Water Safety and Travel

Planning an intrepid journey to the great plains of Africa, or the mountains of South America? Think twice before you fill up that canteen. To ensure that the water in your travel destination is safe to consume, bring it to a rolling boil for one minute before you drink. If it's not possible to boil water, chemical disinfection is an alternative. Most diarrhea pathogens can actually be killed by household iodine. Add five drops of an iodine tincture to a quart of clear water, or ten drops if the water is cloudy. Then let the solution stand for thirty minutes. To improve the taste of your water wizardry, add a vitamin C tablet to the solution. While you may not decide to make a habit of self-made water, your bowels will thank you for making the extra effort while you trek the foreign wilderness!