OAUSA Net - April 28, 2016 Water

[toms]

Safe drinking water is essential to human life. We use it for all kinds of things. Tonight we plan to discuss use, transport, purifications, and finding water in the outdoors.

some facts
Water covers 71% of the Earth's surface.
96.5% of the planet's crust water is found in seas and oceans,
1.7% in groundwater,
1.7% in glaciers and the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland,
a small fraction in other large water bodies,
and 0.001% in the air as vapor, clouds (formed of ice and liquid water suspended in air), and precipitation.
Only 2.5% of this water is freshwater, and 98.8% of that water is in ice (excepting ice in clouds) and groundwater.
Less than 0.3% of all freshwater is in rivers, lakes, and the atmosphere,
and an even smaller amount of the Earth's freshwater (0.003%) is contained within biological bodies and manufactured products.[2 - Source Wikipedia

Water on Earth moves continually through the water cycle of evaporation and transpiration (evapotranspiration), condensation, precipitation, and runoff, usually reaching the sea. Evaporation and transpiration contribute to the precipitation over land.

The boiling point of water (and all other liquids) is dependent on the ambient pressure. For example, on the top of Mount Everest water boils at 68 °C (154 °F), compared to 100 °C (212 °F) at sea level at a similar latitude (since latitude modifies atmospheric pressure slightly).

Most known pure substances become more dense as they cool, however water becomes less dense when it is cooled to its solid form, ice.
Water is the only substance occurring naturally in all three phases as solid, liquid, and gas on Earth's surface as a result Transfers of heat between ocean and atmosphere by phase change

How much water does a Hurricane Pick up?
The process by which a hurricane "picks up" water over the ocean is called evaporation. That is, heating by the sun makes saltwater warm enough that molecules of water leave the liquid state and become water vapor in the atmosphere. So the water in a hurricane is "fresh" water.
Evaporation of water at the sea surface is enhanced by a hurricane’s surface winds, which transport water vapor into the troposphere.
Even a relatively benign category 1 hurricane, like Isaac (2012), can cover a huge area; I've seen estimates of 108 billion pounds of fresh water which would come to roughly 13 billion gallons. that could be a bit on the low side. A solid hurricane can have tropical storm force winds (and presumably rainfall) extend well over a hundred miles from the eye; 4" of rain from a hurricane would be a reasonable minimum for the area being covered. Simple math, then, gives us 4" x 100 mi. radius (squared) x 3.14 (pi)... (okay, converting to metric for ease): .1m * 160,000m * 160,000m * 3.14 = 8,038,400,000 -- and that's in cubic meters, which, since we're roughing this, comes to about 8 billion tons in both metric and English. Or two trillion gallons. -source wiki

[toms]

Desert requirement
• A gallon a day min
• The best place for water is in your body - don’t save for when you really need it.
• In general terms your body can only absorb 1 litter per hour. You can lose much more per hour under difficult conditions (physical activity, high heat)
• Thirst is not a reliable guide for your need for water. A person who uses thirst as a guide will drink only two-thirds of his daily water requirement. To
prevent this "voluntary" dehydration, use the following guide:
• At temperatures below 100 degrees F, drink 0.5 liter of water every hour.
• At temperatures above 100 degrees F, drink 1 liter of water every hour.
• Drinking water at regular intervals helps your body remain cool and decreases sweating.
• Even when your water supply is low, sipping water constantly will keep your body cooler and reduce water loss through sweating.
• Conserve your fluids by reducing activity during the heat of day.
• Do not ration your water! If you try to ration water, you stand a good chance of becoming a heat casualty
• Conserve your sweat. Wear your clothes. Roll the sleeves down, cover your head, and protect your neck with a scarf or similar item.
o protect your body from hot-blowing winds and the direct rays of the sun.
o Your clothing will absorb your sweat, keeping it against your skin so that you gain its full cooling effect.
o By staying in the shade quietly, fully clothed, not talking, keeping your mouth closed, and breathing through your nose, your water requirement for survival drops dramatically.
• If water is scarce, do not eat. Food requires water for digestion; therefore, eating food will use water that you need for cooling.

Use a cord - and knot each time you finish a liter.

Desert Water Requirement.jpg (122.92 KiB) Viewed 968 times

[KAP]

Dave,
Please check me in this week.

