WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 22
  1. #1

    Default Filtering water for a large group

    This summer I am going on a camping trip with a group totaling five people including myself. We're not going backpacking per se but, more like setting up a base camp by a remote lake and probably doing short day hikes from there. Three of the campers are new to camping.

    Obviously, water availability will not be a problem but filtering enough for 5 people's cooking, drinking, and washing needs might be. On my own solo backpacking trips, I use the full sized Sawyer Sqeeze with an Evernew bag in a gravity feed setup which, provides plenty of water for me or me and a partner.

    I've looked at the 2019 CNOC Vecto 3L bags and just might get two of those, one as a clean bag and one as a "dirty" bag configured in a gravity setup. At least that would give me 3L at a time.

    Is there a better system out there (that won't cost a fortune) that would filter large amounts of water at a time? Thanks

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-08-2012
    Location
    Taghkanic, New York, United States
    Posts
    3,198
    Journal Entries
    11

    Default

    Gravity system seems like a good way to go. Make sure it's bombproof and have chemical backup.

  3. #3

    Default

    Hard to beat sawyer squeezes for ease of use. Cheap too. How much clean water do you really need at once?

  4. #4

    Default

    If it were me I'd probably just use the Sawyer squeeze as a gravity system with Aquamira as a backup.

    If you had a big water container you could treat the whole thing at once with Aquamira, letting the treated water sit overnight to really, really kill everything.

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-28-2008
    Location
    Spokane, WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    4,907

    Default

    Forest Service trail crews use gravity filters at their base camps, last time I encountered one. Why, however, would your filter cooking water?
    "It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how." ---Dr. Seuss

  6. #6
    Registered User kestral's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-12-2011
    Location
    Melbourne, Florida
    Posts
    379

    Default

    I usually filter my cooking water because I don’t usually keep anything at a rolling boil for at least 1 minute. (That’s what my local water department says to do when there is a water purity concern). Better safe than sorry, esp with some of the lousy toileting and hygiene practices I’ve seen on recent trips.

    to each their own

  7. #7

    Default

    Katadyn makes a 10L gravity system that works great. I think i paid around 100 bucks. Works fast,just hang it from a tree branch and dump the water in. 1200 miles on the AT for two people and only changed the filter once.

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    06-25-2012
    Location
    Lurkerville, East Tn
    Age
    64
    Posts
    3,719
    Journal Entries
    1

    Default

    The approach I'd take is to use equipment that will be useful to you later. Maybe duplicate what you already have, which doubles/triples your capacity, but also gives you a replacement for your usual setup, or could become the property of one of your companions - just in case they decide they want to continue hiking and camping after this trip. To me, that's better than getting something you don't have a need for later.

  9. #9

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Feral Bill View Post
    Forest Service trail crews use gravity filters at their base camps, last time I encountered one. Why, however, would your filter cooking water?
    My question is more why would you filter water for washing?

  10. #10

    Default

    FWIW - I normally use a Sawyer Mini for myself, but will use a Katadyn Hiker Pro pump style filtration system when there are more than a few people in the group. It processes water quickly and doesn't take a lot of energy to produce several liters of water as needed. Weight is negligible and the convenience of nearly instantaneous filtered water with a group of people is nice to have.

  11. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-31-2016
    Location
    Mount Dora, FL
    Age
    52
    Posts
    911

    Default

    I have seen groups on the AT using a large collapsible container they all used for getting their water. Several gallon capacity, I'd guess.
    .
    I don't like having to be dependent on others for my needs. Granted, cooking for a group may be more efficient with larger pieces, but I would, if hiking with a group, encourage everyone to have a sawyer to filter their own water.

  12. #12
    Registered User
    Join Date
    05-13-2011
    Location
    Lookout Mtn, GA
    Age
    35
    Posts
    30

    Default

    Bleach is the way to go! I'm still not sure why it hasn't caught on other than a common but misguided fear of it. NOLS and Redcross both recommend as safe. It is cheap. I bring two bottles in case one spills and several eye droppers from the drug store. Just drop 2-4 drops in each persons bottle, shake, wait 15-30 minutes depending on temp, bottle size, and water quality. Bleed the threads and go. Basically, it is Aquamira but cheaper and without the pain of mixing A and B solutions. For large groups, I just use it to purify two hanging dromedaries at camp. I've used bleach exclusively for 5 years with groups up to 20 people! Also used it on my thru-hike. Join the bleachers!

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    05-07-2006
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Age
    56
    Posts
    23

    Default

    My scout troop uses the 4 liter Platypus gravity filters and we carry chemicals as back up. We remind the scouts to fill up at night, and again in the morning during breakfast before we break camp. Because we fill up containers over a longer period of time, we dont have to stand around and wait to fill bottles immediately before we hit the trail.

