Proper hydration is one of the most important issues during various types of hiking, survival and bushcraft expeditions. Unfortunately, there are times when it is not possible to take a sufficiently large water supply with you due to various limitations. In such a situation, it may be necessary to use unknown water outlets encountered along the way. Determining the quality of these sources requires knowledge and time, and we cannot always afford to do so. In such a situation, in order not to expose ourselves to drinking water that may contain pathogenic protozoa and bacteria, it is necessary to use special agents, filters or water treatment devices and not worry about the quality of water found in field conditions.
Water treatment is a process that aims to bring raw water that comes from natural sources into compliance with the requirements for drinking water. In other words, we aim to treat the water available in the field. The most common methods of getting rid of contaminants from water are filtration and chemical treatment. For filtration, you can use a convenient water purification device in the form of a filter bottle. Water filters use activated carbon, tourmaline and other layers of non-woven filters. Such filters remove not only impurities visible to the naked eye, but also contaminants of biological origin, as well as heavy metals and toxins. The water obtained from the purification process is odourless, even in cases where we have taken water for treatment from a river or a closed body of water.
Another type of water treatment is the use of tablets containing chlorine-based compounds or iodine. All you have to do is drop the tablet into a pot of water and let it stand for 10 to 30 minutes for the agent to dissolve completely. It's also a good idea to equip yourself with flavoured effervescent tablets that will give your water the flavour of your choice.
The use of filters or water purification devices makes it possible to use almost any source encountered. On hiking trails, you can often find so-called ‘springs’, which tourists are happy to use, drawing water directly from them. In such cases, it is advisable to use common sense and use water treatment devices after all. Feel free to browse the offer of water treatment agents and devices, which will ensure that you stay properly hydrated during outings.
