Water, Nasties in, Giardia and Cryptosporidia http://www.beprepared.com/Articles/nastywater.html Nasties in the Water ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- When you see a clear mountain stream flowing with water from melted glacial snow, are you tempted to take a big drink of that cold water? You may want to think twice about drinking water without filtering or purifying it when you learn what could be in your water that you can't even see. The parasite Giardia occurs worldwide in any water. Giardia ranks among the top 20 infectious death causing diseases in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In the United States, sickness from Giardia most commonly occurs when people drink from mountain streams and rivers. You can also get Giardia in communities where drinking water is obtained from clear running streams and is chlorinated but not filtered before distribution. Water obtained from deep wells is an unlikely source of Giardia because of the natural filtration of water as it passes through the soil to reach underground cisterns. Giardia is transmitted from stream to stream in different ways, including animal and human waste. Beavers are the most common passers of Giardia in the United States. "Giardia is a disease caused by a one-celled parasite with the scientific name Giardia lamblia. The disease is characterized by intestinal symptoms that usually last one week or more and may be accompanied by one or more of the following: diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, flatulence, fatigue, weight loss, and sometimes vomiting and fever," (Dennis D. Juranek, Chief, Epidemiology Activity Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control). There are drugs available to treat these symptoms, but prevention and precaution by filtering and purifying your water is by far the best medicine. Another nasty parasite found in water is called Cryptosporidia. "Cryptosporidium are a genus of protozoan parasites that cause intestinal as well as pancreatic, bile duct, hepatic, and respiratory illnesses in mammals. Protozoa are single-celled organisms which are closer to bacteria than to viruses. Cryptosporidium parvum is believed to be the only member of the Cryptosporidium genus that causes disease in humans. It has an unusual life-cycle, as it is able to reproduce both sexually and asexually. It is protected by a shell which renders it immune to most disinfectants. It can only reproduce inside a live host and is exceptionally resistant to chlorine, even at concentrations found in bleach." (Current and Owen, 1989; Current and Garcia 1991; McAnulty et al., 1994). The disease you can get from Cryptosporidium is called Cryptosporidiosis. There are three different strains of this disease: intestinal, tracheal, and pulmonary. The symptom of intestinal Cryptosporidiosis is severe diarrhea, but there also may be no visible symptoms. The symptoms of pulmonary and tracheal Cryptosporidiosis are coughing, low grade fever, and severe intestinal distress. http://www-micro.msb.le.ac.uk/others/FDA/~mow/chap24.html Cryptosporidium is approximately three to five microns in size. This means if your filter size is greater than two microns, Cryptosporidium will get through your water filter pores. When you are ready to purchase a water filter get one that is reliable and one that can filter down to 0.2 microns. The presence of this organism at any level in consumed drinking water is not considered safe. Cryptosporidium and Giardia are two of the most common parasites that can be found in your drinking water, but by no means the only ones. For this reason, you should always at least filter your water when you are hiking or camping. To be the safest, you should purify all your outdoor drinking water. The most inexpensive method of purifying your water is to boil it. Boiling the water for at least ten minutes will kill any biological hazards you may find. Remember to add to the ten minute boiling time at higher altitudes. This method is not practical when you are out hiking and need water right away. You'll not only have to carry a pot to boil the water in and fuel to make a fire, but you'll have to wait for the water to cool down enough to be able to drink it. Boiling does not neutralize chemical pollutants. The process of chemical purification involves the use of iodine or chlorine to kill the parasites and bacteria in your water. This lightweight and relatively inexpensive method will not neutralize chemical toxins. You must put the correct amount of iodine or chlorine in the water to be purified. You must also make sure that water at 75 degrees F sits for 20-30 minutes with iodine in it for purification to take place. If the water is colder than 75 degrees, which it usually is, you must let it sit longer, possibly overnight for cold stream water. Warm the water with the iodine or chlorine in it against your skin or in a pot over a fire if you want it to be purified faster. You can make the purified water taste better by pouring it from one container to another several times or by adding a small amount of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). When used properly, iodine will kill most protozoa and all bacteria and viruses in water. After prolonged use of iodine, some people develop thyroid problems, so be aware of this potential side effect. http://www.fc.net/~tdeagan/water/one.html The safest and easiest way to be assured of clean, pure water is by using a manufactured water filter or water purifier. With these devices, all you need to do is pump the water through an intake hose, and filtered or purified water comes out in a matter of minutes. There is no o extra hassle or work for you. You don't have to carry around a pot, fuel, or worry about thyroid problems. You can carry a filter or purifier around with you wherever you go. Water filters and purifiers are lightweight (some as light as 11 oz.), relatively inexpensive, (some as cost efficient as 1.3 cents per gallon), and most can remove 99.999% of microorganisms. Water filters usually have an activated charcoal or carbon core which reduces odors, removes chemicals, improves taste, and filters out large particles such as dirt and rust. A ceramic core removes bacteria of varying sizes depending on the size of the pores. The smaller the pore size, the more particles it will filter out. Investing in a good water purifier or filter with pores no greater than 0.2 microns would be a good choice. A purifier has all of the above and an iodine core to kill all bacteria and parasites that didn't get filtered out. Now that you know what could be in your drinking water, you might think twice the next time you are tempted to drink from a cold mountain stream. Carry a water filter or purifier with you to enjoy cold mountain streams. Just do your research on getting the best water purifier or filter for your money. For more information on water filters and purifiers, see the Insight article entitled "Water Purifacation". Home 1-800-999-1863 Copyright Monday, August 13, 2001 Emergency Essentials 362 S Commerce Loop, Orem, UT 84058. Please address all questions and comments to webmaster@beprepared.com