Water Filtration Help
Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew
- Escape Goat
- Posts: 2616
- Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:41 pm
- Location: Not nearly close enough to Scotland...
Water Filtration Help
Hey all,
I've searched the forum, found quite a bit of knowledge on water filtration but I still have one question. I wanted to know if anyone has a link to a website showing pictures of different locations and if filtration is suitable of said water.
My first event was the Winter Event this year - I spoke with Ian who filled his water bottle up straight from the little stream at Nant Syddion whlist I was faffing around with a Sawyer filter....he said he knows the area and has never filtered there before. Someone said it's safe to drink, I had a filter so I filtered anyway and filled my bottle. I'm not always going to have someone tell me that the water is safe and just drink it, and consequently during my solo Snowdonia route that Jeff made me I did indeed run out of water because I seen looooooads of sheep by any water at all...
Llyn Cowld by Escape Goat, on Flickr
(So much water, no confidence to filter)
Screen Shot 2019-07-16 at 18.38.33 by Escape Goat, on Flickr
Sooo much more water... all the little streams that went into this had sheep stood around, like the aqua cartel!
Hopefully there's a decent website to educate me further so I can take less water bottles to wales and ultimately less weight on the bike!
I've searched the forum, found quite a bit of knowledge on water filtration but I still have one question. I wanted to know if anyone has a link to a website showing pictures of different locations and if filtration is suitable of said water.
My first event was the Winter Event this year - I spoke with Ian who filled his water bottle up straight from the little stream at Nant Syddion whlist I was faffing around with a Sawyer filter....he said he knows the area and has never filtered there before. Someone said it's safe to drink, I had a filter so I filtered anyway and filled my bottle. I'm not always going to have someone tell me that the water is safe and just drink it, and consequently during my solo Snowdonia route that Jeff made me I did indeed run out of water because I seen looooooads of sheep by any water at all...
Llyn Cowld by Escape Goat, on Flickr
(So much water, no confidence to filter)
Screen Shot 2019-07-16 at 18.38.33 by Escape Goat, on Flickr
Sooo much more water... all the little streams that went into this had sheep stood around, like the aqua cartel!
Hopefully there's a decent website to educate me further so I can take less water bottles to wales and ultimately less weight on the bike!
My Movie Channel: https://tinyurl.com/YoutubeEG
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman
- Bearbonesnorm
- Posts: 23983
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
- Location: my own little world
Re: Water Filtration Help
Ask yourself some simple questions to help decide.
Is there livestock on land nearby? Yes - filter
Am I downstream of a path / track / road that crosses the water? Yes - filter
Am I downstream of a dwelling? Yes - filter
Is the water fast flowing or still? Still - filter
Am I near a previously used camp spot? Yes - filter
Could there be run off entering the water from cultivated fields? Yes - filter
It's not sure-fire but will give you a good indication. Generally the higher you are, the safer the water will be. Forestry is usually a good bet in Wales / England and there's so little livestock in the Highlands that it's usually considered safe away from the honey pots but the bottom line is - if in doubt, filter out
Is there livestock on land nearby? Yes - filter
Am I downstream of a path / track / road that crosses the water? Yes - filter
Am I downstream of a dwelling? Yes - filter
Is the water fast flowing or still? Still - filter
Am I near a previously used camp spot? Yes - filter
Could there be run off entering the water from cultivated fields? Yes - filter
It's not sure-fire but will give you a good indication. Generally the higher you are, the safer the water will be. Forestry is usually a good bet in Wales / England and there's so little livestock in the Highlands that it's usually considered safe away from the honey pots but the bottom line is - if in doubt, filter out
May the bridges you burn light your way
-
- Posts: 1799
- Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2017 6:37 pm
- Location: Tir Na Nog
Re: Water Filtration Help
For the weight of my befree and that it's a bottle I can store water in I always filter no matter where ,I've had a upset belly ( the week after I attempted the bigbear and was on the WRT ) and it wasn't pleasant but I put it down to my gloves being covered in muck when on the bigbear and ingesting a little bit of sheep poo that way
- Escape Goat
- Posts: 2616
- Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:41 pm
- Location: Not nearly close enough to Scotland...