  14. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-28-2008
    Location
    Spokane, WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    4,907

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by madfarmer View Post
    Bleach is the way to go! I'm still not sure why it hasn't caught on other than a common but misguided fear of it. NOLS and Redcross both recommend as safe. It is cheap. I bring two bottles in case one spills and several eye droppers from the drug store. Just drop 2-4 drops in each persons bottle, shake, wait 15-30 minutes depending on temp, bottle size, and water quality. Bleed the threads and go. Basically, it is Aquamira but cheaper and without the pain of mixing A and B solutions. For large groups, I just use it to purify two hanging dromedaries at camp. I've used bleach exclusively for 5 years with groups up to 20 people! Also used it on my thru-hike. Join the bleachers!
    Aquamira is a different chemical, chlorine dioxide. It is more effective on many organisms. While better than nothing, bleach does not reliably kill protists like giardia. Also bleach degrades over time, making dosages iffy. What is right for a natural disaster is not necessarily right for hiking.
    "It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how." ---Dr. Seuss

  15. #15
    Registered User Maineiac64's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-09-2016
    Location
    Woodstock, GA
    Age
    60
    Posts
    688

    Default

    Katadyn befree, its really fast.

  16. #16

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by chknfngrs View Post
    Hard to beat sawyer squeezes for ease of use. Cheap too. How much clean water do you really need at once?
    This was going to be my suggestion. $18 bucks a person hassle free. Each person carry 2 smart water bottles and go nuts lol
    Trail Miles: 4,927.6
    AT Map 1: Complete 2013-2021
    Sheltowee Trace: Complete 2020-2023
    Pinhoti Trail: Complete 2023-2024
    Foothills Trail: 0.0
    AT Map 2: 279.4
    BMT: 52.7
    CDT: 85.4

  17. #17
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-02-2013
    Location
    Pensacola, Florida
    Posts
    618

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by orthofingers View Post
    This summer I am going on a camping trip with a group totaling five people including myself. We're not going backpacking per se but, more like setting up a base camp by a remote lake and probably doing short day hikes from there. Three of the campers are new to camping.

    Obviously, water availability will not be a problem but filtering enough for 5 people's cooking, drinking, and washing needs might be. On my own solo backpacking trips, I use the full sized Sawyer Sqeeze with an Evernew bag in a gravity feed setup which, provides plenty of water for me or me and a partner.

    I've looked at the 2019 CNOC Vecto 3L bags and just might get two of those, one as a clean bag and one as a "dirty" bag configured in a gravity setup. At least that would give me 3L at a time.

    Is there a better system out there (that won't cost a fortune) that would filter large amounts of water at a time? Thanks
    Only suggestion is that you have backup. I'm a former Boy Scout Assistant Scout master. We would do backpacking trips with 10-15 combined adults/scouts. We had two filters a gravity Sawyer 3 in 1 (predecessor to the Squeeze, but fairly similar), and some kind of ceramic filter with a pump. We didn't have a clean water bag, but would filter into different containers. Would take about 45 minutes to an hour for the 30 or so liters we would usually filter.
    Time is but the stream I go afishin' in.
    Thoreau

  18. #18
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-02-2013
    Location
    Pensacola, Florida
    Posts
    618

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Feral Bill View Post
    Forest Service trail crews use gravity filters at their base camps, last time I encountered one. Why, however, would your filter cooking water?
    Caution. My brother teaches microbiology at a university. He always filters and boils. That, and in my case, I really don't want to have unfiltered water in any of my bottles.
    Time is but the stream I go afishin' in.
    Thoreau

  19. #19
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-02-2013
    Location
    Pensacola, Florida
    Posts
    618

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by madfarmer View Post
    Bleach is the way to go! I'm still not sure why it hasn't caught on other than a common but misguided fear of it. NOLS and Redcross both recommend as safe. It is cheap. I bring two bottles in case one spills and several eye droppers from the drug store. Just drop 2-4 drops in each persons bottle, shake, wait 15-30 minutes depending on temp, bottle size, and water quality. Bleed the threads and go. Basically, it is Aquamira but cheaper and without the pain of mixing A and B solutions. For large groups, I just use it to purify two hanging dromedaries at camp. I've used bleach exclusively for 5 years with groups up to 20 people! Also used it on my thru-hike. Join the bleachers!
    My problem with bleach is taste and waiting time. It's worth it to filter because filtered water simply tastes better than chlorinated water and is quicker to be usable. If you don't mind the taste or time, it's a cheap solution. I keep some Aquapur tablets for backup to my filter.
    Time is but the stream I go afishin' in.
    Thoreau

  20. #20
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-12-2009
    Location
    Spring Lake, MI
    Age
    58
    Posts
    1,470

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by morgan View Post
    My scout troop uses the 4 liter Platypus gravity filters and we carry chemicals as back up. We remind the scouts to fill up at night, and again in the morning during breakfast before we break camp. Because we fill up containers over a longer period of time, we dont have to stand around and wait to fill bottles immediately before we hit the trail.
    Yes, the 4 liter Platypus gravity filter is great for a group! (I do use the Sawyer Squeeze when alone or with just one other person). As others mentioned, definitely carry a chemical backup. Aquamira is my backup...

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •