News of the ongoing crisis in the socialist paradise of Venezuela should make us think that perhaps "it can happen here." Ideally, of course, we have prepared perfectly well so that we can sit on our porches with popcorn and soda watching the world fall apart, and remain totally unaffected ourselves. But as preppers, we are compelled to prepare for the worst and the what-ifs if Plan A fails.
Yesterday we covered the medications to have on hand if cholera strikes. But an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and the Katadyn Micropur MP1 Water Purification Tablets are definitely that ounce of prevention. These small tablets, individually packaged for maximum shelf life (five years from date of manufacture, so if you're ordering online, make sure you're getting current stock), satisfy the US EPA guidelines for safe drinking water. They're really easy to use; just drop one tablet in a liter of water. The Micropur tablets kill viruses and bacteria in 15 minutes in all water, and Giardia and Cryptosporidium in 30 minutes in 60 degree, clear water. If the water is cloudy and/or cold, eliminating the Cryptosporidium cysts requires four hours.
The major advantages of Micropur chlorine dioxide tablets over iodine are that these tablets are effective against Cryptosporidium, whereas iodine is not. And unlike some pump filters, Micropur tablets eliminate bacteria and viruses. They are an excellent small and lightweight back-up in case the primary water purification method fails. Because the active ingredient is chlorine dioxide, the same chemical used in municipal water treatment, the taste should be the same for those who drink city water. In other words, it's much better tasting than water treated with iodine. Most reviewers say it tastes and smells like pool water. So if that's a problem, carry some Crystal Light or other flavor packets for your water, especially for children.
Let's address some of the cons:
- Adding chemicals to drinking water. This isn't a "lifestyle choice." This is about preventing dehydration, diarrhea, and death. It's not a long-term solution (unless you are really, really rich). Pick your poison.
- Floaties. The tablets do not eliminate floaties in your water. If that's important to you, you'll need to pre-filter--through a coffee filter, bandana, clean t-shirt, etc.
- Long time for eliminating Cryptosporidium. The four-hour purification time is only for cold, cloudy water. Run the water through a pre-filter and let it warm up before adding the Micropur tablet to hasten purification.
- The individual foil packets are hard to open. Use nail clippers or small scissors on a multi-tool to open packets. If you do this in advance, mark the slit with a Sharpie to make the slit easier to find.
- The Katadyn Micropur tablets are inexpensive for the short-term or for an emergency or back-up. They're a bit pricey for long-term use.
- For the best protection, use a water filter first to eliminate Giardia and Cryptosporidium and then the tablets take only 15 minutes to purify water from bacteria and viruses.
- Don't keep Micropur tablets in the car. They need to be stored below 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Store the tablets in their original foil packets in a Tic-Tac container, tiny Altoids tin, etc, to keep them from getting crushed.
- Laminate the instruction card and keep it with the tablets. In a crisis, it can be difficult to remember instructions and to think clearly.
- These tablets can be used in a hydration reservoir (water bladder).
96-hour kits, part 1 and part 2
Cholera
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3 january 2021
