How to Purify Water While Camping

When camping, one of the most important items of need is access or the ability to obtain clean water. It will be your source of hydration, energy, and sustenance. While bottled water is convenient, it can add a lot of weight to your camping gear haul, not to mention the burden on the environment caused by producing bottled water. Learning to find a source and purify water when camping can eliminate a few gallons from your camping gear and can help eliminate plastic waste from the environment. And it’s easy to learn!

Purifying your own drinking water is simple, inexpensive, and, most importantly, ensures a safe and sanitary source of drinking water. Consider the following methods when purifying water while camping:

Finding a Source

If you are camping in a state park or campground, there will likely be a supply of water nearby, such as a well or spout in which you can find water. From there, filtering isn’t usually an issue, unless you are worried about taste. To find a smart supply of water in more rugged terrain, look for clear, flowing streams. Lake and pond water are stagnant and more likely to hold contaminants and bacteria. Collecting condensation from tree branches and leaves can be effective, but takes a lot of patience. Treated snow and ice are smart options for when you are winter camping.

Portable Filters

Portable water filters can be an effective, albeit more expensive option for purification. With effective maintenance, portable water filters are compact and easy to use and there is a variety of options on the market. Look for filters equipped with either carbon or ceramic filters or look for filters that treat water with iodine or other chemicals to kill viruses.

One option is the SteriPEN - a small, battery-powered device that emits UV light and destroys bacteria. All you need to do is dip the pen into your water bottle and stir for about a minute. The newer version of the SteriPEN comes in an even smaller, more travel-friendly design and includes a micro USB charging port, though it boasts 40 purifications between charges.

Boiling

Boiling water can be the most effective way to purify water. In small batches, bring water to a rolling boil for at least five minutes to kill any microorganisms existing in the water. Wait for the water to cool, and remember that this method does not remove non-living contaminants, so you may need to filter it slightly beforehand. Boiling water is often the easiest for large groups like families and requires just a boiling pot over a campfire.

Image by Martin Cathrae via Flickr

Iodine Treatment

Another simple method for water purification is iodine treatment. It is often considered the most effective at killing most pathogens, although it will not remove sediment. Coming in the form of iodine tablets, crystals or liquid iodine, this is a process that is easy, inexpensive, and lightweight. Dissolve iodine in water while stirring constantly for at least 30 minutes. Use five drops of liquid 2% iodine for every quart of water and follow the manufacturer's details for iodine crystals and tablets. The iodine can leave a slight aftertaste, but neutralizing tablets are also available and effectively counteract the aftertaste.

When camping, water will be your biggest asset in keeping you energized, regulating body temperature, and in enhancing your physical performance. Make sure to keep a steady supply of water with you at all times and challenge yourself to learn how to purify water in the event of camping emergencies.

For more information on water conservation and protecting our resources, visit our website.

Conserving Water While Gardening

A concern for gardeners is the efficient use of water. Gardeners of any variety of plants may struggle with managing water to best promote plant growth. Gardeners with insufficient water resources or who experience low natural moisture may have to resort to manually watering their gardens. Conserving water effectively can save money and help reduce water waste in your community. Here are some ways that you can conserve and manage water efficiently while gardening:

Care for Your Soil

The way you look after your soil can determine the success of your garden and lawn. Conduct a pH test to determine the quality of soil at the beginning of the season. Add organic matter such as bark clippings, ground-up leaves, pine needles, and grass clippings to help retain moisture. Adding mulch to the base of your flower bed, shrubs, and trees in spring can help your plants retain moisture and prevent evaporation during dry periods.

Water Appropriately

Research has shown that when you water your plants can have a significant impact on plant growth. The best time to water your garden is early in the morning before temperatures rise. Winds tend to be lower and there is much less evaporation occurring in the atmosphere. It is also a good rule of thumb to water plants whenever they show signs of distress, which can be at any time of the day. Avoid evening watering as it can encourage fungal growth. For potted plants in your garden, water them in the afternoon. Container plants often have rates of lower moisture retention, meaning they dry out more quickly.

Don’t Waste Water

Save and reuse water when you can. Use a big barrel or rainwater system in your garden to harvest rainwater and roof runoff. (Learn more about how to develop a rainwater system here.) Even saving cooled water that you have used for cooking or water that was used in a fish tank can help prevent waste and give additional nutrients to your plants.

When you do water your plants, don’t focus on watering the foliage as that doesn’t contribute much to the growth of the plant. Focus on watering within the root zone, which is approximately 1 to 3 times the diameter of the canopy of the plant. Stop if the water is pooling, and allow the roots to soak up the water before resuming. There is such a thing as over watering a plant, so don’t drown your plant as it robs the roots of air and causes root rot and soil compaction.

