[at-l] what *IS* the risk of water borne pathology?

[David Addleton]

i conclude from responses so far:
a risk of water-borne illness exists, but nobody *really* seems to
know what that risk may be . . . but it's likely a lower risk than
sharing gorp!
careful choice of water source may eliminate the need to carry a
filter; chemical treatment eliminates most risk from error in chosing
water source . . .
Does anyone know risk of *chemical* borne pathology in AT water?


On 11/19/09, David Addleton <dfaddleton at gmail.com> wrote:
> is there *really* a filter that guarantees to strain out virii??!! *all*
> virii?
>
> what's the *real* risk of the various waterborne pathogens from
> springs and streams on the AT?
> *real* means has there been any inventory of the extant pathogens
> published in the last 5 years? 10 years?
> any epidemiological study? any citations anyone can send my way?
>
> I hear a *lot* of advice to buy this or that filter, or use this or
> that treatment, but I've not seen any articles about the real risks
> involved and wonder if the advice isn't more marketing than reality?
>
> Eg., warnings notwithstanding, I drink from springs on Cumberland
> Island with no resulting pathology. On those occassions when I have
> selected springs along the AT from which to drink without water
> treatment, no pathology has resulted to me . . . . Similar experience
> choosing water in third world south and east asia: no resulting
> pathology drinking selected untreated water . . . .
>
> On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 4:28 PM, Tom Fort <tom at tjfort.net> wrote:
>> If you don't drink from a well, you are ingesting loads of chlorine every
>> day!
>>
>> t.
>>
>> Quoting JJJ :
>>
>> is it ok to be drinking bleach?  what's it do to the organisms in your
>> gut?
>> probably don't want to kill them!
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> at-l mailing list
>> at-l at backcountry.net
>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/at-l
>>
>>
>