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There are different types of portable water purification equipment on today’s market, most available in camping stores or from military surplus stores, that can help campers have a steady supply of safe drinking water. Many untreated water supplies in the wilderness such as lakes and rivers will contain bacteria and viruses that can cause gastrointestinal problem when consumed, even in small quantities, but with many portable water purification units, most of these can be killed or removed.

In addition to campers and hikers, portable water purification can provide a regular source of safe drinking water in the event of an emergency when the local water treatment plant is out of business. Probably one of the earliest and most common methods of killing bacteria in water is by boiling it to at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of 10 minutes. However, boiling has been shown to allow some of the virus-causing germs to remain.

To kill all of the hazardous bacteria, water will need to be heated to a higher temperature than boiling alone can provide. The use of a pressure cooker will raise the water’s temperature to a significant level, but it also a cumbersome way of portable water purification while on the hiking trail. Additionally, the weight of the equipment defeats the purpose of using portable equipment instead of having to carry the extra water.

Let The Sun Do The Work For Clean Water

Ultraviolet light has shown to be an effective means of killing most bacteria in water and on the trail when there is little chance of finding clean, healthy water the use of the UV water purifiers can help. Generally speaking, the water is placed in a clear glass container and left in the sunlight for at least six hours to kill any bacteria in the water. This method of portable water purification also allows any suspended materials in the water to settle at the bottom of the jar and clean, purified water can be dipped from the top.

This method has also shown to destroy the DNA of many bacteria and while it may be alive when ingested, it will be unable to reproduce once in the stomach, greatly reducing the chance of it causing stomach problems. For those hiking along lakes and rivers may want to look into a deluxe portable water purifier that not only provides filtering of suspended impurities, but also works as a portable water purification unit as well. A single unit that perform both functions can make life in the wild easier and safer.