Re: Water Filtration Help
I guess
middleagedmadness wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2019 7:05 pm For the weight of my befree and that it's a bottle I can store water in I always filter no matter where ,I've had a upset belly ( the week after I attempted the bigbear and was on the WRT ) and it wasn't pleasant but I put it down to my gloves being covered in muck when on the bigbear and ingesting a little bit of sheep poo that way
I guess I was supposed to ask, is it safe to filter water from any stream even if the aqua cartel are hanging around (sheep) I wouldn't ever be brave enough to just drink, but I guess the question was is there water I shouldn't filter and just skip and not drink, or is filtration ok for any stream even if you are not sure if sheep are around?
My Movie Channel: https://tinyurl.com/YoutubeEG
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman
- BigdummySteve
- Posts: 2974
- Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2016 9:16 pm
- Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Re: Water Filtration Help
I think mam has it right, carry a filter which is so easy that you use it every time. I too have a befree filter and it’s as quick as filling a water bottle.
After last years epic sickness on the South Downs way I’m a lot more careful.
After last years epic sickness on the South Downs way I’m a lot more careful.
We’re all individuals, except me.
I woke up this morning but I’m still in the dark
I woke up this morning but I’m still in the dark
- Escape Goat
- Posts: 2616
- Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:41 pm
- Location: Not nearly close enough to Scotland...
Re: Water Filtration Help
I always have a filter on me, but I don't know if i can filter any stream water and it will be safe.
My Movie Channel: https://tinyurl.com/YoutubeEG
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman
- Bearbonesnorm
- Posts: 23983
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
- Location: my own little world
Re: Water Filtration Help
Pretty much Allen. Most filters inc the Sawyer will remove the stuff that's most likely to make you ill in the UK. Also worth remembering what Mam says, often the culprit isn't water but crap on hands / gloves / bottles etc.I always have a filter on me, but I don't know if i can filter any stream water and it will be safe.
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: Water Filtration Help
water filters dont kill viruses they only remove the rest of the stuff so as noted above all you can do is minimise risk using some rules of thumb.
Granted the chances of a virus in water is slim in the uk but you need a water treatment system- uv pen light or some tablets-to be 100% sure.
a pump will work in standing a low water levels where as the bottle requires some depth. the chance of you being in the uK and only able to filter a puddle are slim IMHO
the best choices are
https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk ... 0-6l-p7645
or for a pump
https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk ... lter-p6473
Granted the chances of a virus in water is slim in the uk but you need a water treatment system- uv pen light or some tablets-to be 100% sure.
a pump will work in standing a low water levels where as the bottle requires some depth. the chance of you being in the uK and only able to filter a puddle are slim IMHO
the best choices are
https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk ... 0-6l-p7645
or for a pump
https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk ... lter-p6473
- Escape Goat
- Posts: 2616
- Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:41 pm
- Location: Not nearly close enough to Scotland...
Re: Water Filtration Help
Thanks for that. I've taken all this advice on board, as long as I have a filter system, clean hands, clean ish bottle then I'll have a good chance of staying hydrated and healthy.
Thanks all!
Thanks all!
My Movie Channel: https://tinyurl.com/YoutubeEG
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman
Re: Water Filtration Help
I've got some water treatment tablets from army rations I've used. Does the same advice above cover their use or do they chemically make anything drinkable all be it not very tasty?
-
- Posts: 2380
- Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 7:52 pm
- Location: Peoples Republic of Devon
Re: Water Filtration Help
If you filter water from a running stream in the UK uplands the chances of getting sick are next to zero.
