Giardia is a cyst that is heavier than water. It can, however, be suspended in water through water motion, such as waves on a lake or current on a stream. That crystal clear, bubbling brook is the worst place to get untreated water.

Giardia is also known as "Beaver Fever" and is closely associated with beavers (from their feces). It does indeed take several days to show up (or even a week +). Some people are more suseptable to it than others. It is VERY common throughout the world. It is giardia that get babies and child care providers sick from improper handwashing after diapering. Many times, cases of diarhea are actually mild cases of giardia.

Using untreated Quetico water is fairly safe PROVIDED:

* You take water from a deep lake far from shore;
* There is no beaver activity close by (presence of a lodge, dam, or actual beaver sighted);
* There is no current (as a river or stream) or waves;
* The water LOOKS good -- no algae, slime, etc.

There are places where these criteria can not be met, then treating the water in some fashion is necessary -- filtering or heating. CHEMICAL TREATMENTS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE (such as cholorine or iodine tablets). Also note I said "heating" NOT "boiling". There is a misconception that water must be boiled for 5 minutes to kill Giardia. That is not true. Heating water to 160 degrees for 10 minutes kills giardia or heating water to a boil INSTANTLY kills giardia. You can save some fuel by not heating too long. Anytime I use hot water (coffee, oatmeal, rice, etc.) it is unfiltered.

I'd say 90%+ of the time you can paddle out to the middle of the lake and safely take water. Heat untreated water for cooked foods and hot drinks. However, take a filter for questionable water to use as drinking water. Heated water for drinking takes a long time to cool, uses fuel (gas or wood), and tastes like cooled heated water (yuck!).

Posted by Ken E. Brown on November 29, 1999 at 17:15