tiny copepods in NY tap water

[zinfamous]

My friend did during a hiking trip a couple years ago. He even added iodine to it but still came down with a really nasty parasite. Puking and diarrhea for 4-5 days and hospitalized so he could get an IV drip to restore lost fluids.

I think that water needs to be boiled + iodine to take care of Giardia. Boiling is the safest way to go, as I think iodine pills take much longer to disperse and purify than people tend to allow. Plus, there's always something out there that is going to be resistant to certain poisons. Not boiling though.

better yet, just bring a portable autoclave.

 

[oddyager]

My friend did during a hiking trip a couple years ago. He even added iodine to it but still came down with a really nasty parasite. Puking and diarrhea for 4-5 days and hospitalized so he could get an IV drip to restore lost fluids.

Tough break. Rule of thumb should be to always boil your water if possible. Iodine can be added to help (not needed) or if you can not boil make sure you follow the instructions closely on how to properly use it. Iodine also does not kill 100% bacteria so he may have caught something that wasn't killed off by the treatment.

 

[Miramonti]

 

[zinfamous]

that's one of them magic straws, or whatever they're called, right?

They're supposed to work pretty well. short lifespan on the filters, though. I think...

 

[Miramonti]

that's one of them magic straws, or whatever they're called, right?

They're supposed to work pretty well. short lifespan on the filters, though. I think...

This one is called a LifeStraw, altho since this has come out there are a number of other straw products on the market. There are also various portable filtration products for hikers and campers etc. from recreation stores like Rei.

 

[destrekor]

I wonder how humanity survived before chlorinated and flourinated water. Geez, people need to get a grip. Has anyone every drunk out of a stream before?

People drink water right off the rocks and riverbed? What, you mad?!

:whiste:


Honestly, I don't even care to imagine what kind of microscopic life is in the water straight from an aquifer. Spring water is so damn tasty.
As in, filling a bottle up straight at the source.. will probably do it Saturday afternoon, though the image of "fresh from the source" is tampered slightly as they installed a spigot at the spring. But, it does make it easy to get any type of container filled up.

 

[lupi]

Obligatory this is what you're drinking.

what is that