COOKING

How to treat WATER

Boiling

Bringing water to a rolling boil for a full minute or more will kill most organisms. Water Treatment Tablets Water treatment tablets are sold in small bottles just the right size for hikers and campers. The instructions on the label usually are to drop one or two tablets into a quart of water and then wait thirty minutes before drinking-longer if the water is cold.

Water treatment tablets can lose their effectiveness after the bottle has been opened. Check the expiration date on the label and use only fresh tablets. The tablets might also leave a chemical taste in the water. To improve the flavor, add some flavored mix after the tablets have had enough time to do their work.

Filters Camping stores and catalogs offer water filters that are effective and easy to operate. Some operate by pumping water through pores small enough to strain out bacteria. Others contain chemicals or carbon. Follow the instructions that come with the filter you plan to use. It's a good idea to carry a small bottle of water treatment tablets, too, in case your filter malfunctions.

Using a water filter is one way to be sore backcountry water is safe to drink. Other methods include boiling it or treating it with tablets