What do you do for drinking water on wilderness fishing trips?

[Tomcat]

Our group has been fishing together for 30 years. Normally, our trips have been to drive-to outfitter locations where we can unload everything directly into the cabin. On many of these trips we’ve taken two 18 liter car buoys of drinking water.

 

However, this Aug, six of us are signed up for a week long walleye trip into a more remote cabin location. Everything we want/require must go into 16 foot aluminum boats and be transported over 2 portages (using a flatbed on rails). To avoid the weight and space requirements of two 18 liter car buoys of drinking water, I plan instead to take in a portable water filter, a MSR MiniWorks EX Filter – see http://www.rei.com/product/47575396.htm capable of producing 1 liter per minute. The resultant filtered water is acceptably clean of any bacteria but will still require further treatment (boiling or chlorination) to kill any viruses.

 

I’d appreciate learning how others address the provision of acceptably safe drinking water on such trips. Thanks in advance.

[setomonkey]

We use the chlorine water treatment when we're on backcountry camping trips. Two small bottles, mix the solutions together in a water container and you've got safe drinking water in 15 minutes. You can probably pick it up at a lot of different places, I buy ours at MEC.

 

Mike

[dustink]

For my remote fishing trips, and backpacking trips I have one of these: CLICK HERE

 

Works well, packs small and light too! I've been using this for several years, and have pumped the water into a bottle and drank....never any problems.

 

dk

[Jen]

We use the one that you have purchased with the chlorine tablets. Seems to work well, but is rather slow if you are wanting to filter water for cooking etc.

[Fishnfiend]

For my remote fishing trips, and backpacking trips I have one of these: CLICK HERE

 

Works well, packs small and light too! I've been using this for several years, and have pumped the water into a bottle and drank....never any problems.

 

dk

 

I have this same unit. It works great, isn't too big or heavy.

[graftongal]

I second dustink's choice. I have one of these as well and we have used it while backcountry camping and have never had a problem. Throw it together with some drink mix (sugarfree weighs less) and you've got yourself a tasty drink.

[Viscount]

I use that MSR MiniWorks EX and drink it right away. no further treatment. i have the 94 (?) ounce bladder that attaches to the bottom of it. its only 1 lpm but it goes by fast. before you know it you have 4 gallons filtered.

we used to boil water continuously, putting it in nalgene bottles and lowering them into the lake on a rope to cool them off.

From my research, as long as you arent filtering water in a third world country, the miniworks required no further treatment....

this is my recommendation.

[troutologist]

Ive used the same MSR filter for a while now. Never had a problem and never did any secondary type of treatment. Great point on the drink crystals if you have to boil or use the tablets its helps out alot. I bring gatorade powder....helps in the morning after campfire antics.

[wallacio]

The Chlorine Dioxide treatment that Setomonkey mentions, IMHO is superior to filtering or chlorine/iodine tablets. You simply have to mix the CLO2 solution with the second solution (a weak acid)...after a relatively short wait for mixing and treatment, an entire carboy will be ready for consumption (rather than going through the time consuming and tiring motions of manually filtering large volumes of water). Unless the lake in question has a very high level of suspended solids, you'll won't even need your filter in the first place. The free chlorine that is produced not only kills bacteria but protozoa (such as cryptosporidium) and viruses and since it is short-lived does not leave any unpleasant taste the way iodine tablets do.

 

More info...

 

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail....D=1174502420771

[Raf]

Ditto on the MSR filters. I've had two different models over the years and tehy work great. Never been sick. I don't use any secondary treatment, just pump and drink.

Edited March 21, 2007 by Raf

[TJQ]

I have a much much better solution....

 

Boil the water well... let it cool a bit and run it through a brita... its what we do all the time up at camp and on our flyins... its easy and your not ingesting any chemicals...

[Raf]

try stuffing a brita in a backpack TJ! the key here is light weight, take up little space and portability.

[brookieman]

Either the Katadyn or MSR products are fine. The Katadyn Hiker Pro pumps water like a champ. Super fast!

[OhioFisherman]

I refuse to believe you guys drink anything but beer!

[setomonkey]

wallacio reminded me that the chlorine dioxide solution doesn't have any taste, in fact it's the same kind of chemical that many water treatment systems use (according to the advertising).

 

Mike

[Bob]

In the majority of lakes and rivers around here, I don't worry about it. If I get thirsty, I scoop up a cupful and drink. Done that for years and years and never had it bother me. If I'm not carrying a cup, I stick my face in and suck up what I need.

[JFR]

This is a unit I have used in the past for remote canoe trips into Algonquin Park.

 

http://www.purwaterfilter.com/purguidpursy.html. Quite effective in removing 99.9% of all impurities, including viruses.

 

Also remember, any illness that you would pick up ie: "beaver fever" ( a virus) will not show for several weeks after your trip, and by that time, you will have a difficult time remembering where you picked up the virus.

 

Always use boiled water to clean your dishes, rinsing or washing in the lake water could have the same effect as drinking unfiltered water.

 

John

[dannyboy]

The MSR pump is what we use, it is someone’s job to fill all the water bottles and a 2 gallon collapsible jug every morning. I have bought some Pristine to try out this summer also.

 

Dan

[Moosebunk]

I have a 10L blue jug for water with the spout and all. I pump through my MSR directly into it, then usually fill a Nalgene or two as well. The pump, and two bottles will just fit into the jug for travel and all together weighs probably 3-4 pounds.

[Tomcat]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I really appreciate the input.

[Jon]

I have an MSR Miniworks as well and have had no issues drinking water after putting it through the filter. I have had the rate of flow reduced by not cleaning off the filter part with the scrubbing pad, however. Make sure you clean it between trips and don't put the intake near the bottom or close to shore.

 

Jon

[Rizzo]

I drink the closest thing to pure water you can find...American beer.

[irishfield]

LOL Rizzo !!

[Whopper]

I drink the closest thing to pure water you can find...American beer.

 

 

Ouch!