Aqua Mira: chlorine dioxide water purification
Though a few ounces may not seem like a crucial weight to carry, effectively treating your water in the backcountry can make a world of difference in your trip! Aqua Mira drops are a lightweight (2 oz. will treat up to 30 gallons of water) and easy to use alternative to the frequently seen pump/gravity filters or UV treatment pens.
Tasting a lot better than bleach, this $15 investment will get you about 120 Liters of water...without the hassle of clogged filters or empty batteries.
While I generally prefer my SteriPen Adventurer Opti or Ultra UV pens, this is a near fail-proof backup that I have used for roughly 400 miles throughout both the East and West coasts during times when my Sawyer Squeeze filter has failed, or my Steripen has run out of juice.
Here's what Aqua Mira's website has to say (all rights to aquamira.com) :
The First Choice of serious outdoorsmen, Aquamira Water Treatment Drops treats drinking water using chlorine dioxide. Our chlorine dioxide formula has consistently proven to be effective in clear, muddy, warm and cold water. Small size, portability and long shelf life allows this highly effective treatment method to be easily carried and used by individuals anywhere in the world. Each kit contains everything you need to treat up to 30 gallons of water.
EPA Registered Water Treatment, Aquamira Water Treatment Drops are proven safe and effective. Great for hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, boating, white water, RV’s, travel, home water storage, and emergency kits. Aquamira Water Treatment Drops will not discolor water and will actually improve the taste of treated water.
Chlorine dioxide, a well established disinfectant is the active ingredient in Aquamira® Water Treatment Drops. Chlorine dioxide is iodine and chlorine free. The unique formula works by releasing nascent oxygen, a highly active form of oxygen, which is a strong oxidant and a powerful germicidal agent. Chlorine dioxide has been used by municipal water treatment plants to kill a variety of waterborne pathogens since the late 1940s. Unlike free chlorine (familiar as household bleach) or other halogen chemicals (such as iodine), chlorine dioxide does not create potentially harmful by-products.
Aquamira’s key benefits are clearly evident when compared to the other common portable water treatment chemical: iodine. Most importantly, chlorine dioxide is a significantly stronger oxidant than iodine, with greater pathogen killing power. Unlike iodine, chlorine dioxide does not discolor water, nor does it give water an unpleasant taste. In fact, chlorine dioxide is often used to improve the taste of water by neutralizing unpleasant flavors. Aquamira is also very useful as a preservative for stored drinking water (as with water stored for earthquakes, hurricanes, or other disaster preparedness situations).
SUMMARY: The only chemical water treatment that I will use, as it tastes better, treats faster, and at least for me seems easier to use then some of the other types on the market. Add in a little flavor to the water after it's treated and you won't even know it's there. Bring it, because having to S**T in the woods with an intestinal illness will really suck the fun out of any outdoor adventure !
Tasting a lot better than bleach, this $15 investment will get you about 120 Liters of water...without the hassle of clogged filters or empty batteries.
While I generally prefer my SteriPen Adventurer Opti or Ultra UV pens, this is a near fail-proof backup that I have used for roughly 400 miles throughout both the East and West coasts during times when my Sawyer Squeeze filter has failed, or my Steripen has run out of juice.
Here's what Aqua Mira's website has to say (all rights to aquamira.com) :
The First Choice of serious outdoorsmen, Aquamira Water Treatment Drops treats drinking water using chlorine dioxide. Our chlorine dioxide formula has consistently proven to be effective in clear, muddy, warm and cold water. Small size, portability and long shelf life allows this highly effective treatment method to be easily carried and used by individuals anywhere in the world. Each kit contains everything you need to treat up to 30 gallons of water.
EPA Registered Water Treatment, Aquamira Water Treatment Drops are proven safe and effective. Great for hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, boating, white water, RV’s, travel, home water storage, and emergency kits. Aquamira Water Treatment Drops will not discolor water and will actually improve the taste of treated water.
Chlorine dioxide, a well established disinfectant is the active ingredient in Aquamira® Water Treatment Drops. Chlorine dioxide is iodine and chlorine free. The unique formula works by releasing nascent oxygen, a highly active form of oxygen, which is a strong oxidant and a powerful germicidal agent. Chlorine dioxide has been used by municipal water treatment plants to kill a variety of waterborne pathogens since the late 1940s. Unlike free chlorine (familiar as household bleach) or other halogen chemicals (such as iodine), chlorine dioxide does not create potentially harmful by-products.
Aquamira’s key benefits are clearly evident when compared to the other common portable water treatment chemical: iodine. Most importantly, chlorine dioxide is a significantly stronger oxidant than iodine, with greater pathogen killing power. Unlike iodine, chlorine dioxide does not discolor water, nor does it give water an unpleasant taste. In fact, chlorine dioxide is often used to improve the taste of water by neutralizing unpleasant flavors. Aquamira is also very useful as a preservative for stored drinking water (as with water stored for earthquakes, hurricanes, or other disaster preparedness situations).
SUMMARY: The only chemical water treatment that I will use, as it tastes better, treats faster, and at least for me seems easier to use then some of the other types on the market. Add in a little flavor to the water after it's treated and you won't even know it's there. Bring it, because having to S**T in the woods with an intestinal illness will really suck the fun out of any outdoor adventure !