KK6DGL
Kevin

[DaveK]

WATER FILTERING SYSTEMS

While the main focus of the net will be geared toward outdoor wilderness travel, everything that we discuss will also be fully applicable to regular camping, home use, emergency use and general preparedness uses. Water is one of the basic survival needs and any trip into remote locations must take this need into account. There are many things to consider in deciding how to be prepared, including the length of the trip, the availability of alternate water sources to replenish your supply, the types of contaminants you expect to encounter, the purposes for which water will be needed, how much extra water to carry for emergencies, and back up plans if your supply runs short.

We usually carry enough water to cover the anticipated length of the trip, but being well prepared means more than just bringing enough. In remote and sometimes hot locations, running out of water can be more than just a mere inconvenience. One of the ways to prepare for these unforeseen shortages is finding an alternate source of water, near your location. Often, this will mean a spring, stream, or even a seep. While it won't be the subject of this net, the ability to locate these alternate sources is something that your trip prep should include. A good USGS Topo may is a great way to identify springs and streams, and so is a conversation with the rangers who know the area where you will be traveling.

The need to purify water arises for any wilderness source. Vehicle dependent travel means that the water purifier must be portable, light weight, reasonably small, and stout enough to withstand the rough trail. Below are some examples of water purifiers that meet these requirements.



1. SAYCHELLE PUMP TO PURE( http://www.seychelle.com/pump-2-pure.html )

The Pump to Pure unit comes with some impressive performance stats (from their website).

Supreme Filter
Reduces the following contaminants up to:
• 99.9999% of Bacteria, Virus, E-Coli, Cysts
• 99.99% of Chemicals
• 99.99% of Chlorine Taste, and Odor
• 99.99% of Heavy Metals
• 99.99% of Radiologicals
• Up to 90% of Fluoride

The Supreme unit filters 100 gallons, and for extended trips, emergency use, or preparedness, extra filters should be a part of your gear. At less than $60.00, (Amazon http://smile.amazon.com/Seychelle-Pump- ... XQL9RMHTNO ) it should be in everyone's gear bag.

Saychelle Pump To Pure.jpg (59.73 KiB) Viewed 937 times

2. KATADYN POCKET WATER FILTER ( http://shop.katadyn.com/product/153548/ ... dyn_Pocket )

The Pocket Filter has become a classic, and for many good reasons. It comes with a 20 year warranty, it's made with extremely durable and robust components, and can filter 13,000 gallons of water on a single filter. It contains a cleanable ceramic 0.2 micron filter and is advertised as effective against bacteria and protozoa. In terms of its ruggedness and capabilities, it is one of the best. As with most products, quality comes at a price - around $225, on Amazon, ( http://smile.amazon.com/Katadyn-8013618 ... ter+filter ).

From the Katadyn website:

Eliminates bacteria, protozoa, cysts, algae, spores,
sediments and viruses in combination with particles
greater than 0.2 microns.

Katadyn Pocket Water Filter.jpg (87.65 KiB) Viewed 935 times

3. AQUA SUN RESPONDER S ( http://www.aqua-sun-intl.com/responder-s-word.html )

For longer trips, extended emergency use, or significant preparedness considerations, there are some very impressive water purification units on the market. While at the upper limits of "reasonable size", the Aqua Sun unit can offer a larger group, on an extended trip, a reliable source of safe water. The unit comes in a "pelican" style case and is meant to be completely self contained. The solar powered unit comes with a UV light to kill viruses and bacteria and can produce up to a gallon per minute (100 gallons per day). The Responder S hits the scales at about 35 lbs, but given its capabilities, it can be the perfect choice for certain applications.

From the Aqua Sun Website

These Portable, Solar Battery / 12-volt Powered Water Purification Systems pull the water from the source and through a Sediment Pre-Filter. The water is then pushed through a Carbon Block Polishing Filter that has the capabilities of removing Giardia and Cryptosporidium Cysts, Entamoeba and Toxoplasma Cysts, Schistosomiasis, Herbicides, Pesticides, Trihalomethanes (THMs), certain Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs), Chlorine and Chlorine By-Products, Sediment, Bad Taste, Odors, Color, Smell, and many other Harmful Chemicals and Contaminants down to a 0.5 micron. The polished filtered water is then channeled past an Ultraviolet Light Disinfecting Process that has the ability to kill Bacteria, Viruses, Typhoid Fever, Coliform, Dysentery, Cholera, Infectious Jaundice, Hepatitis and Influenza Virus, E-coli, Enteric Fever and many other unwanted microorganisms to a 99.999% purity.

