Filtering water is medically unnecessary: Slate Magazine Article

[KCNC]

I think the article should come with a litany of qualifiers. What if you're on immunosuppressants? What if your health is compromised in some other form or fashion?

I don't "need" to wear a seatbelt when I drive, I only "need" one in case of an accident. The rest of the time I wear one for insurance.

Same thing goes for filtering water. With most filters rated for thousands upon thousands of gallons one unit is, essentially, a "lifetime use" item if properly cared for. If it keeps me from getting sick just once, it's well worth it. If it keeps that one illness from ruining a trip, then it's worth even more.

[rickb]

I don't "need" to wear a seatbelt when I drive, I only "need" one in case of an accident.

“A seatbelt” is to “texting while driving”

as a

“Water filter” is to “not washing your hands with soap and water”.

[Sarcasm the elf]

“A seatbelt” is to “texting while driving”

as a

“Water filter” is to “not washing your hands with soap and water”.

That's perfect.

In all seriousness, do you mind if copy this word for word and use it in future discussions,?

[Sarcasm the elf]

My two cents:


1) The odds of getting a waterbourne illness from any one source is overwhelmingly low.
2) The majority of illness that are blamed on "bad water" are actually transmitted by contact with infected people or contaminated surfaces. Proper hand washing with honest to goodness soap is far more effective at reducing the spread of pathogens than water treatment.
3) Most commercial filters do not protect against viruses like Noro virus that is ever present on major trails.
4) It you are unable to treat your water, just drink it. Dehydration is generally more dangerous to the average hiker than waterbourne contaminants.
5) All that said I still treat my water, because I think it's easy and a smart thing to do.

[Feral Bill]

My two cents:


1) The odds of getting a waterbourne illness from any one source is overwhelmingly low.
2) The majority of illness that are blamed on "bad water" are actually transmitted by contact with infected people or contaminated surfaces. Proper hand washing with honest to goodness soap is far more effective at reducing the spread of pathogens than water treatment.
3) Most commercial filters do not protect against viruses like Noro virus that is ever present on major trails.
4) It you are unable to treat your water, just drink it. Dehydration is generally more dangerous to the average hiker than waterbourne contaminants.
5) All that said I still treat my water, because I think it's easy and a smart thing to do.

Yes indeed.

[BionicAnkle]

#4 is very wrong sorry puking and the squirts will dehydrate you way faster.

[Sarcasm the elf]

#4 is very wrong sorry puking and the squirts will dehydrate you way faster.

That's a valid point, so please let me clarify my reasoning: If someone is badly dehydrated while hiking, that is an immediate risk to life and health and getting rehydrated is the immediate priority. In the context of hiking the A.T. or other US trails, odds (on average) are that a hiker that immediately needs water will not get sick from drinking at any one water source, which makes treating their dehydration the more prudent option rather than trying to continue on dangerously dehydrated. In addition most common waterborne illnesses in the US have a lenghty incubation period, so even in the event that it is necessary to drink from a questionable water source, there will still likely be time to head back to civilization and get medical treatment prior to the onset of symptoms.

[perdidochas]

My two cents:


1) The odds of getting a waterbourne illness from any one source is overwhelmingly low.
2) The majority of illness that are blamed on "bad water" are actually transmitted by contact with infected people or contaminated surfaces. Proper hand washing with honest to goodness soap is far more effective at reducing the spread of pathogens than water treatment.
3) Most commercial filters do not protect against viruses like Noro virus that is ever present on major trails.
4) It you are unable to treat your water, just drink it. Dehydration is generally more dangerous to the average hiker than waterbourne contaminants.
5) All that said I still treat my water, because I think it's easy and a smart thing to do.

Well written. I agree totally.

[KCNC]

“A seatbelt” is to “texting while driving”

as a

“Water filter” is to “not washing your hands with soap and water”.

Well, I wear seatbelts, I don't text and drive, I filter water, and I'm pretty adamant about hand cleansing, so I've pretty much got it all covered.