Waterborne Viruses

[redneck]

I know we should bring water to a rolling boil for 5 minutes to kill all the nasties but what if for some reason a fire is not practical, you have a filter that will take out 99% of all the bacteria ,giardia etc but not viruses..is the threat of an illness from a waterborne virus that likely in the UK?

 

[redneck]

so nobody can help then?

 

[discoveringtheforest]

Hi mate.

Ive never had problems with water in the uk. What you said is totally right boil for 5 mins.

I just make sure I collect my water as close as I can to the source and walk for about a mile up stream checking for nice green folage,clean rocks and no dead sheep lol.

Thats about all the info I can offer from what I know,I am in no way a professional.

Best Of Luck

P.s Good to see another northern irish person here

 

[British Red]

redneck,

There certainly are water borne viruses in the UK. A rolling boil is sufficient if the water isn't turbid (cloudy), five minutes is not required. If a fire is not practical there are plenty of chemicals that can be used - predominantly chlorine and iodine based - that will kill viruses. I did a write up on all the water purification techniques a while back called "The Science of Water" - hopefully that may answer any other questions you have.

Regards - Red

 

[redneck]

redneck,

There certainly are water borne viruses in the UK. A rolling boil is sufficient if the water isn't turbid (cloudy), five minutes is not required. If a fire is not practical there are plenty of chemicals that can be used - predominantly chlorine and iodine based - that will kill viruses. I did a write up on all the water purification techniques a while back called "The Science of Water" - hopefully that may answer any other questions you have.

Regards - Red

Thanks Red, I'll do a search for it!

 

[Dingo]

check out http://www.polarequipment.com/ good stuff and i think there is a group buy on at the moment?

Adam.

 

[EdS]

Crypto is one ofthe main risks in the UK:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptosporidium

And Wiels Disease

 

[C_Claycomb]

Crypto is one ofthe main risks in the UK:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptosporidium

And Wiels Disease

Just to clarify, cryptosporidium is a protazoa and Wiels Disease is bacterial. Typically no single method, deals with all water bourne comtaminants. Boiling does for everything other than heavy metals though. For viruses you need a chemical treatment of some sort, or UV. There are quite a few purifiers on the market that use a combination of stages to remove protozoa, cysts, bacteria and viruses. I like the Aquapure type, mentioned elsewhere on the forums, but there are others. The addition of a chemical stage makes these more expensive than plain filters and in many areas in the UK they are probably not needed. I have used a MSR Miniworks filter in the Lake District, Dartmoor and west of Scotland without problems.

Viruses in the water tend to be a product of decaying (virally diseased) bodies, or fecal contamination from a disease carrier and these aren't that common in the wilder area of the UK. Not sure I would trust the Thames though

 

[deeps]

Read this which might be of interest.

http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/how-long-do-you-need-to-boil-water/

It was on the internet so it must be true.

 

[EdS]

spend 15 years working with waste water - sewage & sewage sludge - and you don't really have to worry about upland UK water too much

 

[redneck]

Thanks guys, that's all been very helpful.