When exploring the outdoors, it’s very important to stay hydrated. If you don’t bring enough of your own, it can be tempting to take a drink from a natural body of water. While it may seem clear and crisp, odds are that there may be bacteria lurking in the water that can cause your body harm.
Before embarking on your outdoor excursion, invest in a water purifier of some sort. In any sample of backcountry water, there is the possibility of the presence of bacteria, protozoa, or viruses. These things have the ability to cause illness in as little as 24 hours. Symptoms are said to be flu-like and are, to say the least, extremely uncomfortable and make for an unforgettable camping trip-but not for the right reasons.
There is really no way to know the quality of backcountry water without testing it or treating it. This is the reason why most experienced hikers and campers invest in a purification system of some sort to ensure that they will always have quality drinking water when in the wilderness. It is always best to assume that any water that does not come from a spout or is store-bought must be purified.
There are numerous water purification systems on the market at varying prices and sizes. Some are larger scale and pump large quantities of water through in a small amount of time, while others are simply a bottle with a built-in purifier that delivers water in small quantities. Depending on your price range and the amount of water you plan to consume, you can do plenty of research online to determine which kind of water purification system you require for your outing.
