Off-road travel , Bush-wacking & Water Safety

Long distance tenting trips are relatively common these days, in Africa. Unfortunately, digit of the issues that arises is the concern for the upbeat risks related with supposed liquid sources. Technology is such that there are many options now, apart from transportation heavy liquid supplies wherever you go.

Very ofttimes liquid sources are rattling suspect and digit hears terrible stories about incident and liquid bourne diseases. If a \”sophisticated\” land like South continent should not modify cater high calibre crapulence liquid to every it’s inhabitants then what quantity has the African traveler got of finding it elsewhere on the continent.

Problems that should be expected

Fecal matter incident otherwise known as E.coli is common modify in whatever municipal supplies. A variety of other bacterium forms , protoctist and specifically blue-green protoctist is an indicator of THM’s or carcinogen’s, uncolored occurring fluoride, arsenic and nitrates.

Bacteria is normally disinfected via danger to digit of the following 3 methods: Chlorine,UV or Ozone the latter being the rattling latest technology which is now almost compact enough to be useful for the safari community.

Best Options for Pure Water / Healthy Water. Pros’s and con’s

Right at the top of the selection has got to be Reverse Osmosis which supplies the purest modify of liquid for the traveler. Mobile systems consist of custom designed units to sound into a bag, specialized systems that sound in an aluminum case and de elegant systems in the modify of a Reverse Osmosis unit shapely into a Jerry can.

Custom Designed Systems – Bag / Component Type

Contain every the elements of a husbandly unit videlicet sediment filter, carbon filters, Reverse Osmosis membrane with 200 gallon per period capacity, taste & odor separate and optionally UV / Ozonation. Ideally you module want a thief viscus supplied which works off the battery. These ‘ bag\” units are supplied with sealed hollow filters which hit a diminutive footprint and don’t take up much space. The thief is to secure liquid creation quantity and has nothing to do with output pressure.

An AC/DC convertor module hit to be purchased to drive the viscus from a battery source. Do not permit anyone tell you that you need the UV choice for a alter osmosis system! Why – substantially it is simple, the R.O membrane stops the bacterium before it is output to the creation liquid distinction although the bacterium module damage the membrane in the process. Firstly ; Sacrificing the membranes is easier and cheaper than purchase a UV system. Secondly; no R.O bourgeois module warrant a grouping that sources liquid from a bacterially disadvantaged system. Not One! Besides which your filters are NEVER covered by a warranty anyway.

Reverse Osmosis System in a case Great , substantially designed , easier to store but rattling heavy to carry. Untidy when unsealed , pain to pack away each period and pricey running to upper R7700 .00

Jerry Can System- 6 Stage Reverse Osmosis System Great idea has every the elements including UV plus a strainer which should be put into a containerful of source liquid and pumped into either the inadequate 2 liter cell or direct to the van’s tank. One separate is that it doesn’t sound into a accepted Jerry Can restraining brace on the Landrover etc. Yeah , a bit unarticulate that one. Oops – nearly forgot – shit pricey too R6370.00

So what are the alternatives you may ask – quite simple really…

Simplest – Use Chlorox tablets available from any backpacking store but this meet kills the bugs and does nothing for the rest of the contaminants. Same goes for boiling the liquid – still looks and tastes nasty.

Most Practical – Build in a simple filtration grouping that puts liquid out low push that is bacterium free yet diminutive enough to sound into most cramped spaces. This grouping would consist of a 2 forbid pump, Modified 3 initiate low Counter Water Filter System , whatever parts and a UV light.

From your existing liquid cell a Tee example is inserted into the distinction and split to the separate grouping and UV component. The 2 forbid viscus pushes the liquid through low push to added T-piece which feeds your on commission liquid cell and the crapulence taps. Water level in the cell is controlled by a simple mechanical float switch that closes the flow which in turn triggers a high push switch and disconnects the pump. The end creation is clan , good tasting , bacterium free water.

Maintenance is cheap , outlay is low cost and the results are great. Contact me for personal resource or additional information on any of these systems.

Michael J runs a successful Water Filter distribution consort in South continent and is specially active in the Western Cape Coastal area. Having acted as technical & sales trainer for large liquid filtration & indiscriminate suppliers he is qualified both in practical and academic experience to advise on numerous liquid related conditions in South continent and abroad.

Aqua-elite supplies not exclusive South African home owners with equipment but also numerous African countries , parts of the USA, UK, Holland and clients in Dubai. Customized systems are available for the regular traveler and should be built-into 4×4 vehicles, R.V’s or modify hand luggage.