Water

alicat

What method(s) would you recommend for obtaining drinking water? Boiling, water purifier, iodine, potassium permanganate etc? What are the pros and cons of the different options?

Annie_T

The easiest method is to buy it! It's not remotely ecologically sound (plastic bottle mountains all over India) and some of the wather isn't even that safe.

Iodine is the best of the chemical options as it kills everything - and can be useful if you cut yourself! The wather will taste dreadful tho' and iodine is really not that safe if used long term - you don't want to get a thyroid problem while avoiding giardia.

Boiling is an option if you have access to heat - remember to boil for longer at altitude.

A really good filter won't cause pollution, make the water taste any worse than it already does or poison you but will be an expensive outlay - tho' worth it if you are on the road for a long time or planning multiple trips. You can use it anywhere and it isn't too heavy to lug about.

Hope this is of help!

Midnite Toker

My little electrical element (pictured here, amongst other stuff), was the best thing I bought in India on my last trip. I think it was about fifty rupees from an electrical shop. All you need is a big glass to boil the water in (most hotel rooms have a couple already in place; they don't crack if you are careful), and an old Bisleri bottle to decant the cooled, boiled water into.

Every hotel room will have one power outlet somewhere. Just plan a bit ahead and keep your stock of water topped up. I even boil and cool water in advance for long train trips.

Annie_T's suggestion of iodine tincture (1%) is a good one. I used to use that as my exclusive method, but I think that boiling is better for your health if you stay for a long time. Just one leak of the bottle of iodine in your pack will convince you which is the most robust method!

Filters are expensive and and many are rather heavy. Some tax your squeezing muscles so much you'll want to have another litre of water after working so hard! Their internal ceramic elements can develop micro-cracks with rough handling - oh dear, you won't find out until you get the squitters... Also, try getting a cup of hot cocoa (lovely after a long day walking in the hills) from a filter