Water-purification solutions for travellers

Posted on 13 January 2012

There are three broad options for maintaining a healthy water supply: manual, electric and chemical, each of which has its own advantages. Manually hand-pumped filtration requires a little more effort, but these units are compact and provide flavour-free water as opposed to chemical alternatives.

Chemical solutions are lightest and cheapest, but often have an aftertaste. Electrical methods are well suited to overlanders, who’ll have access to onboard power from a vehicle battery; these solutions give the highest volumes of clean, ‘unflavoured’ water with the least effort, but cost more.

Manual

Boiling is a tried-and-tested method of purifying drinking water, but it can be impractical to find and lug enough firewood or gas to boil five litres of water a day.

There are various handpump water filters, such as those from Katadyne that use microporous ceramic filters, sometimes in conjunction with chemical sterilisation elements. These are great for hikers and motorcyclists and produce about a litre of clean water in a minute or two. It’s safe, easy and, if filters are cleaned often, some devices can produce thousands of litres before being replaced.

Also consider:

  • The SteriPEN range uses the power of ultraviolet light to purify water. Costs between R700 and R1 100 from Due South. www.duesouth.co.za.
  • Lifesaver Systems’ products were developed in response to humanitarian disasters and range in price from R1 400 for a water bottle to R3 500 for a jerry can system. www.lifesaversystems.co.za.

Electric

For long-term overlanders, who will quickly tire of manually pumping out a litre or two at a time, 12-volt filters are an effortless solution. These come in many shapes and sizes, but the good ones resemble domestic under-counter units and draw power from a vehicle’s battery system. While it’s not the only unit out there, we like the practical Aqua Angel Reverse Osmosis Mobile. Packaged in a jerry can-shaped container, which makes it easy to store in a common garden 4×4 jerry can holder, it has a six-stage purification process:

1. Sediment-removal pre-filter
2. Activated carbon filter removes harmful chemicals
3. Goes through Ion-resin, water-softening filter
4. 12-volt UV light to kill germs and bacteria
5. Self-cleaning membrane
6. Coconut-shell activated carbon taste- and odour-removal filter

This filter can run off 220 V or 12 V and can produce five litres in about 30 minutes and costs R3 500. www.aqua-angel.co.za/RO-Mobile.asp

Also consider:

  • The Roadrunner is similar to Aqua Angel’s jerry can product, but is packaged in an ammo box, which will fit nicely into most drawer systems. They’re available from www.perfectwater.co.za and cost R4 490.

Chemical

You don’t have to spend big bucks to get clean water in the wilderness. For years, travellers have simply poured river water through a T-shirt or coffee filter, then treated the clearer water for bacteria with inexpensive chlorine tablets. These are freely available at chemists, are quite safe and the funny aftertaste is better than the alternative of getting ill.

Tips

  • Boiled water tastes flat; a good shake aerates it and adds body.
  • Prolong the life of a ceramic filter element by pre-filtering sedimented water through a T-shirt.
  • In an emergency pure, fragrance-free bleach is an effective water purifier. Treat five litres of water (filtered through a T-shirt) with an eighth to a quarter of a teaspoon of bleach, depending on the murkiness of the water. Leave it to stand for at least half an hour. It won’t taste great; also keep in mind that using too much bleach can cause an upset stomach.






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