Lake Erie’s “dead zone”
Clearing
up water purification
Learn all the dirty details on how to purify your water supply
By Kris Popp
The distinct smell of freshly cut fries mixed with sunscreen fills your nostrils. A warm
breeze carries the squawking of seagulls fighting over dinner. You dig your toes deep into
the coarse sand and look for a spot of shade among the colourful beach umbrellas fluttering
in the wind. Children run past you squealing in delight — pausing for a moment to
inspect a fly scurrying through the sand. Everything before you resembles a happy, healthy
vacation destination — until you see a red and white sign: “Advisory: High
bacteria levels often occur because of rough waters or heavy rainfall. Swim at your own
risk.”
You
get up in the morning and clean your teeth, leaving the faucet running the whole time you
brush. Then you pad downstairs for breakfast, put a few dishes from last night in the dishwasher
and start it up, even though it’s half empty. You’re thirsty after your eggs,
so you let the water run while you throw some bread in the toaster to ensure you get a glass
of cold water.
Any of these activities sound familiar? These, and dozens of other day-to-day practices
indicate the extent to which many of us have come to take the privilege of safe, clean water
for granted.
Not everyone has shared in such privilege. Worldwide, five million people die annually from
diseases caused by unsafe drinking water, and while Canada remains largely excluded from
such a statistic, we are not without cause for concern. Our freshwater resources are being
polluted at an alarming rate, and although the majority of Canadians rely on municipally
treated water (which is almost always safe), more than four million people rely on private
wells, and many cottagers, campers and outdoor enthusiasts depend on lakes and rivers for
their water supply.
 In
the face of mounting concern over environmental pollution and the limitations of water
treatment facilities, there are some things you can consider regarding the safety of your
drinking water.
Whether at home or exploring the great outdoors, the first question should always be “Is
my water safe?” When using lake or river water while camping or cottaging, you should
assume that the water has some level of contamination, and must be treated before drinking.
In terms of water quality in the home, Paul Bennett, a senior policy analyst with Health
Canada recommends that you consult your local health authority, and where necessary, use
the services of an accredited lab to test the safety of your water.
For short term, or occasional disinfection of water, when camping or cottaging, there
are three main methods of treatment:
- Boiling. Bringing your water to a rolling boil for one minute is the surest
way to kill disease-causing microorganisms. Though boiling will effectively eliminate any
bacteria, viruses and protozoa, it is only partially effective in purifying water of harmful
chemicals.
- Chemical Purification. This process can be undertaken using either chlorine
or iodine to effectively treat against bacteria and viruses and most protozoa, but not
harmful chemicals. Household chlorine bleach can be used simply by adding two drops to
one litre of water, shaking, and then allowing the mixture to stand for half an hour. Chlorine
tablets are also easily available. Similarly, iodine is available in liquid, tablet or
crystal form. Adding either six drops, or one tablet of iodine to one litre of water should
purify it within 30 minutes. It is important to note that iodine is only appropriate for
occasional use and is not suitable for everyone (ie. pregnant women or people with thyroid
conditions).
- Filtration. There are various filters available on the market, which effectively
eliminate some bacteria and protozoa, but not viruses or chemicals. Avoid purchasing a
filter with a pore size greater than 0.5 microns. There are water purifiers available which
use both a filter and an iodine compound to remove or kill all microorganisms down to 0.004
microns.
For prolonged use in the home there are a variety of devices available to clean your water.
There are two categories of such devices. Point-of-use devices are portable and treat the
water at any given tap. Point-of-entry devices are installed on the main water supply and
treat all water entering the house.
-
Chlorinators, Iodinators and Ultraviolet (UV) devices fall under the point-of-entry
category. Each of these devices effectively kill bacteria and viruses, but should be
used in cooperation with ceramic or glass fibre filtres (a point of use device) to
remove parasites as well.
- Distillers and ozonators fall into the point of use category as well. Distillation
eliminates all microorganisms, as well as some chemical contaminants such as heavy metals
and nitrates. Distillers can be used in cooperation with activated carbon filters which
eliminate organic compounds, including pesticides. Ozonation kills harmful microorganisms
and removes organic compounds such as pesticides, but should be used in conjunction with
a filter to remove parasites.
Whether you’re at home or on the go in the rugged outdoors, safe, clean drinking
water is fundamental to your health. Relatively speaking, the quality of water in Canada
is excellent, but problems of contamination can occur. If you have concerns, consult your
local health authority, and explore one of the previously mentioned options if the need
exists. Bottoms up!
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