You could get a pump filter that deals with viruses and make that chance actually zero. katadyn, MSR and others make them but they are relatively big (approx can of RedBull), heavy-ish (300-400g) and spendy (>£100)
As said above - get a simple bacterial filter. Stow it in an accessible place and use it every time from flowing clean looking water and you won’t get sick.
You could get a pump filter that deals with viruses and make that chance actually zero. katadyn, MSR and others make them but they are relatively big (approx can of RedBull), heavy-ish (300-400g) and spendy (>£100)
As said above - get a simple bacterial filter. Stow it in an accessible place and use it every time from flowing clean looking water and you won’t get sick.
If you are going through hell, keep going.
WSC
WSC
-
- Posts: 2380
- Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 7:52 pm
- Location: Peoples Republic of Devon
Re: Water Filtration Help
MOD issue Puritabs are chlorine.
You need visibly clean water.
You need a contact time (ie how long before you drink the treated water) of 15min.
If the water is very cold treatment time is longer, say 20min, but the chances of the water being infected are lower.
They taste minging.
If you prefer chemical treatments, AquaMira
Make a virtually taste free mixed oxide liquid treatment. This was my (and a bunch of other military medics) preferred treatment for suspect water in Afghan, used alongside a Frontier Pro in-line filter that goes onto a Camelbak hose. That’s very much a belt and braces approach for high risk water and no way needed in the UK
If you are going through hell, keep going.
WSC
WSC
Re: Water Filtration Help
lune ranger wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2019 10:31 pmMOD issue Puritabs are chlorine.
You need visibly clean water.
You need a contact time (ie how long before you drink the treated water) of 15min.
If the water is very cold treatment time is longer, say 20min, but the chances of the water being infected are lower.
They taste minging.
If you prefer chemical treatments, AquaMira
Make a virtually taste free mixed oxide liquid treatment. This was my (and a bunch of other military medics) preferred treatment for suspect water in Afghan, used alongside a Frontier Pro in-line filter that goes onto a Camelbak hose. That’s very much a belt and braces approach for high risk water and no way needed in the UK
Thanks for that. They were from a French ration with Troclosene Sodium as the ingredient but probably the same thing as the British ones.
Handy to have though.
-
- Posts: 2380
- Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 7:52 pm
- Location: Peoples Republic of Devon
Re: Water Filtration Help
Troclosene Sodium....
Think that’s a chlorine releasing compound of sorts.
Usage should be the same.
Think that’s a chlorine releasing compound of sorts.
Usage should be the same.
If you are going through hell, keep going.
WSC
WSC
Re: Water Filtration Help
I was going to ask for a review of this but I think I know the answer. It's a lot heavier and takes 3x longer than an MSR trailshot and the plastic looks a bit fragile. But i'd guess better filtration and longer filter life.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1X-Pure-Easy ... 1438.l2649
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1X-Pure-Easy ... 1438.l2649
Re: Water Filtration Help
Ask yourself one question - have you seen or spoken with Ian since......................I spoke with Ian who filled his water bottle up straight from the little stream at Nant Syddion whlist I was faffing around with a Sawyer filter....he said he knows the area and has never filtered there before.
Being serious for a moment though, there's some good advice above. I try to target faster flowing water above agricultural land where possible; at lower levels I knock on doors and ask for a fill-up
We go out into the hills to lose ourselves, not to get lost. You are only lost if you need to be somewhere else and if you really need to be somewhere else then you're probably in the wrong place to begin with.
- Escape Goat
- Posts: 2616
- Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:41 pm
- Location: Not nearly close enough to Scotland...
Re: Water Filtration Help
Providing there are doors in mid Wales.....psling wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 12:54 pmat lower levels I knock on doors and ask for a fill-upI spoke with Ian who filled his water bottle up straight from the little stream at Nant Syddion whlist I was faffing around with a Sawyer filter....he said he knows the area and has never filtered there before.
