Sea Kayak Trips Bulletin Board

Re: about the water filtration

Posted By: Mike and Rikki
Date: Friday, 6 June 2003, at 3:02 p.m.

In Response To: Re: about the water filtration (Robert N Pruden)

: The water filtration worked fantasticly, Mike. The silt inteh river plugged
: the Sweetwater filter within one gallon of water though. I gave the filter

It's actually the bacterial growth on the organics trapped in the filter media that cause the plugging, just silt would take several more gallons if there's a moderate silt load to finally restrict water throughput requiring cleaning (that's a relative statement, too, some rivers are so loaded as to plug a filter in minutes). The way it works is that the organic loading and silt trapped in the filter media and the media itself act as a substrate for bacterial growth, which forms a brownish slime that anchors debris and fills pore space. The inside of a filter is actually a great place to grow: it's wet, there's a growth substrate, there's food brought in regulalry...just add heat and special nutrients and it's perfect. High end filter$ use a harder "ceramic" impregnated with silver iodide to inhibit growth, the hardness and fineness of the media restrict the filtrate to the surface. Then again, the difference between the Sweetwater and something like a Katadydn Pocket Pump is relatively substantial in cost and weight, and for that matter, pumping force, too.

Don't get me wrong, the Sweetwater is a great filter for what it was designed for in both useage and market strategy. However, it wasn't intended for extended useage; the filter media just doesn't last more then several hundred gallons. Then again, the pumping force is less, it's light and cheap, and does a good job at what it does, as does MSR and others. One thing; purification of water takes chemical treatment to inactivate viruses, or you can boil the water (or you can use reverse osmosis units but small virus do get through).

: a very light brush and rinse and she was working fine again. I had a close
: call Tuesday evening, though when I thought I had left the purifier at my

I know what you mean. There's a routine one always has to adopt, pick something up, use it, put it away safe. When I was climbing a lot in my youth I got into that habit of "self talk" and being carefully methodical, drop a bong or a nut and it's gone forever. I usually tie 2 mm lines to everything and tie them to something larger. Many people I paddle with sneer with my Northwater deck bag on the yak, but in that I have snacks and water, camera and compasses, maps and comm gear, for the gear, lines attached to the inside of the bag. On the boat we have a rule that critical gear is secured in some manner. For instance, take binos out of case, put strap around neck, then use them. If I disassemble something, lets say the wind generator for servicing and inspection, I first tie a suitable line to it, then remove it. Each fastener goes right in the pocket, the tools are on leashes. I don't want to sound like I'm preaching, but its all from the school of hard knocks. For instance, I dropped a 3/8 inch 6 point Craftsmen socket overboard a couple months back. Knowing the replacement cost is close to 5 USD I went over the side in snorkel gear to the spot where it had to be and searched without success in the mud. Economically that all adds up rapidly (yep, it still bothers me losing that socket).

You know what it really comes down to is that it's about saving money and effort, all in the ultimate of currencies: time. I was thinking about a comment about our current lifestyle, and I know there's envy and a little jealousy. We pinch pennies and shop around, invest and speculate wisely, all for the achieved goal of taking a few years off while young to go and do the things most people don't even dream of.

So it all comes back to this: isn't there more to your paddle trip? I'm dying to hear all about the insights and discoveries, challenges and problems overcome, the sights, sounds and thoughts.

Messages In This Thread

Final Equipment/Food List
Robert N Pruden -- Monday, 26 May 2003, at 10:02 p.m.

OOPS! Here's the list.
Robert N Pruden -- Monday, 26 May 2003, at 10:03 p.m.

Re: OOPS! Here's the list.
Myrl Tanton -- Tuesday, 27 May 2003, at 11:05 a.m.

Daughter has fallen ill.
Robert N Pruden -- Tuesday, 27 May 2003, at 3:02 p.m.

Re: OOPS! Here's the list.
Ken Sutherland -- Tuesday, 27 May 2003, at 11:39 p.m.

She is on the mend, Ken *LINK*
Robert N Pruden -- Tuesday, 27 May 2003, at 11:53 p.m.

Re: She is on the mend, Ken
Ken Sutherland -- Wednesday, 28 May 2003, at 12:10 a.m.

Ken:GPS- Rob: stuff
Mike and Rikki -- Thursday, 29 May 2003, at 1:39 p.m.

about the water filtration
Mike and Rikki -- Thursday, 29 May 2003, at 1:28 p.m.

Re: about the water filtration
Robert N Pruden -- Thursday, 29 May 2003, at 9:35 p.m.

Re: about the water filtration
Mike and Rikki -- Friday, 30 May 2003, at 1:35 a.m.

Re: about the water filtration
Robert N Pruden -- Friday, 30 May 2003, at 1:43 a.m.

Re: about the water filtration
Mike and Rikki -- Friday, 30 May 2003, at 2:04 a.m.

Re: about the water filtration
Robert N Pruden -- Friday, 6 June 2003, at 12:05 p.m.

Re: about the water filtration
Mike and Rikki -- Friday, 6 June 2003, at 3:02 p.m.

Re: about the water filtration
Robert N Pruden -- Saturday, 7 June 2003, at 9:01 p.m.

Re: about many things
Mike and Rikki -- Sunday, 8 June 2003, at 1:41 p.m.

Re: about many things
Ken Sutherland -- Sunday, 8 June 2003, at 2:13 p.m.

Re: about the water filtration
Ken Sutherland -- Sunday, 8 June 2003, at 11:34 a.m.

Re: about the water filtration
Mike and Rikki -- Sunday, 8 June 2003, at 3:17 p.m.

Re: about the water filtration
Ken Sutherland -- Sunday, 8 June 2003, at 4:15 p.m.

Re: about the water filtration
Mike and Rikki -- Sunday, 8 June 2003, at 8:54 p.m.

Katadyn
Robert N Pruden -- Monday, 9 June 2003, at 11:01 a.m.

Re: Katadyn
Mike and Rikki -- Monday, 9 June 2003, at 4:50 p.m.

Re: Katadyn
Robert N Pruden -- Tuesday, 10 June 2003, at 11:21 a.m.

Thanks for the comparison, Mike *NM*
Robert N Pruden -- Monday, 9 June 2003, at 10:58 a.m.

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