Drinking water in Central and South America?
 

Bottled water? Other? Tips?

Yes.





Central and South America are rather big places with a lot of variety. I used the same approach I have on other tours:
1. If locals drink from the taps, I typically do too.
2. I bring a filter. I like the Sawyer Filter, use it for ground water and occasionally tap water as well.
3. Bottled water is generally also for sale. I'll buy some when I am suspicious or sometimes to get across long gaps without ground water if my bottles aren't enough.

FF, in the end did you end up traveling in Asia?

If you are really thinking of going to Latin America, you will need to make an appointment at a travel clinic of a hospital to get reliable advice of what vaccinations to get. A proper clinic will be able to suggest water treatment methods as well, and advice for specific countries and areas within countries, just as they will with vaccines.

Budget a couple of hundred for all of this. Ish
I had a fee for the consult, and specific prices for specific vaccines and follow-ups.
And do it well in advance of the trip, some vaccines require a follow up shot X weeks after the first.

Do you have this trip planned or is this just an idea at this point?

I think he's gone to the well one too many times with this one. See what I did there?

I had some difficulties with my MSR filter on my last backpacking trip a couple months ago, I asked the other hikers what they were using, the majority said one of the Sawyer filters. (Mev above also suggested Sawyer.) A couple of them were using Sawyer filters with Evernew water bladders that had a thread pattern that matched the Sawyer filter.

I bought a Sawyer similar to the mini at the link below but the version I got was threaded at both ends for use with a gravity system.
https://sawyer.com/products/mini-filter/

I bought a couple Evernew bladders and a Sawyer Mini on Amazon. Tried it once with tap water, appears to work great. Have not tried it on a trip, but I suspect as long as you periodically backflush it, that it should work well. At the video at the above link, they mention backflushing it.

There was a thread on this forum some time back, someone did not backflush his sawyer, put it in storage, then months later took it on a trip and it did not function well. I ALWAYS test my gear before I take it on a trip, pitch the tent to inspect it, make sure my liquid fuel stove works (but I do not bother to test butane stoves), and test my water filter while at home.

If you are concerned about viruses, after you filter the water you could add a couple drops of Chlorine bleach per liter, let it sit a half hour. I usually skip the Chlorine but I carry a small one ounce bottle with a flip top dropper in case I have a reason to be concerned.

***

Some people swear by Steripens, I have never used one. You might want to research them too. I bought one for a trip, but never needed it on that trip. Have not carried it since.

That's a deep subject....
Although I'd still treat the water from it.

I've used a steripen for about 3 1/2 month's over a few trips, but let's see if flags responds back and go from there.

Filters grow mold inside of them while you store them.

Boiling is still the best.

I used a Steripen on my Pan-American ride and didn't get sick once. I've used a Sawyer for hiking the AT and PCT and bikepacking the Great Divide and Wild West, similar results.

I don't take chances and buy bottled water and/or filter my water. In a hotel, I'll "clog" the drain and pump from the sink basin.

Boiling works for sure.

To limit bacteria growth, I flush with clean water, thoroughly dry and then store element in freezer (in a zip lock)...works for long term storage.

Im fairly certain that Ive read that freezing a sawyer filter can damage it, you say "thoroughly dry" but one would be prudent to read up on this , in case any water in side would cause a problem.
I dont own one, just recall something about it and having to keep it in your sleeping bag if travelling in below 0 weather....could be wrong though.

^agreed. Glad you are keeping me honest. I meant to say I freeze my Sweetwater. My MSR HyperFlow gets flushed with water that has a small amount of bleach in it per their instructions. I don't know anything about Sawyer filters.

You don't want your filter freezing when you're outside and needing it....it won't allow water to pass through.

I think any filter will be damaged from freezing. A friend of mine left his MSR filter with water in it out when the temperature went below freezing. No more filter. On several occasions I have brought my filter into the tent during the night to make sure it did not freeze.

I have a platypus filter and it also cautions against freezing. I wonder though if the concern is the filter freezing with some small amount of water still in it, given that the water would expand inside the filter. I.B. says they let theirs thoroughly dry before freezing, so maybe it's ok that way? I'm just speculating here though.

I have also used a Steripen and it's great, but it obviously doesn't filter for particulate matter, so you either need a clean fast running source to collect from or a tap. In a pinch I suppose you could strain some muddy water through some cloth to clean it a bit before hitting it with the Steripen.

Edit: I see djb already addressed my point about freezing with water in the filter above. Must remember to read before posting.

I use a Katadyn filter and have had no problems.
I would not trust purification (boiling, chemicals, etc) because even though it will rid the virus and bacteria, it will not do anything for toxins. Many of these countries still have no idea that used motor oil, pesticides, herbicides and anything else they can just pour out on the ground ends up in water sources.
Heck, many people still do it in the U.S. :twitchy:

In the old days, we drank water from a fast moving stream. Above any human settlement. Moss or green plants in the water are natures filter.

Portable filters do not remove DDT, or lead, or insesticide, or on and on.


https://www.uswatersystems.com/what-...filters-remove

I often use a cheap filter and a steri pen. I dispose of the filter out, not store it.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2c13d869_c.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...15a45eae_k.jpg
Flickr
Central American water source. The cold harsh reality.
I noticed that the coca cola company sells bottled water all over the Americas. They have a much better filter than any one of us does. One dollar for 5 liters or there abouts.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7d82d8fb_z.jpg
Guatemal city tap water comes from down stream of here

I know a guy that makes water filters. He knows so much about filtering water, that he is dehydrated most of the time.

What about viruses?

I've been in SE Asia for 17 months.. didn't do the bike.

I'm 100% doing this trip, just not sure if I want to do bicycle or scooter.. but I do know they're very similar ways to travel.

I'll make a note to look into clinics.. I guess I've always "just winged it".

I've been looking at the Steripen but it seems like 20% of them are faulty (Amazon reviews)..

I wasn't aware that chlorine bleach kills viruses... ALL?

I've been reading reviews on the Steripen.. seems around 20% are faulty (Amazon reviews).. I should say this is for the USB charging one .. as it seems everyone complains about the other ones fly through batteries quickly.

Which do you have?

Are you saying it's around $1 for 5L of water in Central and South America?

FF,
Re vaccines, I recommend following health professionals for vaccines, but that's your call.

I used the usb version, didn't want to buy batteries. I too read of failures, but took this with a grain of salt. I did however treat it carefully, obviously avoided drops etc, and packed it always amongst soft clothing in my pannier to reduce constant vibrations-- basic common sense.

Bottled water prices vary, usually more like a few dollars for 1.5 litres, but your call on if you want to contribute a few more hundred empty plastic bottles to dumps. I chose not to.

Re scooter and borders, inform yourself of duty costs of crossing borders with a vehicle, or have surprises. I personally met a couple of German motorcyclists at a border crossing who were having surprises. Gringos in cars or motorcycles can have different stuff to deal with, so look into it off you want to be prepared, your call.
And no matter, border situations can be loosey goosey , so no black and white answer.

A Grayl was recommended to me by someone who used one trekking in Nepal for 2 weeks. I’ve used it twice on the GDMBR and have been very happy with it. Their literature says it filters virus as well as bacteria though I’ve been told that is impossible. I’m not one to know. One of my Sawyer toting companions started borrowing my Grayl because it is so convenient. Available at REI. My wife and I have also used a battery operated steripen for various travels. The steripen has always turned on as it is supposed to but whether it does anything besides making me think I can now drink the water, I don’t know. To me it all seems a bit like voodoo.

Nope, not all. Sweetwater recommends freezing theirs. Been doing it since 1997....without a problem and of course have been down to SA many times...