Aquamira

[Toolumpy]

Just wanted to get some feed back on this item. Drops-not the filter bottle. Whats your opinion on this product from those who have used it? Do 1 oz. bottles really do 30 gallons?
Thanx for the info.

[Hikerhead]

Do a forum search for Aquamira and you're most likely to find the answer to your question and then some.

Happy Hiking :)

[garlic08]

I carry Aquamira and have used it to treat some really nasty cattle water and have never gotten sick. I try not to use it very much, prefering to look for good spring water, because I don't like chemicals in general. But I do carry it as a backup. I never taste it, but my wife can. One set of 1 oz bottles lasted me for the entire AT last summer, I probably didn't treat more than 4 or 5 gallons. I've never used up a set so I don't know if it'll do 30 gallons, but I wouldn't doubt it. I think it's easy to use and have never heard of anyone having problems with it. Oh yeah, except if you spill it or damage a bottle, the chemical can bleach or ruin what it spills on. I keep it in a ziplock in an outside pocket and am pretty careful with it. It seems pretty popular on the long trails.

[Kanati]

There are two types of aqua-mira drops and are both packaged in 1 oz. bottles. One is 'water purifying' drops and only treats about 1/2 (or less), much water as the other which are the 'water treatment' drops. I was confused so I called the company in Colorado. What I found out was that they are actually the same and for some reason they have to label them differently.

I used the water treatment drops when I could not be sure of where the water was coming from. If I had any question, I treated it.

This year, I am going to use Clorax bleech but I haven't found out how much to use as yet. I think someone said 2 drops per litre.

Happy hiking. :sun

[vtdrifter]

one set of aquamire lasted me about a month on the trail, and i was treating all my water. i switched to bleach about two months in. way cheaper and much simpler - just two drops per liter, none of that mixing and waiting nonsense.

[Blissful]

I used it fine - lasted quite a while, at least a month, maybe more. Depends on how much you drink.

[Lyle]

I use AquaMira. Great improvement over the nasty tasting Iodine treatment I used to use. Never used a set up, have been on trail for 15 days, treating most of my water, still had plenty left. I believe using the AquaMira is a more complete treatment and more precise than relying on chlorine bleach - the Chlorine dioxide is more effective, and less affected by pH. The following is from the Lenntech website:



What are the advantages of the use of chlorine dioxide?


Advantages
The interest in the use of chlorine dioxide as an alternative for or addition to chlorine for the disinfection of water has increased in the last few years. Chlorine dioxide is a very effective bacterial disinfectant and it is even more effective than chlorine for the disinfection of water that contains viruses. Chlorine dioxide has regained attention because it effectively deactivates the chlorine-resistant pathogens Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Chlorine dioxide removes and prevents bio film.
Disinfection with chlorine dioxide does not cause odor nuisance. It destroys phenols, which can cause odor and taste problems. Chlorine dioxide is more effective for the removal of iron and manganese than chlorine, especially when these are found in complex substances.


Does chlorine dioxide form chlorinated disinfection byproducts?
The use of chlorine dioxide instead of chlorine prevents the formation of harmful halogenated disinfection byproducts, for example trihalomethanes and halogenated acidic acids. Chlorine dioxide does not react with ammonia nitrogen, amines or other oxidizable organic matter. Chlorine dioxide removes substances that can form trihalomethanes and improves coagulation. It does not oxidize bromide into bromine. When bromide containing water is treated with chlorine or ozone, bromide is oxidized into bromine and hypobromous acid. After that these react with organic material to form brominated disinfection byproducts, for example bromoform.


Is the chlorine dioxide concentration needed for sufficient disinfection high?
The use of chlorine dioxide reduces the health risk of microbial pollutions in water and at the same time decreases the risk of chemical pollutions and byproducts. Chlorine dioxide is a more effective disinfectant than chlorine, causing the required concentration to kill microorganisms to be much lower. The required contact time is also very low.


Does the pH value influence chlorine dioxide efficiency?
Contrary to chlorine, chlorine dioxide is effective at a pH of between 5 and 10. The efficiency increases at high pH values, while the active forms of chlorine are greatly influenced by pH. Under normal circumstances chlorine dioxide does not hydrolyze. This is why the oxidation potential is high and the disinfection capacity is not influenced by pH. Both temperature and alkalinity of the water do not influence the efficiency. At the concentrations required for disinfection, chlorine dioxide is not corrosive. Chlorine dioxide is more water-soluble than chlorine. In the last few years better and safer methods for chlorine dioxide production have been developed.

[Retro]

This year, I am going to use Clorax bleech but I haven't found out how much to use as yet. I think someone said 2 drops per litre.


Both the EPA and Clorox have this to say regarding bleach:

2 drops of Regular Clorox Bleach per quart of water
8 drops of Regular Clorox Bleach per gallon of water

Double the amount of chlorine for cloudy, murky or colored water or water that is extremely cold.


...none of that mixing and waiting nonsense. THIS IS UNTRUE according to the EPA

Let it stand for 30 minutes before you use it...

Only use Regular Clorox Bleach (not Fresh Scent or Lemon Fresh). To ensure that Clorox Bleach is at its full strength, replace your storage bottle every three months.

Chlorine is somewhat effective in protecting against exposure to Giardia, but may not be effective in controlling more resistant organisms like Cryptosporidium.

From personal experience, bleach does indeed have a strong taste, but anything up to four drops per quart does not taste too much worse than city water. Anything more than four drops is a bit too potent for enjoyable consumption.

I prefer Aquamira which has a slightly sweet taste-- most likely from the phosphoric acid, which is the same ingredient that adds a sweet flavor to colas. Phosphoric acid is, incidentally, considered quite bad for your teeth.