My Movie Channel: https://tinyurl.com/YoutubeEG
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman
- RIP
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
- Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
- Contact:
Re: Water Filtration Help
. TBH he's hard to see anyway if he's riding - too fast, all you get is the sonic boom afterwards.
re mid-Welsh doors: there's quite a few even in the remote bits, although a drawback is the actual building behind them has fallen to pieces .
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP
The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....
"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....
"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
- whitestone
- Posts: 7913
- Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2014 10:20 am
- Location: Skipton(ish)
- Contact:
Re: Water Filtration Help
As Stu says, get above human activity (habitation and byways) and so long as there's no obvious animal activity in the immediate area you should be fine. Nothing's 100% certain though and nothing's 100% "safe" only a vastly reduced risk.
I don't know of any map that shows "good' sources of water and even if there were it could be immediately out of date if an animal falls down dead just a few metres upstream.
Just for the record: our domestic water supply is untreated spring water. We've been here 17 years and not had a single instance of illness. It did fail the last council inspection - it's slightly too acidic. The farm I grew up on also was on an untreated supply and none of us had any illness though my brother has now moved on to mains water and the original supply is farm only.
I don't know of any map that shows "good' sources of water and even if there were it could be immediately out of date if an animal falls down dead just a few metres upstream.
Just for the record: our domestic water supply is untreated spring water. We've been here 17 years and not had a single instance of illness. It did fail the last council inspection - it's slightly too acidic. The farm I grew up on also was on an untreated supply and none of us had any illness though my brother has now moved on to mains water and the original supply is farm only.
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
-
- Posts: 1799
- Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2017 6:37 pm
- Location: Tir Na Nog
Re: Water Filtration Help
It's got the same size filter as a trail shot or befree , personally anything to do with health I'd buy a known brand , at least you know it's been cycle tested correctly before being put on saleRobLyon wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 12:32 pm I was going to ask for a review of this but I think I know the answer. It's a lot heavier and takes 3x longer than an MSR trailshot and the plastic looks a bit fragile. But i'd guess better filtration and longer filter life.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1X-Pure-Easy ... 1438.l2649
Re: Water Filtration Help
Totally agree with every word Excellent advice!Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2019 6:54 pm Ask yourself some simple questions to help decide.
Is there livestock on land nearby? Yes - filter
Am I downstream of a path / track / road that crosses the water? Yes - filter
Am I downstream of a dwelling? Yes - filter
Is the water fast flowing or still? Still - filter
Am I near a previously used camp spot? Yes - filter
Could there be run off entering the water from cultivated fields? Yes - filter
It's not sure-fire but will give you a good indication. Generally the higher you are, the safer the water will be. Forestry is usually a good bet in Wales / England and there's so little livestock in the Highlands that it's usually considered safe away from the honey pots but the bottom line is - if in doubt, filter out
Re: Water Filtration Help
I got one and its totally rubbish and did not survive the first trip , does not seal well so you lose more of what you filter than get . I gave up and just drank unfiltered water as i would have either died of boredom or lack of water using that.But i'd guess better filtration and longer filter life.
Not worth owning [ and i think i paid less than a tenner for mine.
I cannot emphasis that enough DONT BUY
- Escape Goat
- Posts: 2616
- Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:41 pm
- Location: Not nearly close enough to Scotland...
Re: Water Filtration Help
That would be a hell of a website to update! But my question was rather than that, just examples of what good water sources could look like and what bad sources could look like.whitestone wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 1:23 pm
I don't know of any map that shows "good' sources of water
My Movie Channel: https://tinyurl.com/YoutubeEG
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman
- RIP
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
- Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
- Contact:
Re: Water Filtration Help
"That would be a hell of a website to update!" - funnily enough there was a laudable project mentioned Here a while ago on just that theme. It went a bit quiet though .
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP
The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....
"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....
"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
- Escape Goat
- Posts: 2616
- Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:41 pm
- Location: Not nearly close enough to Scotland...
Re: Water Filtration Help
My Movie Channel: https://tinyurl.com/YoutubeEG
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allen.boardman