Water purification tablets?

lynzpower

Anyone know where the cheapest ones are- we are going to malawi if that makes any difference ?

moonrakerz

http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/SearchList.aspx?q=water+purification

??

Hintza

Best if you can boil it.

But I would probaly be looking for:- Liquid 2% Tincture of Iodine should find it in any pharmacy.

Hintza

And don't forget you nappy cream...I find this vital for those areas that get chapped!!!

moob_2

With Hintza on this one - I'd boil the water in Malawi - they have a major issue with Cryptosporidium over there and it can't be killed by purification tablets.

lynzpower

Oh, really.

I had no idea.

I have a camping stove that I got from boots sale- shall I take this then just in case?

Bokkens

Have a great trip,hope some of this helps,
You should be looking at the Foriegn office web site for travel advice.
It may sound strange but becuase the water purification system over there is at a poor standard you need to be extra careful.
Cleaning teeth only in cooled boiled water if you leave the water to stand make sure it is in a sealed water container so it cannot be contaminated accidently with local water.
Don't eat market food without removing the skins as a lot of human and animal contamination remains on the outside,clean knives,fork & spoon and utensils in boiled water always as they are in contact with your mouth.
Take with you or buy some strong disinfectant like dettol for washing your hands.If you are in a static location(hotel) put the dettol in a bowel and dip your hands in after first washing as normal,dip you hands in after using the toilet let the dettol dry on you hands.
Don't drink local soft drinks or beer as again they are not always boiled in the process of manufactuer.Check the FO web page .
I would visit your chemist and by sometning to combat diahorrea and stomache pains so if you do catch anything at least you can treat yourself.
Millets water purification tablets will do the job make sure it is the correct dose ie. one tablet to one litre of water etc.
Cryptosporidium is a water bourne snail if my memory serves me right and we never had any additional purification against it and we were using water direct from the rivers and fitering it and then purifiying it with purification tablets.The only illness we caught was maleria and this is just a big a worry as the filthy water.
Again get a course of tablets from the chemist as you have to take them before you go and continue taking them when you return. Liquid tincture of Iodine is also good for purification ( you could lose the bottle or break it or get the dose wrong I would stick with tablets they are also lighter and indiscrete to carry around)but you will have to dilute it you can use it on wounds or bites.
Keep covered up sleep under mozzie nets(mosquitos locate you from your exhaled breath and alcohol lowers you imunity to the bites/malaria) and drink little or no alcohol.
See your doctor and make sure you have all your jabs.make sure you stay well hydrated with water during the day at least four litres should be drunk this will help stop you from feeling listless and stop headaches.
Lastly make sure you have good medical cover

moob_2

Bokkens wrote: »

I would visit your chemist and by sometning to combat diahorrea and stomache pains so if you do catch anything at least you can treat yourself.
Millets water purification tablets will do the job make sure it is the correct dose ie. one tablet to one litre of water etc.
Cryptosporidium is a water bourne snail if my memory serves me right and we never had any additional purification against it and we were using water direct from the rivers and fitering it and then purifiying it with purification tablets.The only illness we caught was maleria and this is just a big a worry as the filthy water.

Crypto is actually a protozoan parasite and will not be killed off by adding purification tablets - so I'm afraid your info is incorrect. It is very resistant to chemical water treatments.

You need to boil the water - full stop.

moob_2

lynzpower wrote: »

Oh, really.

I had no idea.

I have a camping stove that I got from boots sale- shall I take this then just in case?

Aye, that will be fine.

Enjoy your stay.:beer:

Andy_L

What fuel does it use? You may or may not be able to get the right one in Malawi.

Alternatively you can get a water filter such as this one:
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/webpoint/webpoint.html?FUSEACTION=main

moob_2

Andy_L wrote: »

What fuel does it use? You may or may not be able to get the right one in Malawi.

Alternatively you can get a water filter such as this one:
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/webpoint/webpoint.html?FUSEACTION=main

Best avoided again. Crypto Oocysts are 5 micrometres in diameter, typically, and traditional filters won't work. You'd have to pay a small fortune for an effective filter.

Cheaper and more effective is to boil.