The most important way to prevent water waste is to water mindfully; use your sprinkler deliberately because water won’t help your driveway, sidewalks, or patio.

Choose Your Plants Wisely

What you choose to plant in your garden will make a big difference in how much effort you will have to put into your garden. Look into growing native plants. Native plants will be able to quickly adapt to your garden and will require minimal care on your part. Pick appropriately-sized plants and give them plenty of room to grow. Don’t opt for a bush that grows up to 10 feet if you only need a five-foot shrub in your front yard. Overcrowding plants can impede the growth of your garden, as well.

Consider the time you add plants to your garden as well. Adding plants to your garden at the end of fall or in the beginning of spring when it’s still cool will help those plants grow and establish a healthy root system.

Watering mindfully can save thousands of gallons of water a year, reduce water use by 50%, and shave hundreds of dollars off your water bill. Take a few of these tips to heart this season, and you’ll have a green thumb and a greener wallet.

Tips to Keep Your Drinking Water Safe

National Drinking Water Week will take place May 1st – May 7th. The American Water Works Association and its members have celebrated Drinking Water Week for more than 35 years. Although the United States has one of the safest drinking water supplies in the world, the recent drinking water stories from Flint, Michigan have caused concern about the safety of their water. Though it remains very unlikely that Minnesota will see a similar problem, there are a few things you can do to ensure that your home drinking water is safe.

Education is the Key

Public water suppliers provide an annual water report called the Consumer Confidence Report. It has the most current testing data and outlines where your tap water comes from and if it is in compliance with EPA regulations. If you have questions, contact your water supplier. They are the best resource to help educate you on what you can do to ensure your tap water is safe.

Protecting Yourself from Lead

If you live in an older home, or your plumbing is out of date, there may be some risk of consuming small amounts of lead. “If you have a lead pipe in front of your house, if you were in my family, I would tell you to never, ever drink that water without filtering it,” says Marc Edwards, Virginia Tech civil and environmental engineer. There are filtering systems on the market that tackle your entire house, but experts say your best defense takes place at the sink. Water filtered through a whole-house filtration system still needs to travel through pipes (possibly lead pipes) to reach your faucet. This is why it is best to invest in a filtration system at your kitchen sink. You don’t need to worry about showering in water. “There’s no harm; it doesn’t go in through your skin,” Edwards says.

Private Wells

Public water sources are regulated and tested often, but private wells are the responsibility of the homeowner. If you get your drinking water from a private well, you should: ● Test your water frequently - at least once a year. Be sure to use a state certified laboratory. You may want to test more often if someone in your household is pregnant or nursing, someone becomes ill, you notice a difference in taste or smell, or you replace any part of your well system. ● Make sure to maintain your well and the related equipment. Well installers will service your equipment to ensure it is operating properly. ● Become educated on the aquifer and any well-head protection efforts that are implemented to ensure it remains a safe supplier of your water.

Purifying Your Water

What happens if you are alerted that your home tap water isn’t safe? Well, (pun intended) there are a few steps you can take to make absolutely sure it is safe to drink. Passing water through a muslin cloth or a home treatment device will help remove most impurities, but can still leave you vulnerable to bacteria and viruses. The best way to remove all impurities is to boil it - bring the water to a rolling boil, and continue for 1-2 minutes.

Containers Make a Difference

With so many water containers on the market today, don’t store your water in recycled containers from your home, like old milk jugs or juice containers - sugars and milk proteins settle at the bottom of these bottles and can cause bacterial growth. Start with a clean, NEW container to ensure the cleanest water. Thanks to the billions of dollars invested in water systems across the country, water contamination in the United States is, thankfully, a very rare occurrence. Recent news stories have caused concern, but there is little reason to fear a problem in your tap water. To keep your mind at ease, follow the above tips and you will no doubt have the safest drinking water possible. Happy Drinking Water Week from Minnesota AWWA.

Spring and Summer Swimming Safety

Minnesota is the land of 11,842 lakes, though 10,000 does have more splash.  For those of us living in Minnesota, we’ve all been exposed to a body of water or two, and undoubtedly have heard a few water safety tips: don’t run on the dock, wear a lifejacket, wait 30 minutes to swim after you eat (that’s a myth, by the way).  As the temperatures begin to rise, the temptation to rush down to the beach or pool gets greater every day. Before you dive in, remind yourself and your loved ones of proper water safety tips to ensure that everyone has a safe and fun time.

General Swimming Tips

The best offense is a good defense; all swimmers should arm themselves with the right tools in order to practice swim safety.

