- Boiling
This is the most reliable method to purify your water. If you are traveling in the United States you only need to boil your water for 1 minute. If you travel outside the United States you may need to boil your water for 10 to 20 minutes to make the water safe. If you travel to high altitudes you will also need to boil your water for a longer period of time. The disadvantage of boiling your water is that it will require a lot of fuel.
- Iodine
Put 2 tablets into 1 quart of clear water or 4 tablets into 1 quart of cloudy water. Wait 30 minutes before drinking the water. Iodine tablets are widely available, and easy to carry and use. Unfortunately, they can give the water an unpleasant taste. If you are pregnant or have thyroid disease you should not use iodine tablets.
- Chlorine bleach
Put 8 drops into 1 gallon of clear water or 16 drops into cloudy water. Wait 30 minutes before drinking the water. Chlorine bleach is widely available and easy to use. However, it is corrosive and can discolor your clothing if it spills in your luggage.
- Water filters
There are a wide variety of water filters with many different filter sizes. If you are traveling in the United States you will need a maximum pore size of 5 microns (um) to filter out giardia lamblia. Maximum pore size of 0.2 microns (um) is needed to filter out bacteria. If you are traveling outside the United States you may need to combine iodine or chlorine with water filtration to make the water safe to drink.
- DO:
Drink purified water.
Drink beverages that come in sealed cans or bottles.
Wipe excess water from any container before you drink.
Bring your own straw.
Carbonated and alcoholic drinks are safe to drink when traveling outside the U.S.
- DON'T
Drink or brush your teeth with tap water.
Use ice cubes made from local water.
Don't swallow the water while swimming or taking a shower.