An empty Aquamira bottle makes the perfect storage dispenser for bleach.

[Serial 07]

leave it at home...

[hoz]

I think the dual name thing has to do with Aqua Mira not being tested by what ever US government agency for effectiveness as a water purifier, so they call it a water "treatment" instead. In Canada, the same product (called"Pristine") is a purifier.

I've used it on all my wilderness trips the past 7 years. Simple, fast and effective. A kit weighs mere ounces. What's not to like?

[Kanati]

I got a lot of mileage from my aquamira. I still have more that half of the second set of bottles. I caught giardia in PA and had to leave the trail at Swatara Gap. I thought it was because I didn't treat all water. I found out larter thru research that I most likely caught the "bug" from the unsanitary conditions around the privies, shelter log, pencil, etc. The data says that you cannot catch it from beavers as a lot of people think.

When I returned to the trail after being off 2 weeks and taking 2 rounds of antibiotics, I brought with me anti-bacterial hand cleanser and used it religiously. I recommend everyone do the same.

Happy hiking. :sun

[garlic08]

I got a lot of mileage from my aquamira. I still have more that half of the second set of bottles. I caught giardia in PA and had to leave the trail at Swatara Gap. I thought it was because I didn't treat all water. I found out larter thru research that I most likely caught the "bug" from the unsanitary conditions around the privies, shelter log, pencil, etc. The data says that you cannot catch it from beavers as a lot of people think.

When I returned to the trail after being off 2 weeks and taking 2 rounds of antibiotics, I brought with me anti-bacterial hand cleanser and used it religiously. I recommend everyone do the same.

Excellent point, especially on the AT. I stopped for lunch at a shelter in CT, and a filthy hiker comes up, bragging about how he hasn't bathed since PA, how he's hiking even though he has giardia ('ass pissing', he says), then proceeds to shake hands with a couple of friends. Seriously, the guy's a walking cesspool. I got out of there before I saw if he handled the register, but I'm sure he did.

I made my living rodding sewers for a while, so I'm not sensitive to germs or anything, but there are health risks you really don't need to take.

[SteveJ]

<clip>This year, I am going to use Clorax bleech but I haven't found out how much to use as yet. I think someone said 2 drops per litre.

I've seen references to 2 drops / quart. I believe the amount needed is determined by the temperature and clarity of the water (the more bugs in the water, the more chlorine needed to purify). A friend called clorox 5 or 6 years ago. They told him to use 4 drops / quart, wait xx minutes (20?), open container and smell. If there is a slight smell of chlorine, drink. If not, add a couple more drops and repeat......

I've used Aqua Mira drops for 5 or 6 years almost exclusively. If I'm hiking with the family (wife says she tastes it), I'll bring a filter.....

[Feral Bill]

There are two types of aqua-mira drops and are both packaged in 1 oz. bottles. One is 'water purifying' drops and only treats about 1/2 (or less), much water as the other which are the 'water treatment' drops. I was confused so I called the company in Colorado. What I found out was that they are actually the same and for some reason they have to label them differently.

I used the water treatment drops when I could not be sure of where the water was coming from. If I had any question, I treated it.

This year, I am going to use Clorax bleech but I haven't found out how much to use as yet. I think someone said 2 drops per litre.

Happy hiking. :sun
Chlorine does not treat water safely. Protists, such as giardia are not killed by it. Aquamira releases chlorine dioxide, which supposedly does work, with enough contact time.

[bulldog49]

Chlorine does not treat water safely. Protists, such as giardia are not killed by it. Aquamira releases chlorine dioxide, which supposedly does work, with enough contact time.

So, how long is "enough contact time"? :confused:

[Kanati]

Good point by Feral Bill. I may just stay with my aqua-mira. I do trust it.

A better way of shaking hands is to bumb knuckles. Perhaps this should become the AT hand shake, thus prevent the spreading of germs.

The AT hand shake could be identified by holding the hand in the position of normal a hand shake, palm facing left, fist closed, approximately the height of your naval (same as normal). Lightly bumping knuckles accomplishes the greeting and few germs are transferred.

Anyone who sees you approach them in this fashion will automatically assume the same closed hand position.

[Hikerhead]

[SIZE=2]
An empty Aquamira bottle makes the perfect storage dispenser for bleach.

Good idea. I guess the top pulls out, I never tried. Otherwise it would be hard as heck to pour it through that pin sized hole.

Another thought to prevent the spread of germs is to never let anyone stick their hands into your gorp bag, and you do the same in case you want to share. Pour it into their hand, or your own.

[garlic08]

A better way of shaking hands is to bumb knuckles. Perhaps this should become the AT hand shake, thus prevent the spreading of germs.


Another thought to prevent the spread of germs is to never let anyone stick their hands into your gorp bag, and you do the same in case you want to share. Pour it into their hand, or your own.

I used both these good ideas on the AT last year. No one was offended and I stayed healthy.

[A-Train]

Good point by Feral Bill. I may just stay with my aqua-mira. I do trust it.

A better way of shaking hands is to bumb knuckles. Perhaps this should become the AT hand shake, thus prevent the spreading of germs.

The AT hand shake could be identified by holding the hand in the position of normal a hand shake, palm facing left, fist closed, approximately the height of your naval (same as normal). Lightly bumping knuckles accomplishes the greeting and few germs are transferred.

Anyone who sees you approach them in this fashion will automatically assume the same closed hand position.

I use the bump knuckle method, works well. My trail friend refuses to touch or shake hands with any hikers. He very politely says 'sorry, I don't shake' .