Searched on this topic but didn't come up with what I'm looking for. Thought it may be a conversation with some value for others too, so here goes...
I'm wondering if anyone can cite credible sources regarding safe/best practices for drinking water in the backcountry. I have not yet been sick from "bad water" - but I don't plan to push my luck. I always either filter or UV-sterilize drinking/cooking water*. Anything that goes directly into my gut is treated. But what are prudent practices regarding "once-removed" water contact? Specifically:
* can one "clean" a water container (e.g. Nalgene bottle) that was immersed in dirty water (e.g. a lake) simply by rinsing it out with clean (filtered/sterilized) water? Or is a thorough cleaning with soap and clean water required?
* similarly, when washing cooking/eating utensils, is there significant risk in using dirty water, then drying thoroughly? Is a final rinse using clean water sufficient? Or should only clean water and soap be used?
For maximum risk reduction I presume that never letting anything other than clean water touch bottles, bladders, pots & utensils is the best practice. I'm wondering if that is pursuit of "five nines" purity and uncalled for. Not sure if (for a person with a healthy immune system) the goal is to not ingest too many (however many that is...) protozoa which could reproduce and overwhelm natural defenses, or if it really is a matter of absolute-zero contamination as a goal.
I have read that in North America viruses are not generally found in water (and my Sawyer 0.1 micron filters don't remove all viruses) but I suppose that is also a possible, if unlikely, vector for water-borne illness.
What are your practices in the backcountry? Have you had any hard-learned lessons?
(* a few times I have found a water source (spring) where I can see the entirety of its route from bubbling up from the ground, and have enjoyed that w/out treatment. My thinking is there is virtually no place for "upstream" contamination by animals)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2017 12:49PM by ags.