Posted: 1/19/2010 11:20:48 PM EDT
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Ok, so the SHTF and I've successfully made it out of the city to my BOL with the family with some food and essential survival items. I have a nearby water source but unsure of the cleanliness of the water. I have a good water filter system with back up filters to last a long time and plan on boiling the water for added safety. What nasty things might get by both of these processes that could make us sick?
To claeify, Im talking about a portable water purification system such as the katadyn pocket filter or something along those lines |
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Probably none if you have multiple RO systems [about $150 each from HD, etc] with plenty of whole house sediment filters cartridges and carbon block filters and housings to put inline ahead of the RO system. To protect it.
Use for potable water primarily to conserve it. Don't let it freeze. Have spare parts. Only a few here seem to understand RO systems so this probably won't fly well... 
What kind of filter do you have now? |
| Click on water knoledge,read http://www.katadyn.com/usen/water-knowledge/ |
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If you understand, a Bugout without a BOL just makes you a well to do refugee, then you will have already identified BOL, a and alternates.
This allows you to know your water quality now and only have to deal with the changes then. The best methods are by using your County EPA or similar department to do a water quality analysis. This will be the very comprehensive and it really doesn't cost much. Just be advised, there is a risk involved. If the water is bad by their standards, they can impose restrictions and they have the governmental power to do so. This, depending on where it is, can be very political and often agendas being pushed. For example, areas with municipal water available will be far more restrictive on wells than one where it is not available. If you don't think governments will start shutting down wells used for generations that the water quality hasn't changed after they put in city water, you haven't lived in a rural area before. Another source is independent testing labs which is often Universities. This is a little more expensive but typically more comprehensive and more lenient on involving government action but not totally. The last option is buy a test kit. These can be inexpensive to expensive from under $50 to over $500. Most of these kits are not quantitative but will give you an idea of what's in the water and should you use a lab to quantify it. They also require a basic understanding of both chemistry and water. I'll give you an example. One kit I like is the Quality Check PRO-II Well Water Test Kit, which is about $50. It has enough to test twice for 2 - Bacteria Tests 2 - Mercury Tests 2 - Free Chlorine Tests 2 - Nitrate Tests 2 - Nitrite Tests 2 - Hardness Tests 2 - pH Tests 2 - Total Alkalinity Tests 2 - Iron Tests 2 - Copper Tests 2 - Sulfate Tests Now if you have a basic understanding then you will note it by its nature assumes that the water being tested is basically consumable from the start. It does not cover worse cases. It won't identify some of the worst contaminants such as inorganic poisons etc. but will give you an idea of things like organic contamination and the more common inorganic. An interesting little test is the Quick Dip which is a very compact simple test kit actually fish tanks that could have some use in BOB for example. Ultimately the real kit is yourself and common sense. For example, one of the things I like to do when hiking is do a map search both topographical and now even sat pics of what water sources I will be encountering. This gives me an idea of what is upstream. Still you don't have to be a water genius to know the small stream coming out of the mountain is going to be a better water sources than the big hot slow stream coming out of the city. Just keep in mind when talking surface water, it changes a lot especially by season, what's normal levels, and run offs after rains. Sometimes it comes down to simply cold clear water is better than hot murky water. Its a very difficult topic that people get degrees in and can have years of experience and still be stumped occasionally. Tj |
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Quoted:
Ok, so the SHTF and I've successfully made it out of the city to my BOL with the family with some food and essential survival items. I have a nearby water source but unsure of the cleanliness of the water. I have a good water filter system with back up filters to last a long time and plan on boiling the water for added safety. What nasty things might get by both of these processes that could make us sick? To claeify, Im talking about a portable water purification system such as the katadyn pocket filter or something along those lines dissolved chemicals. |
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Let me try asking this question a different way. If the SHTF and I am on foot bugging out besides all of the other challenges that may bring and I come across a remote creek or stream will my portable filter and boiling the water be enough to make the water suitable for consumption. What will it not protect me against?
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Quoted:
Let me try asking this question a different way. If the SHTF and I am on foot bugging out besides all of the other challenges that may bring and I come across a remote creek or stream will my portable filter and boiling the water be enough to make the water suitable for consumption. What will it not protect me against? To accurately answer this we need to know what filter you have. General questions receive general answers. Detailed questions... well, I think you get it now. If your filter is a $5 knock-off, no-name filter, sold in the camping section, made in China, its likely not going to get it all out. If you plan to boil the water, you will most likely kill all the "bugs" but your filter may leave behind chemical contaminants (lead, atrazine etc.) |
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Quoted:
Let me try asking this question a different way. If the SHTF and I am on foot bugging out besides all of the other challenges that may bring and I come across a remote creek or stream will my portable filter and boiling the water be enough to make the water suitable for consumption. What will it not protect me against? disolved chemicals |