Water Purifying Tablets

[BobMcBob]

Does anybody who drinks from burns use purifying tablets? I bought some Chlorine Diox tablets because the guy in the shop told me they didn't make the water taste funny. I think he has no taste buds - they made it taste like the footbath in my school swimming pool.

The instructions say "Use 1 tablet per liter unless Giardia or chryptosporydium is suspected, in which case use 2 tablets". I don't know what either of those things are, so I used 2 to be safe.

So what do other people do? I'd like to drink burn water when I'm out but I worry about catching something horrible.

[Rudolph]

So what do other people do? I'd like to drink burn water when I'm out but I worry about catching something horrible.

I drink burn water from high running streams without tablets and don't generally worry about it. It's worked so far.

[Cairngormwanderer]

Said it often enough before: I've been drinking from highland rivers and streams for the last 46 years and to date have suffered no ill effects but have enjoyed some of the freshest, best, most enjoyed drinks of my life.
Not sure about the logic of buying something called a purifying tablet which ADDS chemicals to your water. That's not purification.

[Challum]

I now use water purifying tablets (Boots own brand) as we have been back packing at lower levels and it seems daft not to. I'm happy to drink from fast flowing streams on the hill without using tablets. I would only use one per litre - Giardia and cryptosporidium are both nasty but unlikely if you are at a decent height. I suspect they are more likely when there are cattle etc around or if campers haven't been sensible about where they did their toilet. I have not found the treated water at all unpleasant to drink. Was agreeably surprised.

[BobMcBob]

Thanks for those replies. I think I'll follow that advice as the water after two of those tablets was almost the opposite of refreshing

[CrampedFuture]

Gardia is NOT an issue in the UK or anywhere in Western Europe. Cryptosporidium is very rare in the UK but can happent. Chlorine Diox is meant to be used in the likes of Africa or Central/Southern Africa where the water quality is extremely poor.

[Backpacker]

I do carry them if I have to take water from a pool (non moving water), if it's a moving stream then no tablets.

I've always got some isotonic powder in my rucksack to mask the taste of said tablets, minging isn't the word

[Fife Flyer]

I always fill up in streams, obviously assessing the location of the filling up point first.


One big advantage it comes ready chilled, no need to carry a fridge

[spiderwebb]

Tabs I have there are two, one chlorine for killing the nasty stuff and then a neutraliser to stop it tasting like a swimming pool (or Anglian Water from a tap).

Use to drink from streams but after a 3 day period in the Lakes, not being able to move more than 4 foot from a toilet, I just use tabs now.

Think mine are Lifesystems

[mrssanta]

There are a lot more people in the lakes though, not sure I'd drink the water there but I don't plan to start adding chlorine to lovely fresh Scottish hill water.

[The Rodmiester]

There are a lot more people in the lakes though, not sure I'd drink the water there but I don't plan to start adding chlorine to lovely fresh Scottish hill water.

Nothing to beat Scottish hill water, taken from a burn the higher up the hill the better. The only time I'm wary is when there are lots of sheep about, and then I'd probably not risk it. ie Ben Lawers.

[Peter277]

hi have also drank water from hills for 30 odd yrs no probs ..but at home in lakes lot more people about nowadays have a look at the sawyer filter,think theres a even a discount code on twitter at mo..only about 50 -60 quid filters water very easily and quickly and a little over 100grams

[andrewl7642]

So what's best tablets??
"Boots" own brand or "Oasis" available from Amazon?

Also what to use to neutralize the water afterwards?

[Caberfeidh]

You could always boil it, and neutralise it with good British Tea. From India.

[andrewl7642]

Good idea, Caberfeidh