Drinking Water Treatment in Uganda

Wow- less than 4 weeks and there's so much to do! I need to pick up anti-malarials (I decided on Malarone), & some cipro- just in case. Some Canesten in case I need the Cipro...arrange banking, decide on water treatment options. I visited a friend who works in water treatment on the Sunshine Coast. We discussed several water treatment options including two really cool new inventions.


Water treatment chemicals: 
pros-inexpensive, do not require consumables, can be used to wash fruits and veggies, good for large or small amounts of water
cons- do not filter out debris or environmental toxins, reduced effectiveness in turbid (non-clear) water

• Pristine Water Drops: chlorine drops protection against protozoa (including cryptosporidium), bacteria, and viruses (you can buy at MEC $18 for 30ml- treats 60-120L). This is what I always take camping and what the previous UBC Midwifery Students have used. Mix solutions A&B, wait 5 min for them to activate, add to your water bottle and in 15 min enjoy!
• Aquatabs: Rapidly dissolving iodine-free tablets that can be used over the long term with no adverse effects. They are safe for adults (including pregnant women) and children. Effective against giardia, bacteria, and viruses, when directions are followed. They have not been proven effective against the cyst cryptosporidium when in the oocyst stage of its life cycle. 50 tablets for $9 (each tab treats 1 L)
• Micropur: A self-stable, easy-to-use water treatment option that purifies using chlorine dioxide. Effective against viruses, bacteria, giardia, and cryptosporidium. 30 tablets $16.50 (each tab treats 1L). 

Water Bottles with Built in Filter: 
pros-Chemical free, good for water with environmental toxins and debris
cons-expensive, filter on 1L at a time, slow, need replacement filters

• Lifesaver bottle: as seen on TED Talks. My friend Owen told me about this amazing apparatus. Rather than carrying a water bottle and a filter the filter is built into the water bottle. Good for day hikes/cycling, backpacking.  You can purchase the bottle through the lifesaver website. The bottle is pricey $140 and each filter is good for 700L. Replacement filters can be purchased for $30. Why such a high pricepoint- well this is the most badass of all filtered water bottles. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine: Under "worst case scenario" testing in the lab, results show that the ‘Lifesaver Bottle’ removed all bacteria and viruses from a contaminated water source in excess of legal requirements and as such, complies with all British, US and European Drinking Water Regulations for Microbiological Reduction.While this seems pricey and unnecessary for backpacking it sounds cool for trekking and where this company really shines is that they have programs where you buy yourself a lifesaver bottle at full price and you can buy and donate a 2nd bottle at half price. Worth reading about for curiosities sake.
• Pristine also makes a water bottle with filter built in $26 at MEC. Good for day hikes/cycling, backpacking. 

UV Water Treatment: 
pros-chemical free, compact, destroys water born organisms' DNA so they can't replicate (highly effective)
cons- costly, requires consumables (batteries) that may not be readily available where you are travelling, only works in clear (non-turbid) water, do not filter out debris or environmental toxins

• Steripen: UV light. Treatment of .5L takes approximately 45 seconds and 1.0L takes approximately 90 seconds. Lamp life is approximately 8,000 treatments. Requires four AA batteries (not included). The manufacturer recommends Lithium disposable, or NiMH rechargeable batteries with 2300 mAh capacity.Manufacturer’s tests indicate that Lithium batteries will treat approximately 100L, while NiMH will treat approximately 90-105L, and Alkaline batteries will treat 10-20L

In the end I went with the Pristine drops because they are affordable, require no batteries or replacement filters, because we won't be dealing with turbid water or major environmental toxins and because I can use it to wash fruits and veggies which are supposed to be so delicious in Uganda. 

I picked up bug repellant, hand sanitizer, canesten too. And a pair of shorts that hit just below the knee but can be rolled shorter and long short-sleeved tee...both organic, both respectful of conservative Uganda and Moroccan sensibilities. Still to find- onsale source of green sunscreen.

Posted by Alix