How to Disinfect Water in the Wilderness

Learning how to disinfect water in the wilderness is a great idea for anyone who spends time hiking or camping. This survivor skill can mean the difference between life and death for someone lost in the wilderness. Water in the wilderness can carry disease, germs, and other unhealthy microscopic things. Disinfecting water can be done is several different ways.

• Collecting Water: The best water for drinking in the wild is rain water caught in clean containers. Water collected from streams and rivers is best when collected from areas that are not stagnant. Stagnant water is water that is not moving, and has created a small pool. However, even water from stagnant pools can be purified.


• Tablets: There are different water purification tablets that can be used. Directions provided should be followed when using these tablets.


• Iodine: Either iodine tablets or a 2-percent tincture can be used to disinfect water. Tablets should be used as directed. Five drops of the tincture will purify a bottle of clear water. If the water is cloudy then ten drops should be used. Allow the water to sit for half an hour before drinking.


• Boiling: The most tried and true method for disinfecting water is to boil it. At sea level water must be boiled for at least one minute. For every 300 meters above sea level add one more minute to the boiling time. If the local is unknown the water can be boiled for ten minutes to purify.