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8.7: Sanitizing Water While Traveling

  • Page ID
    87257
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    Learning Objectives

    • Know how to sanitize water when traveling or camping.
    • Know the capacities and limitations of the LifeStraw and Steripen.
    • Understand how iodination and bromination processes can be used to sanitize water.

    LifeStraw

    When traveling or enjoying the outdoors, you might want to invest in a portable water purification system. Two of the most common of these are the LifeStraw and Steripen. LifeStraws uses physical filtration with no chemical treatment. This device is effective in removing bacteria and parasites. A personal device can filter around 1000 liters of water. A LifeStraw family unit can filter up to 18,000 liters of water. Unfortunately, most LifeStraws cannot remove metals, dissolved inorganic species (e.g., nitrates), viruses, and some organic chemicals. The average price for a personal unit is $25-$40.

    Video \(\PageIndex{1}\): LifeStraw Go - Water Bottle with Filter

    SteriPen

    SteriPens utilize UVC radiation to kill parasites, viruses, and bacteria. Cost of a personal SteriPen device range from $80 to $100. SteriPens can treat up to 8000 liters of water. Like the LifeStraw, these apparatus cannot remove organic, inorganic, or metallic contaminants.

    Video \(\PageIndex{2}\): The SteriPEN® is the first and fastest portable UV water purifier. It makes water safe to drink by changing the DNA of viruses, bacteria and protozoa—including Giardia and Cryptosporidium—in seconds. Its speed, effectiveness and portability have impressed end users and media alike. Backpacker Magazine, Newsweek, and the Today Show have featured SteriPEN® as a powerful, user-friendly alternative to pumps, chemicals and filters. Learn more at www.steripen.com.

    Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    1. What is the specific type of ultraviolet radiation that Steripens used to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites? Where else does this type of radiation occur?
    2. The residents of Flint, Michigan experienced heavy metal and pathogenic contamination in their tap water. If the state of Michigan provided individuals with Lifestraws, then would they have clean water for drinking and cooking purposes?
    3. Can Steripens use ultraviolet light to remove metals from drinking water?
    Solution
    1. Steripens use UVC radiation to kill water pathogens. The sun generated UVC radiation. Unlike UVA and UVB radiation, UVC does not reach the troposphere (where you live) on the earth.
    2. The lifestraws mentioned on this page do not remove toxic metals from drinking water. These types of devices only sanitize or remove pathogens (disease causing) substances from water.
    3. Metals cannot be removed by irradiating water.

    Iodination or Bromination


    This page titled 8.7: Sanitizing Water While Traveling is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Elizabeth Gordon.

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