●     Take a safety course. Everyone who goes swimming - especially kids - should have had age-appropriate swim lessons. Enroll your family in courses that emphasize basic water safety skills, emergency survival techniques, important strokes, and how to tread water. Look for classes that focus on water safety, home pool safety, first aid, and CPR/AED to learn how to prevent and react to emergencies. The Red Cross offers excellent options for swimming and water safety courses.

●     Establish rules and boundaries. Set rules and limits, and consistently enforce them. These rules should be based on each swimmer’s ability and age.

●     Always swim with a buddy. Swimming with a buddy is not only more fun, but it can help ensure each other’s safety.

●     Avoid distractions. When supervising young children, avoid distracting elements and focus on staying within an arm’s reach of young children as they navigate the water.

●     Sun safety matters. Protect your skin and eyes from the dangers of being in the sun for too long. Apply waterproof and sweat proof sunscreen liberally 20 minutes before you go out. Wear protective eyewear to minimize sun glare and to properly supervise your family.

 

Safety in Natural Bodies of Water

●     Know your environment. In lakes, rivers, ocean beaches, and other natural bodies of water, watch for cold temperatures, currents, and underwater hazards that could pose a danger to water safety. Be on the lookout for currents and changes in weather that could drastically alter your swimming environment. Consider water shoes to protect your feet in rocky beaches.

●     Boat safety matters. You might feel safer when in a boat, canoe, or kayak, but water safety matters even in cases of implied protection. Equip your passengers with maintained and appropriately-sized lifejackets.

Pool Safety

●     Supervision at all times. Actively supervise young swimmers whenever they are around the water, don’t rely solely on a lifeguard. Designate a responsible adult to supervise.

●     Keep the pool area safe. Remove any ladders, outdoor furniture, or anything climbable that provide access to the pool when not in use. Use safety barriers as well. Secure your home pool cover when the pool is not in use. Install tall gates and enclosures that are high enough to be out of the reach of small hands. Consider pool alarms as an added layer of security.

●     Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t let your guard down around man-made bodies of water like pools. Be aware, and remind your kids to not play around drains or suction fittings.

Water safety is a necessity in the summer months, but it shouldn’t take away from the fun to be had splashing around on a hot day. Remind your family and friends (without being a nag) of water safety so becomes second nature as they enjoy the water this summer.

One Less Bottle a Day

As the earth’s residents, we need to protect the planet whenever possible. One way we can do this is in being mindful of the ways we consume the most abundant liquid on earth - water. Reusable water bottles are better for the environment, more cost-efficient, and take up less space in landfills. With thousands of options available, it may seem like there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to a reusable water bottle, though we’ve made up a simple guide to help you choose.

One of the basic things to look out for is whether or not the bottle is BPA free, which usually applies to plastic bottles bought in bulk, not reusable water bottles. BPA (bisphenol A) is a chemical that can leak from the plastic bottle into your water or into the ground after being tossed into a landfill. For reusable bottles, there are a few material options to choose from: plastic, stainless steel, and glass are the most common.

Plastic Bottles

You can purchase both hard plastic and soft plastic bottles; soft plastic bottles can conveniently collapse and be stored in your bag, whereas it is easier to drink from hard plastic bottles. In hard plastic, the  24-ounce Thermos Nissan Intak Hydration Water Bottle is a great size for most reusable water drinkers and is leak-proof.

If you are looking for a collapsible bottle for traveling (or just for the convenience), the Vapur Element Bottle is a great option. This bottle has 4.5 stars from 706 reviews on Amazon, so you are likely to find that Vapur Element is the bottle for you.

Stainless Steel Bottles

Stainless steel bottles are usually the go-to bottles for cleanliness, durability, and use. However, some find that the taste is a bit tainted from the stainless steel material. Water will taste a little different depending on what material you drink from. It basically comes down to a personal preference, and you really won’t know what you like until you try them. The highest rated stainless steel bottle is the Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Bottle with Loop Cap, which looks like the most basic of water bottles, but this tried and true bottle is a winner.

Glass Bottles

Possibly considered the best bottle for taste preference is the glass water bottle. We are most accustomed to drinking from glass. However, the downfalls are the weight of the bottle and the durability of the glass. Glass bottles are often not allowed in gyms because they can shatter. Consider where you will be using your bottle most often and let that help you decide the best material for you. One of the best glass bottles is the Lifefactory 22-Ounce Beverage Bottle from Amazon.com. The thin plastic shell will help protect from bumps and small drops and large opening allows for easy cleaning.

