Do you need a camping water filter? If you are one of the millions who love to camp, then it is quite possible that you need a good-quality camping water filter in order to prevent illness from contaminated water.
Experienced campers know the importance of safe drinking water. For those new to camping, there are only a few ways to get water while you are out in the wilderness. The first is through public water supplies; this is often found in campsites or logging camps. Generally, this water is safe to drink as long as there are no open connections between the water plant and the tap. The second way to get water while camping is from private wells which may be located on the site. This option can be dangerous because private wells are not required by law to be treated chemically. This means the water may or may not be safe to drink. And the last way to get water while camping is from open sources such as streams or rivers. This, too, can prove to be dangerous.
Unless you plan to bring in your own bottled water, it is always safer to purify your camping water, and this can be done with a good-quality camping filter.
The main reason for using a camping water filter is to remove bacteria. Camping water filters can also remove minerals and other contaminates, but it is the bacteria that will make you sick if you ingest it. Generally, minerals will cause taste issues, but normally do not pose a great health risk. Bacteria, on the other hand, does pose a health risk. And it only takes a little bacteria to make a person very sick.
This is true for all water sources, regardless of where they come from. If the water is contaminated, you can get sick from it. Many of those who enjoy camping do so at state parks or others types of camping sites. While the water at most sites is safe to drink, you should always take a few precautions.
The first thing to do when using camp site water is to let the tap berkey vs aquasana run for several minutes when you first arrive. There is no way of telling how long the water in the immediate piping has been sitting there. Flushing the system will allow any sediment and bacteria that may be present to flow out of the system. You should also ask the site manager if it is safe to drink or not. And for added protection, you should use a camping water filter, even if it is a small pitcher type water filter.
If you are drinking water from any open source, you must use a camping water filter to clean the water before you drink it. Open water sources, such as streams or rivers, may look clean, but they often contain bacteria from runoff or from animal waste upstream. Bacteria can live in free running water for a long time; never assume that a clean-looking water source is a safe water source.
The old advice about boiling water is still true. You can boil water to kill bacteria, and this works fine, as long as you boil it for at least a full minute. However, another way to purify water is with a camping water filter.