatments? ›
Public water systems often use a series of water treatment steps that include coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.
How do you keep water fresh while camping? ›
To ensure your water remains clean and safe during your camping trip, follow these practical storage tips: Keep water containers away from direct sunlight, as this can promote the growth of algae and bacteria. Avoid placing containers near heat sources or chemicals, as these can affect water quality and taste.
What do hikers use to clean water? ›
Luckily, there are now many simple and convenient ways to purify water obtained along the trail when you're out for a nice hike. You can choose from chemical treatment (iodine or chlorine), filtration, ultraviolet light, or boiling. Each of these methods is very effective when used properly.
What is the best way to purify water in the woods? ›
If you're at an elevation below 6,500 feet, put the water in a container over a heat source, such as a campfire or propane stove, and bring to a rolling boil for 1 minute. If you're at an elevation over 6,500 feet, bring the water to a rolling boil for 3 minutes.
Is campground water safe to drink? ›
Unless it is posted or an official from the campground has told you that the water is safe to drink, you must use one of three purification methods: filter, chemical tablets, or boiling.
What is the healthiest way to purify water? ›
Boiling water is the most effective approach to killing all kinds of germs in water. Using an absolute 1-micron filter (1-micron sized holes or smaller) or a filter labeled as certified by NSF Standards 53 or 58 will remove parasites if used properly, but will not remove viruses or all bacteria.
Do portable water purifiers work? ›
A water purifier removes, kills or inactivates all types of disease-causing microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses and protozoan cysts, making water safe to drink. A portable water filter only removes bacteria and protozoa, but NOT virus, which are far smaller.
Forward osmosis (FO) is an emerging method for desalination and water treatment. FO uses an osmotic membrane and osmotic pressure to extract clean water from contaminated water. FO requires little energy and no heating but the membranes are still quite expensive.
What are the side effects of drinking reverse osmosis water? ›
Recent studies suggest that RO water may be a risk factor for hypertension and coronary heart disease, gastric and duodenal ulcers, chronic gastritis, goitre, pregnancy complications and several complications in new-borns and infants, including jaundice, anaemia, fractures and growth disorders.
What water filter will remove E. coli? ›
Reverse Osmosis Filters:Reverse osmosis (RO) filters use a semi-permeable membrane to remove a wide range of contaminants, including E. coli bacteria. These filters force water through the membrane, trapping bacteria, viruses, and other impurities, ensuring clean drinking water.
What is the best way to purify water while camping? ›
Boiling is the most straightforward method of water purification. Bring water to a rolling boil for one minute (or three minutes in apline conditions), and it will kill most bacteria, viruses, and parasites. This method requires a stove, fuel, and a pot, so it's not the most lightweight or convenient option.
Where to get water while hiking? ›
You can collect water from rain, puddles or streams, but nothing is guaranteed depending on where you're hiking. Still, you should always set out to find bodies of water because it won't always rain. If you're unsure where to look, you should first walk around and listen for the sound of running water.
How to boil water while hiking? ›
It is very, very difficult to boil water while hiking. My advice would be: If you want to boil water, stop hiking, build a fire, take a pot out of your backpack, pour some water in it, and put the pot on the fire. Then, when you are finished with your boiled water.
Do I need a water filter for hiking? ›
Parasites like giardia are common in many of the places I have hiked, such as the American west and New Zealand. Practically everyone carries a water filter, and those who don't are seen as taking unnecessary risks.
How do you get drinkable water in the wilderness? ›
5 Ways to Collect Water in the Wild
- Collect rainwater. Precipitation in most rural areas, far from highly polluted cities, can provide a significant amount of drinking water. ...
- Follow signs of green vegetation or wildlife. ...
- Melt snow and ice. ...
- Search for signs of water underground. ...
- Trap condensation from plants.
Drink Water before Feeling Thirsty
You shouldn't wait until you're thirsty to drink water, because that means you're already dehydrated and not performing at the top of your game. You should replenish fluids and electrolytes by drinking one half to one quart of water every hour you're hiking.
How do thru hikers get water? ›
Most thru-hikers use a collapsible 2.5 gallon water bag for supper, cleaning, breakfast and filling canteens. Filling the water bag will be one of the first tasks completed upon arriving at a shelter or campsite. After emptied, the bag collapses nicely and adds little weight to packs.
