Re: [Philmont]: Safe Drinking Water was Polar Pure

Hmmm. I'd say that the Fieldbook missed something.
There is another disadvantage to both Boiling and Chemical treatment:
They do not clean the water of dirt - if the only water you could find was
dirty (maybe hard rains washed dirt into the streams), then after boiling or
polar puring it, you would have germ & virus-free dirty water. Yeah, you
can let it stand and let the dirt settle to bottom, but that can take a LONG
time - another disadvantage. Don't suggest straining it thru something,
because that is filtering.
Conversely, of course, quickly producing clean water is an advantage to
filtering.
Dave Martin
Endwell, NY
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Palmer" <dkpcullen@comcast.net>
To: "Multiple recipients of list philmont" <philmont@troop47.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2004 4:15 PM
Subject: [Philmont]: Safe Drinking Water was Polar Pure

> Here is what the 2004 BSA Fieldbook (pages 122-125) says about Safe
Drinking
> Water.
>
> Boiling
> Advantages
> 1/ 100 percenst effective.
> 2/ Simple to do.
> Disadvantages
> 1/ Requries a stove and fuel or a campfire, as well as a pot.
> 2/ Takes time.
>
> Chemical Treatment (such as Polar Pure)
> Advantages
> 1/ Effective against viruses and bacteria.
> 2/ Simple to use.
> 3/ Inexpensive, lightweight, and convenient to pack.
> 4/ A good backup to carry in case you can't boil or filter water.
> Disadvantages
> 1/ Not always effective against all protozoa. (FYI: Protozoa are
> single-celled organisms found in nearly every kind of habitat, but most
are
> found in aquatic habitats. Giardia is one protozoa.)
> 2/ Requires a waiting period before water can be considered safe to drink.
> 3/ Can leave a chemical taste in the water.
> 4/ Can lose potency over time.
>
> Filtering
> Advantages
> 1/ Effective against protozoa and bacteria. Filters equipped to add
chemical
> treatment might also kill some viruses.
> 2/ Filters come in a range of capacities and designs to fit the needs of
> groups according to their size and the duration of their journeys.
> Disadvantages
> 1/ Filters can be expensive.
> 2/ Filtering elements must be cleaned or replaced frequently.
> 3/ Pump mechanisms of filters might malfunction.
>
> David K. Palmer
> Scoutmaster - Olympia (Wash.) Troop 266
> 2003 Crew 726-O Trek #24
> Every Scout Absolutely Matters
>
>
>
>
>
>
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-------------------------------------------------------
As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Sun May 23 22:09:45 2004