I think I have said enough. You get the point so far.
As our world population gets larger and larger and development expands into areas that were once forest or farmland, rivers, creeks and streams that once carried clean drinkable water can no longer be trusted for cleanliness. While most water sources are clear of chemicals, bacteria and parasites like Giardia that come from human or animal waste make their way down contaminating water sources animals and humans drink from.
Giardia is one of the most common microscopic culprits in gastrointestinal illness and disease. Giardia is found on surfaces or in soil, food and water that has been contaminated by feces, also known as poop, from infected humans or animals.
Picture a beautiful stream flowing down out of the mountains. As you look at it, it would seem clear and clean enough to drink out of, as long as it's flowing and it's hasn't rained recently. Unfortunately, if an animal or human upstream from where you are happens to leave behind some fecal excrement tainted with Giardia or any other harmful bacteria and it gets washed into the river, there is a good chance you will encounter stomach problems from drinking from that stream.
One of the best ways to steer clear of stomach illness while outdoors is by boiling the water you drink, cook and wash with. Yes, even wash! If Giardia can live on surfaces, they can also live on your dishes you've washed in the nearby stream. Most people, however, don't want to spend the time boiling all the water they need to do all these things, so they skip them and take the chance of getting sick.
With technology expanding so quickly these days, there are lots of ways to clean water other than just boiling it. Some people like using water treatment tablets, which fall into the chemical treatment category of cleaning water. Another way is via UV light purifiers. However, this can be limited by the amount of battery you have to run the process.
I personally gravitate toward water filters because they last longer, don't depend on chemicals or batteries and are lighter. In my opinion, thee #1 Best Way to get clean drinkable water is by filtering it with a Lifestraw product.
LifeStraw has created several tools for filtering water to make it very drinkable. The Lifestraw is one good, easy to carry way to filter water. The latest LifeStraw Go, which has two separate filtering systems, is the best method for filtering and carrying water with you. LifeStraw also makes other apparatus that help filter water, but these two are the best options for hiking or lightweight backpacking. If you want a larger volume system, LifeStraw has the LifeStraw Family and the LifeStraw Mission. I have both the Lifestraw and the LifeStraw Go.
If you are planning to do anything outdoors where water is scarce or may not be the cleanest, or you are traveling to a country where the water is questionable, I highly recommend getting a Lifestraw or LifeStraw Go to carry with you and filter your drinking water. They are very cheap and will last you a very long time. Each filters hundreds of liters before the filters need replacing.