There are a ton of options available on the market. You can customize your bottle to fit your personality, your workspace, your travel habits - almost anything! We’re here to aid you in choosing the correct reusable bottle for your lifestyle. If you have additional questions regarding reusable bottles, ask with the hashtag #DrinkTap, like Minnesota AWWA on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Best of the Season: Winter Activities in Minnesota

Winter activities: they’re not for the faint of heart. Let’s be honest for a minute - we live in Minnesota - yes, the initial shock of winter takes some getting used to, but we aren’t going to spend almost half of the year indoors! Check out some of the best outdoor activities Minnesota has to offer this winter:

Served on the Rocks at an Ice Bar

What better way to enjoy a nice cold beer than by sitting on a big hunk of ice? Minnesota features ice bars across the state. The SocialICE in Rochester has icy signature drinks, twelve-foot artistic designed ice bars, an ice sculpture garden, and more. Make sure you take a trip to Rochester February 18th, 19th, and 20th for food, music, and a fabulous ice bar.

Ice Sculptures

Minnesotans pride themselves on their talent on the ice, off the ice, and with the ice. One of the state’s most time-honored traditions involves creative ice sculptures displays across the state. Eden Prairie has a beautiful and dazzling display of Ice Castles, which opened January 23rd and run through the end of February. The Ice Castles display is an excellent place to take a date or to set out on a family excursion.

Challenge Yourself

With extreme temperatures, there are bound to be extreme winter activities and challenges. Take Minnesota’s all-season sport of fishing out onto the ice this year. There are ice fishing contests and competitions across the state. Look for a location near you with the MNDNR. For the adrenaline junkies, the Minnesota Polar Bear Plunge is an excellent way of raising money for Special Olympics Minnesota athletes. There are plenty of locations and dates across the state that you can participate in for an extreme rush and good cause.

The Classics

With so many events to enjoy, make sure not to forget the classic winter activities. Go skiing and snowboarding at Powder Ridge, Lutsen Mountains, or Blackjack and Indianhead Mountain. Engage with the serenity of winter forests by snowshoeing with friends on a nighttime trail. Embrace your inner kid by grabbing a sled or snow tube and racing down a snow-covered hill. Try and see how many lakes you can go ice skating around. Minneapolis alone has two indoor rinks and 47 outdoor rinks to offer.

For more winter activity ideas, visit the DNR Winter Activities Guide. Embrace all that Minnesota has to offer and aim to fill this winter with exciting experiences and heart-warming memories.

The Top Ice Fishing Lakes in Minnesota

The infamous Minnesota winter is enough to scare people away and keep them inside during the winter months, but not for the avid ice fishing enthusiast who bare the weather in search of the perfect walleye and northern pike. With well over 10,000 lakes, it is no wonder why ice fishing is one of Minnesota’s biggest winter activities. The question is what are the best lakes to go ice fishing in the winter?

Upper Red Lake

Stretching over 288,000 acres, Red Lake is made up of the “Upper” and “Lower” region which is located in Northern Minnesota’s Beltrami County. If you are in search of world class caliber walleye, Upper Red Lake is the place to go. With plenty of access points spread out on the eastern shore, this lake is known for its walleye, northern pike, and crappie.

Lake Mille Lacs

Located north of St. Paul, Lake Mill Lacs spans more than 132,000 acres and stretches across Mill Lacs, Aitkin and Crow Wing counties to be recorded as the second largest lake in the state. The lake is known for their walleye, rock bass, northern pike, jumbo perch, muskie, smallmouth bass, and tullibee. Mill Lacs offers plenty of access along their 74-mile shoreline and has become a popular tourist destination offering plenty of fishing resorts and tour companies in the area.

Lake Vermilion

Lake Vermilion is 40,500 acres of beautiful scenery and has become a famous tourist destination known for its muskie, northern pike, crappie, perch, smallmouth bass, and bluegill. Visit lakevermilion.com for information on peak activity and the best ice fishing hours for each of the winter months.

Gull Lake

The host of North America’s largest ice fishing event - the Ice Fishing Extravaganza - Gull Lake is 9,418 acres and is the most popular fishing lake in the Brainerd Lake Region. Gull is host to the largest walleye, northern pike, and bluegill, as well as largemouth bass, rock bass and crappie population and offers access to ice fishing tour guides, ice house rentals, and ice fishing equipment.

Lake of the Woods

Named one of the most scenic lakes in the country by Minnesota Lakes website, Lake of the woods has over 14,000 islands and stretches over 950,000 acres through Minnesota, Ontario, and Manitoba. Lake of the Woods has over 45 resorts that offer all-inclusive ice fishing tours and specialize in walleye, northern pike, sauger, muskie, rock bass, largemouth bass, lake trout and sturgeon.