Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Aquamira® also has a liquid preparation, Aquamira® Water Treatment Drops, which
comes in two containers. The first (Part A) contains 2 percent chlorine dioxide and the
second (Part B) contains 5 percent phosphoric acid. Seven drops from each container are
mixed in a small cup (provided), allowed to stand for five minutes, during which the solu-
tion changes from clear to yellow, then is added to a liter of water. The manufacturer re-
commends letting the water stand for fifteen minutes before consumption, but eradication
of Cryptosporidia and Giardia would probably require longer.
Similar liquid preparations are produced by Pristine Water Treatment Systems, a British
Columbia company,and sold bythe name Water Purification System. Contact times forin-
activation of Cryptosporidia listed by Pristine range from fifteen minutes in warm water
using a triple dose to seven hours using a single dose in 39.2°F (4°C) water.
Ultraviolet Light
The SteriPEN®, produced by Hydro-Photon, disinfects water with ultraviolet light
( www.steripen.com ) . Time magazine thought enough of the original device to list it among
the “Inventions of the Year” for 2001. It also was named the United Kingdom Outdoor
Writers Guild product of the year. In studies carried out at four major universities, this
product was demonstrated to eliminate viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. Among the organ-
isms against which this device was effective were Cryptosporidia and Giardia .
Theoriginaldevice,calledtheSteriPENWaterPurifier®,is7incheslongandabout1.5
inches on each side. It weighs 6 to 8 ounces with batteries, depending on the battery type.
The SteriPEN Adventurer Water Purifier®, is smaller, 6 by 1.5 by 1 inches, and lighter,
3.6 ounces. A third device, the SteriPEN Traveler Water Purifier® is approximately half
thesizeoftheoriginalSteriPEN WaterPurifier®. Allthreearesmaller andnoheavierthan
currently available water filters.
The Water Purifier operates on four AA batteries. Alkaline batteries provide twenty to
forty water treatments; rechargeable batteries provide sixty to seventy treatments; lithium
batteries provide 130 to 140 treatments.
The Adventurer and the Traveler are supplied with two nonrechargeable lithium
CR123A batteries. Rechargeable lithium CR123A batteries are available, and the Ster-
iPEN® manufacturer provides them with a recharger that includes a 110/240 volt power
adapter and has a solar power panel that recharges two batteries in two to four days.
Todisinfectwater,theultravioletlightsourceontheinstrument'stipisinsertedintowa-
ter and stirred. All these devices are capable of disinfecting 16 ounces of water in about
sixtyseconds—aliterofwaterrequiresninetyseconds—sotheyarefarfasterthananyoth-
erdisinfectingdevicesuitableforbackpacking.Thedevicesarenotcheap,costingaboutas
much as the more expensive filters. Batteries cost extra.
The SteriPEN® is a slightly expensive replacement for filtration and chemical disinfec-
tion. Its speed, ability to destroy parasites, and ability to disinfect water without imparting
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