Rob S
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2003
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I’m no expert on Giardiasis, but I always thought that if you treat water taken from a backcountry stream, you were safe. By “treat” I am referring to filtering, boiling, use of iodine tablets or Aqua-Mira drops, etc.
The most recent publication of "The Catskill Canister" ran a short story about a hiker who had allegedly gotten the parasite Giardia from drinking water filtered from a Catskill stream. I use the word “allegedly” mainly because I am skeptical that this man was infected by the filtered water. Since there are many ways a person can ingest the parasite, including unsanitary “bathroom” habits, it seems highly unlikely to me that his water filter failed. In the story, however, the man states that he “can only surmise that perhaps the filter in the pump was dirty or needed replacement”. My experience with water filters is that they eventually become increasingly difficult to pump water. And that’s always been my cue to replace the filter.
So, can a dirty water filter truly cause a person to get Giardiasis? If so, should the filter be disinfected after every hike? The directions to my Katadyn filter recommends disinfecting only prior to long-term storage. Has anyone ever gotten sick after treating water in the backcountry?
The most recent publication of "The Catskill Canister" ran a short story about a hiker who had allegedly gotten the parasite Giardia from drinking water filtered from a Catskill stream. I use the word “allegedly” mainly because I am skeptical that this man was infected by the filtered water. Since there are many ways a person can ingest the parasite, including unsanitary “bathroom” habits, it seems highly unlikely to me that his water filter failed. In the story, however, the man states that he “can only surmise that perhaps the filter in the pump was dirty or needed replacement”. My experience with water filters is that they eventually become increasingly difficult to pump water. And that’s always been my cue to replace the filter.
So, can a dirty water filter truly cause a person to get Giardiasis? If so, should the filter be disinfected after every hike? The directions to my Katadyn filter recommends disinfecting only prior to long-term storage. Has anyone ever gotten sick after treating water in the backcountry?