Purifying water on a camping/hiking trip?

Question

We are somewhat inexperienced hikers that are in charge of a scout trip for older kids. When we have talked about filtering water from a reservior for an overnight canoe trip and hiking trip everyone keeps saying "well I suggest you take as much water as you can" or "I don't know about those tablets, I wouldn't trust them" or "I wouldn't trust those filters". We have potable aqua tablets and new but older models of sweetwater walkabout microfilters. Am I being naive or are these people just being critical? None of them hike or camp without a full kitchen in tow. I would like the kids to learn how to do these things and take a step closer to truly "roughing it", but I do not want to put them unnecassarily at risk for illness.

Answer 1

These are all good methods, mentioned above. However, you don't necessarily need to get water from a reservoir, or running water source. There are other methods.

 

If you tell everyone to bring a spare T-Shirt, you can use the shirts cloth to absorb dew from plants and leaves and grass in the morning. Then, you merely have to suck the clean water out of it.

Another method (If you're stationary for any period of time.) Would be to dig a trench a foot deep or so, and place a black bag, or dust sheet over it. Weigh the edges down, and place a small pebble in the middle, and a bowl underneath where the pebble is. The moisture in the soil will collect on the black bag / dust sheet, and then will trickle to the lowest point (Where the pebble is.) Before dripping off, straight into your bowl. Just be weary when lifting back the sheets. You might have caught a snake!

I hope this information was helpful to you!