Water - make it safe to drink

Written on the 26 October 2013 by Peter

   Benchtop: Water make if safe to drink: 

   Floor Standing: Water make if safe to drink: 

   Exclusive: Water make if safe to drink: 

Water - make it safe to drink, Filtered Water made from your own tap

If you enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping or four-wheel driving, you should take drinking water with you. If you run out of water, or cannot carry enough water with you for your entire trip, you may need to drink from natural water sources. Drinking untreated water such as creek water, bore water or sometimes even rainwater can lead to illnesses such as gastroenteritis and diarrhea. The following is some simple advice on how to ensure that if you need to use natural water sources you minimize the risk of getting sick.

Avoid the danger zones, dirty drinking water
When selecting natural waters to use as drinking water there are a few commonsense rules you should follow:

Check how it looks. The appearance of the water is not always a guarantee that it is safe to drink, but water that is clear, free of surface scum or debris, and has no odor is more likely be to free of contaminants than cloudy, smelly water that has a surface scum.
Choose water that is free flowing rather than water that is stagnant.
Avoid collecting water from watercourses that are downstream of:
- Camping areas
- Areas where mining is occurring or has occurred
- Agricultural areas
- Unsewered towns.
Treat natural water before you drink it
You should use natural water sources with caution and, where possible, treat the water to make it safe to drink. How healthy is your water?

The most straightforward treatment method is to filter the water before you drink it. If water filtration is not an option bring the water to a rolling boil, cool it and then use it for drinking. Tap water vs filtered water

Boiling is effective against most microbial contaminants, but may not make the water safe if it is contaminated with chemicals or heavy metals. If the water tastes metallic or unpleasant, do not continue to drink it.

If boiling the water is not practical other treatment methods can be used. These include chlorine and iodine tablets, handheld UV units, micro filters and purifiers. These can be purchased from camping and outdoor stores. In all cases, follow the manufacturer's recommended instructions for use.

Remember think before you drink, and treat the water if you are unsure. Water is a vital nutrient

Things to remember
Be self sufficient take drinking water with you. Preferable filtered water
Drinking untreated water from natural sources, such as bores and rivers, can lead to illnesses including gastroenteritis.
Consider all natural water sources as suspect and treat the water before drinking.
Water treatment methods include boiling, filtration and disinfection with chemicals like iodine and chlorine.

Prestige Water water filter system includes even cold and hot water
The Prestige Water smallest portable water cooler with cold and hot water tap including water filter: Bench Top