Is boiling enough

[Shaysdad99]

Watching a video last night and it was cleanliness of stream water and how boiling for 1 minute at low ground level and for 3 minutes if higher elevation was suitable to rid it of 99.9 disease etc . Would further purification tablets be needed after as these didn't use any

[harrypalmer]

IIRC at altitudes below 4000 feet the majority of nasties are killed when the water gets to about 70c.

http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/34...nsion.html

Just bring water up to the boil will be enough, if your OK for fuel then letting it simmer for a minute won't hurt. Its worth packing something like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUsdx0UC2uU

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Millbank-Bag-f...3641.l6368 The Millbank bag only removes particles from muddy water but it means you have more particle free water to run through your filter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBHOQV7Brq0

[Ali]

From my research all the bugs and bacteria are actually killed off around the 79 to 84 degrees. They only tell you to reach boiling point as a visable check, plus water actually boils slightly before/after 100 degrees depending on your height to sea level. So boiling for longer than say 20 seconds is pointless, just to make sure it is a boil and not just bubbles.
Further purification is not needed, but its is worth pointing out that boiling does not remove chemicals.

[Lightspeed]

As Harry pointed out, filtering and then boiling is best practice.

...and you're right boiling nor filtering will not remove dissolved chemicals, you'd need to distil to get rid of these.

[CharlesHarris]

I also carry a field test kit to identify heavy metals, petroleum or toxic chemicals in water sources. While bacteria and viruses are the greatest threat, there is other stuff out there which can make you sick or kill you. While not as comprehensive as industrial kits, this one is affordable and gives instant results.

http://www.firstalertstore.com/store/pro...st-kit.htm

[Mortblanc]

Also means that even if you do not have a proper container for boiling you can use whatever containment device you can muster (plastic bucket, tarp lined hole in the ground) and drop rocks heated in the fire into the water to get a boil.

And if you are boiling anyway the filter can concentrate on getting the big junk out of the water and does not need to be sophisticated.

Since most of our real purification filters have a specific use life measured in liters there is no need to use up their purification abilities when you are going to boil anyway.

[Mortblanc]

WOW!

A general consensus of opinion.

[CharlesHarris]

Another link with good information:

https://phc.amedd.army.mil/topics/foodwa...urces.aspx