[pct-l] CDC recommendations for water treatment

[Ron Dye]

The primary concern on the trail is Giardia (as it is or was most common).
There have been articles written that suggest the giardia threat has been
exaggerated.  I spoke last year on my hike with a water engineer, one who
builds water treatment plants.  He lives near Lake Tahoe.  He assured me
that it would require one to consume 10,000 giardia cysts to contract the
illness.  In other words, some fairly polluted water.

For my personal tastes, I normally filter.  I don't enjoy swallowing
floating things I can see.  Further, I see no reason why I would take a
chance on ruining a 4-5 month adventure through careless food handling,
sanitation or drinking habits.

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2010 7:01 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] CDC recommendations for water treatment

For water treatment on the PCT I would bring a filter or chemical  
treatment and use it as per the instructions. Over and above that, I  
wouldn't worry too much about the water. 99% of the time the water is  
clean and clear and tastes good.

I met some people in Section E this year who said they never drank  
any of the natural water on the trail. As they ate their lunch, I  
reached into the guzzler and fixed up a liter of water to take with  
me. They reacted in horror. They said they only drank water from  
cashes or faucets. I thought that was incredible and stupid.

People worry way too much. I rarely treated any water beyond the High  
Sierra. I was more paranoid the first time through the Sierra and  
now, after a second time, I would treat very little of it. I admit to  
never treating water that comes from a pipe even if it is filling up  
a cattle trough, but I will filter or treat the water in the trough.

I think we get so paranoid about germs in all the wrong places. We  
need some germs to keep our immune systems healthy. If you want to  
worry about germs, worry about potty germs, germs on people's (and  
your own) hands, germs on unrefrigerated foods that should be  
refrigerated. Things of that nature. Where do you think your drinking  
water comes from? It comes from the rivers and streams in your  
watershed. They put some chemicals in it and you drink it from your  
faucet after it runs through the pipes. It's probably less pure  
having to run through your pipes and your dirty faucet nozzle than it  
is running through a mountain stream.
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