Responder S.jpg (218.95 KiB) Viewed 928 times

4. STERI-PEN (http://www.steripen.com/classic3/ )

The Steri-Pen is a very small water treatment tool and is perfect for back packers and those who have very little room in the vehicle. The Steri-Pen is a UV purifier and comes with a 40x40 micron pre-filter. While not as effective as some of the other filters, it can be an excellent water treatment unit for certain applications. They say lamp life will produce up to 8,000 liters. Not sure exactly what that is in quarts, but it's definitely more than you will need in a single trip!

From their website:

When camping, hiking, backpacking or traveling the Classic 3 with Pre-Filter is the perfect pack to keep you safely hydrated. Classic 3’s UV light destroys over 99.9% of waterborne microorganisms that cause illness.

With SteriPEN Classic 3, one set of four alkaline batteries will treat 100 half-liters or 50 full liters of water. Or supercharge your SteriPEN with a set of lithium batteries and you’ll treat up to 150 liters! Classic 3’s enhanced LED indicator panel lets you know treatment size and status of batteries and UV lamp. Classic 3 is sleek and ergonomic with an easy-to-remove twist-off lamp cover. Like all SteriPEN UV water purifiers, Classic 3 is simple to use: remove the lamp cover, press the activation button, submerge in water and stir. In 48 seconds you have ½ liter of safe drinking water or purify a full liter in 90 seconds. Compared to standard chemical treatments that can take up to four hours, that’s safe water fast without adding chemicals that can leave an unpleasant aftertaste.

The 40×40 micron screen Pre-Filter fits perfectly on wide-mouth one liter water bottles and removes particulates that can get in the way of UV light in water. The Pre-Filter is designed to be stored directly on a wide mouth bottle and the SteriPEN Classic 3 fits perfectly in the filter. Just insert Classic 3 in the filter opening, turn the bottle upside down, and gently rock to circulate light throughout bottle. The tapered end also fits snugly in plastic water bottles. Just insert the lamp into the water bottle, turn it upside down and gently rock the bottle.

Steri-Pen.jpg (50.61 KiB) Viewed 926 times

[DaveK]

WATER CONTAINERS

This post will deal mainly with the different types of water containers that you can use to transport water to your remote campsite. For our purposes, there are basically 2 types:

• 1. portable - either steel or plastic.
  
  2. built in water tanks, often times located in the void of the rear bumper.

Most of the "built-in" water storage tanks I have seen were custom made and fairly expensive. Additionally, not all vehicles have a sufficiently large void in or near the bumper for this technique, so we will deal mostly portable containers.

The most common water container is patterned after the famous German Jerry can. There are several companies that either sell or make these cans and your selection will be purely a matter of personal choice. We've settled on two that have served our needs well. The picture below shows Jerry can style containers, one made by Sceptor ( http://civ.sceptermilitary.com/water_containers/ )and a surplus one made for the German Military. Note the "wide mouth" on the green Jerry can. Note also that each container is marked as "water". Not a bad idea to help avoid mixing it up with a gas container.

Jerry Can - Large Mouth.JPG (115.98 KiB) Viewed 907 times

For a less expensive alternative, the Reliance company ( https://relianceproducts.com/products/hydration.html ) makes several water containers that come in many different sizes and shapes. In addition to the usual 7 and 5 gallon sizes, they make a space saving, rugged 2.5 gallon container which is perfect for use in the kitchen. At around $15 on Amazon ( http://smile.amazon.com/Reliance-Produc ... ak+2.5+gal ) it can be a terrific addition to your camping gear.

Aqua Pak 2.5 Gal..jpg (40.59 KiB) Viewed 902 times

Reliance also makes a "Jerry Can" style water container, called the Rhino Pak, that should meet the demands of rugged off-road travel. From their website:

This is HEAVY DUTY. The Rhino-Pak water container designed with extreme in mind. The super thick plastic walls make it the most puncture resistent 5.5 gallon (20L) water container out there. The premium spigot and vent cap make it leak-proof.

The side panels are designed so that the Rhino-Pak can nest into another Rhino-Pak, creating additional sturdiness when stores upright, or on its side.

At about $20.00 on Amazon, ( http://smile.amazon.com/Reliance-Rhino- ... =rhino+pak ) it is a great alternative to some of the more expensive brands!

