Water Treatment for International Travel

Wikimedia Commons

In some countries around the world, including popular tourist destinations, it is not safe to drink the water. The standard solution is to drink nothing but bottled water while there, but that isn't always possible. Eco-tourists often have limited access to bottled water, and strikes or other civil disturbances can block access to bottled water supplies. Learning how to treat water can be beneficial to a traveler.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Chlorine drops or iodine tablets
Activated carbon filter or charcoal, sieve and funnel
Bottles or jars

Step 1

Disinfect the water. Apply iodine tablets as directed by the manufacturer or use drops of household bleach. Two drops of household bleach will disinfect a gallon of water. If none are available, boiling for a few minutes will accomplish the same thing.

Step 2

Wait at least 30 minutes before proceeding, to allow the chemical disinfectant to do a thorough job.

Step 3

Remove any pollutants from the water by pouring it through a carbon filter. Brita-style filters and similar products sold by camper and backpacker stores can do this, but if one is not available, proceed to Step 4.

Step 4

Take some charcoal left over from a fire, and break it into small bits with any available tool or rock.

Step 5

Put the charcoal into the sieve, then the sieve into the funnel. Place this into the bottle or jar that will store the treated water.

Step 6

Pour the disinfected water into the charcoal. The funnel will control the flow so it gets proper exposure to the carbon in the charcoal, which will extract pollutants.

Article Written By Edwin Thomas

Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.

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