Water considerations when wild camping

• Water is extremely heavy, so it is much more preferable to use water supplies local to your campsite whenever possible.
• Always establish a water collection point and ensure no-one washes in, cleans pots in, cleans clothes in or uses any water from the stream upstream of this point.
• Always collect water from a fast-moving stream or river whenever possible. If you must use water from still pools or lakes, it must be boiled prior to use as described below.

Water purification
Whenever using water from a local supply, you must make sure that the water has been purified and is safe to consume, since untreated water can contain a number of micro-organisms that can cause serious illness or even death.

Water can be purified in the following ways:

Boiling water
Boiling is the only certain way of killing all micro-organisms. Boiling water for a few minutes will kill all pathogens. Remember to boil water for slightly longer if you are at a high altitude, since water will have a lower boiling temperature there.

While boiling is the most effective water purification method, it requires a lot of fuel and time in order to boil water – and so chemical purification may need to be used instead.

Chemical purification
Two chemical water purification methods are used in order to purify water: iodine treatment and chlorine treatment. There are many commercially available iodine or chlorine water purification tablets or liquids available.

If using such tablets or liquids, make sure you closely follow the instructions – and also be aware that many tablets have an expiration date and thereafter become ineffective. Tablets must also be used within a certain period after the bottle has been opened.

If the water from your water supply is cloudy or filled with large particles, then filter it before treatment (see ‘Water filtration' on the next page). Large particles may only be purified on their outer surface and can still cause infection once swallowed and digested.

Chemical purifying agents are very lightweight, and are therefore easier to carry than equipment used to boil water.

Chemical purification gives drinking water a very unpleasant taste! This can be masked by adding flavouring powder to drinking water.

Iodine and chlorine water purification
Iodine is light sensitive and becomes ineffective if exposed to light – so it must always be stored away from light in a dark bottle. Iodine works best if the water is over 21°C/70°F, and is safe to use for water purification for short to intermediate expeditions (three to six months). However, prolonged use of iodine can cause thyroid and kidney problems, so chlorine can be used as an alternative – although it leaves a far more unpleasant taste than iodine.

Water filtration
There are a number of water filters available from all reputable outdoor retailers.

Water filters pump water through a microscopic filter that removes micro-organisms. However, they do not remove viruses, since viruses are too small to be filtered.

Water purifiers are devices that incorporate filters which have been impregnated with iodine in order to kill all micro-organisms small enough to pass through the filter.

Water filters and water purifiers can be quite bulky and heavy to carry, but their speed of use (as well as continually improving designs) make them very popular.

When filtering water always adopt these basic guidelines:

• Use the cleanest water you can find, as dirty water or water with large suspended particles will clog a filter. Pre-filter the water by either pouring it through a pre-filter on your pump or straining it through a clean cloth.
• Stand very dirty water overnight to allow particles to settle out, and then decant the top clearer water in the morning for your use.