Rhino Pak.jpg (178.91 KiB) Viewed 902 times

[DaveK]

Here are some convenient water related gadgets that make for a great camp:

1. Scepter water can nozzle http://lexingtoncontainercompanysonline ... ng-nozzle/

Scepter Dispensing Nozzle.jpg (36.79 KiB) Viewed 900 times

2. Partner Steel Wishy Washy http://partnersteel.com/prod03.htm

Wishy Washy DTK.JPG (229.99 KiB) Viewed 900 times

3. Zodi hot water shower http://zodi.com/hot-showers/hot-tap-hp-shower

Zodi Hot Water Shower and Enclosure.JPG (237.86 KiB) Viewed 898 times

4. Water can with low mounted spigot http://www.columbiaoverland.com/front-r ... n-with-tap

Front Runner Water Can.jpg (14.89 KiB) Viewed 874 times

5. Living Overland electric pump http://www.livingoverland.com/2013/08/1 ... epter.html

Electric Faucet.jpg (133.46 KiB) Viewed 874 times

[KK6DYO]

Please check me in for tonight's net. Thank you.

[lrsrngr]

KK6CTT for on-line check-in with this to add:

The Evan Tanner Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ_ZuGjzZLY

A MMA fighter who lost his way while camping by himself on a short hike from his camp. Not the ending any of us want to have written in our travel log.

Most hydration packs are 70 oz and 100 oz which is .54688 and .78125 gallons respectively.

Some are 2 and 3 liter which is .528 and .793 liters respectively.

One gallon is made up of 4 quarts. One quart is 32 ounces. One cup is 8 ounces. OR 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 16 cups = 128 ounces

Your one gallon could come from two one-quart Nalgene bottles and either the 2 liter/70oz bladder or the more is better philosophy 3 liter/100oz bladder.

Signs of heat injury from webMD (below) at: http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/understa ... symptoms#0
CDC (another example): http://www.cdc.gov/extremeheat/warning.html

What Are the Symptoms of Heat-Related Illnesses?
Heat cramp symptoms can include:

Severe, sometimes disabling, cramps that typically begin suddenly in the hands, calves, or feet
Hard, tense muscles

Heat exhaustion symptoms can include:

Fatigue
Nausea
Headache
Excessive thirst
Muscle aches and cramps
Weakness
Confusion or anxiety
Drenching sweats, often accompanied by cold, clammy skin
Slowed or weakened heartbeat
Dizziness
Fainting
Agitation

Heat exhaustion requires immediate attention.

Heat stroke symptoms can include:

Nausea and vomiting
Headache
Dizziness or vertigo
Fatigue
Hot, flushed, dry skin
Rapid heart rate
Decreased sweating
Shortness of breath
Decreased urination
Blood in urine or stool
Increased body temperature (104 degrees to 106 degrees F)
Confusion, delirium, or loss of consciousness
Convulsions

Heat stroke can occur suddenly, without any symptoms of heat exhaustion. If a person is experiencing any symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, GET MEDICAL CARE IMMEDIATELY. Any delay could be fatal. Seek emergency medical care for anyone who has been in the heat and who has the following symptoms:

Confusion, anxiety, or loss of consciousness
Very rapid or dramatically slowed heartbeat
Rapid rise in body temperature that reaches 104 degrees to 106 degrees F
Either drenching sweats accompanied by cold, clammy skin (which may indicate heat exhaustion) or a marked decrease in sweating accompanied by hot, flushed, dry skin (which may indicate heat stroke) convulsions and any other heat-related symptom that is not alleviated by moving to a shady or air-conditioned area and administering fluids and salts

[lrsrngr]

Example of desalinization from Katadyn: https://www.katadyn.com/us/us/products# ... nates=salt

Both manual and mechanical units. Can you say expensive? $1200.00 to $4000.00

Nice to have stuff!

[KK6GFF]

Missed the net.

Platypus Gravity Works is becoming very popular amongst backpackers. As its name implies it works with gravity, no pumping or batteries. It cleans 4 liters in less than 4 minutes and the filter has a life of 1500 liters. It's also the most lightweight one of all, and made in the USA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KVNtjNJsc4

http://www.amazon.com/Platypus-GravityW ... B004LAR1NY

GravityWorks.png (202.22 KiB) Viewed 800 times

I got one and I'll give it a try in 2 weeks.

Roger