Sea Kayak Trips Bulletin Board

Re: about the water filtration

Posted By: Ken Sutherland
Date: Sunday, 8 June 2003, at 11:34 a.m.

In Response To: Re: about the water filtration (Mike and Rikki)

Hey Mike!!

Thanks for the info.
So what is the filter of choice for a group of 1 to 4 paddlers?
I realize that when it comes to filters a filter that costs more up front may be cheaper in the long run, but every filter manufacturer has their own sales spiel and it's hard to sort through the partial truths to figure out what the real deal is.
For my trip I will be boiling water primarily, the Winipeg River in the area we are paddleing is flowing through precambrian shield so there is very little silt, and fires are allowed unless things get very dry in the next 2 weeks. I would still like to get a filter for backpacking and for trips in areas where the water is less pure.

Ken

: 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).

: 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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