How Do We Use Muddy River Water?

Water is one of the things that is ever on our mind when we travel. We have limited ability to carry lots of water with about 14 - 20 days supply on board if we were only drinking the water we carry. If we need to shower from our on board water we would be looking for a refill every 5-6 days.

We can stock up on food for about two weeks with emergency rations for another ten days or so. If we can find suitable water for bathing and washing we can stay out for a lot longer.

Many times we have nearby rivers or billabong, but the water is often very muddy and not usable as is. There is a way to use this water though. We treat it in the same way your local council would. We collect buckets full of muddy water and add a tiny amount of alum. Then it is left to settle. This takes a few hours and then the clear water is simply siphoned off ready to use.

If we had to use this water for drinking we could boil it or use our 0.3 micron filter to make it safe for drinking.

A little effort and we can extend our time in remote places. This is a travelling skill that most people are not really aware of.Read more