Water Filther acticle

“Use what you want.. I pick doing a little common sense maintenance on my equipment over the long-term effects of iodine.

"If a filter is clogged, it's obviously been working ... although you certainly don't want to keep using it that way. Clean it."”

“90% of AT thru-hikers have some kind of filter or purifier when they start the trail. Almost none have anything but iodine by the end. Filters are pieces of #&%!$ and aren't worth the money or frustration.”

“I've been pumping with a PUR FILTER for 10 years and have yet to contract anything.”

“I have a friend who's thru-hiked the AT twice with nothing but the occassional iodine, and he hasn't contracted anything.”

“Brave soul. Not a gamble I'm willing to take.”

“Isn't longterm iodine use bad for a person? [checking the sh!t coming from his own sink at home]”

“yes, there have been numerous studies.. The question of possible health effects of iodine is still unanswered. No adverse health effects have been shown, yet continuous consumption of iodine-treated water is not recommended.

http://www.elis.sk/endo/full/er0298a.pdf

Iodine was used in treating drinking water at a concentration of 10 mg/L iodine. Most Peace Corps Volunteers were drinking 5-9 L of water daily due to the arid condition, resulting in an intake of 50 mg/day through the drinking water. The recommended dietary allowance is 0.15mg. Most of the people exposed developed thyroid dysfunction and enlarged thyroids (goitres).

but hey.. I suppose we could debate this and still be where we started.. NOWHERE.”

“You want everything to be perfect all the time? Die without sin.”

“hehe.. was that directed to me?”

“Nope.



BTW: The study looked only at biofilm growth and not at a filter's efficacy in ridding water of bacteria, protozoa, and viruses.

Keep in mind if it's on the filter, it's being removed from the water. Also, iodine leaves you succeptible to Giardia and Cryptosporidium. If you really want to be sure, use a sealed cartridge purifier or boil.”

“Nothing beats fresh water.. fresh PUMPED water.. sorry guys.. but I will haul along my filter anyday.”

“Good article but I must agree with TD on this one. I once was an iodine user but really got tired of brown water and having to wait 5 minutes before drinking. I hear there are better treatment alternatives now. Had a PUR Hiker for over 5 years (totally trouble free) that finally broke after being slammed during the UT vs. UGA game. Maintance is the key to filters. The article mentions slime build up as if we didn't know anything about it. Most filters easily take care of this by following storing instructions. PURs require pumping a mild chlorine bleach solution. I question some brands that only require you to freeze the filer when storing. Has anyone used the First Need filter that is apart of the hose on the hydration system?”

“After being slammed during the UT vs. UGA game?

come on.. there HAS to be a good story behind THAT one!.. fess up.”

“How can anyone be allowed to go the length of the field in 40 seconds? It still keeps me up at night. Thank God for the victory in the swamp. I must say even after hitting the wall at 80 miles an hour the filter's housing stayed intact. But the plastic piece that the hose fits to no longer forms a tight seal. Never again will I organize my gear while watching football.”

“that the filter is a good thing. I just bought a pur filter and have started to use it, so far, so good. for meals, I boil anyway...but for just drinking, is it advisable to boil the drinking water too. That would use alot of fuel to boil all the water, all the time.”

“REI has a good article on watrer treatment HERE

I've been filtering my drinking water with the PUR Hiker and then adding 2 drops of plain household bleach as an extra precaution. You'll probably be fine with just the filter but why chance an intestinal virus?”

“At the end of the Outside Magazine article they recommended Aquamira.”

“I will be more wary with your insights...thanks”

“I used to use only iodine, but switched to aquamira last year,, I haven't had problems with either one, but the aquamira sure tastes better!”

“Try using Chlorine Dioxide (Puritabs) to treat viruses and the filter. The good filters have a carbon component that will take the chlorine(or iodine if you must) taste out of the water.”