T&T: Drinking water

[Bob DeGroot, DCH]

Some common sense about taking on water or drinking the local water is in
order.

1st. Don't hesitate to invest in a filter of sorts to take water on board.
Even the blue inline filters they sell at Walmart popular with RVers remove
the chunks of sand, grit and a lot more.
http://www.waterfiltercomparisons.com/water_filter_comparison.php?d=gp Be
sure you get a filter that you can get from a lot of local suppliers
(Wal-Mart, West Marine)

2nd. Make sure the hose you drag over to your boat to put water in the tanks
is rated for drinking water! Most garden variety hoses are not recommended
for drinking water transport. The biofilm that grows in the hose (and pipes
as well) and usual the contaminants in the hose itself are not healthy.
Carry your own white roll up water hose and use it. Try not to let the ends
of the hose drop into the water around your boat - ruins the whole effect.

3rd. UV Light kills or inactivates most of the biological contaminates
including bacteria and viruses.

4th. Look at the local villagers and notice how they're fairing. Do they
look sickly, have high death rate from water born pests, have facial
deformities from constant grimacing from foul tasting water? If so, buy
bottles from out of state.

5th. On the other hand Microbiologist, Tim Ford also points out, "Our immune
systems need a constant challenge to stay strong. Lack of prior exposure to
some of the micro-monsters of the biofilm might prove even more dangerous."
Exposure is why you can travel to other countries and not get ill. There are
some exceptions where I think the bio-monsters are mutating faster than my
body can adjust.

6th. You can also put a small under the sink filter or even an attractive
counter top model if you have room. Be sure to change the filters often or
you'll have the biggest colony of moving bio-mass that'll make a clogged
fuel filter look clean.
http://www.eprostar.com/media/watersystems/INNOWAVECHILLER3CT.pdf

Bob DeGroot, D.C.H.
M/V Spirit Dancer
DeFever 49 CPMY
Lakewood Yacht Club - Seabrook, Texas
MTOA # 1896 - DeFever Cruisers # 857
Great Loop Assoc. (AGLCA) # 427
www.BoaterSites.com
Cell (713) 876-8787
Skype: 1-281-506-2676 or dr.bob.degroot