Volks,

Thanks for all the contributions to this thread.

I think this is a really important topic.

Now I'm trying to sort out all the suggestions and figure out a
Feasible, realistic solution for my needs.

I'm thinking that a reasonable approach would be:

Filling the onboard tank:

Some kind of external filter attached in line to the water hose. Water
is
"Filtered" as you fill the onboard tank. (Charcoal, Ceramic, paper ..
too be determined)

Drinking Water:

A Sweetwater or MSR hand pump system to purify the water from the tank
for drinking
Purposes. Or bottled water ..... Prefer Reverse Osmosis Distilled.

Cooking Water:

If the water is to be used for cooking ... Boiling should take care of
Anything not neutralized by the hose filter.

Washing Water:

OK to use as is from the tank since it's not being consumed and has been
filtered.

Hitting the Trail Soon ... NO >>>> REALLY!

Larry Chase

Email: lchase@attglobal.net
Web: www.roadhaus.com - Under Construction
What: The Great North American Road Trip
When:  Early 2003
How: RoadHaus - 1990 2.2 L  VW Westfalia Syncro
Today: Mesa, AZ - 12V Stuff
From: Mesa,  AZ

- - -

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 10:15:00 -0700
From: Ben McCafferty <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
Subject: Re: Water Filtration vs Water Purification
Let me say AMEN to this bit on cysts. And a personal experience to
stress
the importance here. About 1995, I picked up a nice little critter
called
blastocystis hominis (IIRC). It was a tough little bug, and took me
about
two years to be rid of it. According to my doctor, it has the ability to
encapsulate itself and wait out anti-biotics. The anti-biotics that I
was
given were so strong that I was instructed not to even use cologne, as
the
alcohol absorbed by my skin had the potential to make me sick. Unreal.
After 50 days (!!) of these anti-biotics, the cysts were still
detectable,
but seemed to be at a level that they weren't making me sick any longer.
I
have never experienced anything like the symptoms from this--made
stomach
flu look like club Med. Three days of misery, every six weeks, like
clockwork, for two years.
I guess what I'm saying is that it's worth the trouble to make sure your
water is as clean as you can possibly get it--sometimes a 24-hour case
of
Montezuma's Revenge isn't the worst that can happen. Since then, I've
used
the Sweetwater Guardian with the iodine virus cartridge (no longer
available), and have heard that the new MSR pumps do a great job too.
tx,
bmc :)
Ben McCafferty
ben@volkscafe.com
Volks Cafe
1823 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831-426-1244
http://www.volkscafe.com