Whitby Free Press, Wednescfay, June 16, 1993, Page 9 A SUMMER LIFESTYLE FEA TURE Water, water everywhere butîsitafetOdrifk BRIAN BARRETT was one of the E.A. Fairman Public School students planting flowers at Fairview Lodge Thurs- day. lt's the second year students from the sohool dropped int the Lodge to do some planting, much to the delight of residents. Photo by MaYk Reesor, Whthby Free Press Many of us think of Canada's wildernees water as being of excellent quality. In the back of our minds, we hoid visions of dipping our hande into cool, dlean, clear streame and bringing. refreshing water to our lips. But the reality is, water in -the wiiderness je seldom pure enough to, dink without treating it firet. If you plan to enjoy our outdoor experience (and most of us do), you hed also botter be prepared to boil, chemically treat or filter ail of the water you intend to use. Unfortunately, even in Canada no surface water cen be considered safe for human consumption without some type of treatment. Even the cleanest-booking water cen ho poiiuted, and untreated water may be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoan cysts, worm eggs and a bevy of other parasites. It's wise to ha prepared for a short trip by planning ahead -- use water from home or from another safe source dloser to your destination. Depending on where you are headed yon have some options. Generally, your chances of finding safe drinking water in the Mountains increases as you gain altitude. Intense sunlight et high altitudes kilis undesirable lbacteria, but icaves harmnfui cyste and spores unaffected. That sounde fine if you happen to ha near e mountain range and are willing te clumb te obtain your water. Lower down the siope, runof water froni streanis below glaciers je often clondy with sult and this water should ha filtered before use. Water from, hot springs usuelly contains numerous micro-organisme that thrive in high temperatures. For the safest and most preferable water, choose well water, water frosa fast-moving rivere or water froin the deepest parts of lakes. Avoid stagnant or standing weter, shoreline water and water close to human habitations and cazapsites. In the winter, it is beet to use an open water source or obtain water through a hdle in the ice. Eating snow or ice directly can ieed to chilling and hypothermie and could alse cause severe stomach crampe and headaches. The adage 'beware of the coioured snow' holds truth because it indicates the presence of elgee thet could ceuse dire symptome if ingested. Remember, even in winter, al water should be purified. Heat purification Heat je the oldest, safeet and most effective niethod of purifying water. Boil the weter for et ieast 15 midnutes and then add one minute for each 300m (1,000 ft.) above sea level. Bacteriai spores and certain parasites cen withstand boiling for 10 to, 15 minutes. If the water je cloudy, filter it firet before boiling. Boiling gives the water a flat taste that cen be remedied by pouring the water quickly back and forth fron one container to another or by letting it cool. Chemical purification When boiling je not practical 0 Throw some veggies on the barbie Weber-Stephen Produets Co. has jwit compieted its first-ever Canadian barbecue survey and found that more than one-third of respondents said they neyer cook vegetebles on the barbecue grill. Survey resuits indicated that 55 per cent of Canadians interviewed said that they think about cholesterol when choosing foods to barbecue. Fat in foods was e concern reported by 72 per cent of those interviewed. More than one-third (37 per cent) of the barbecuere said they neyer grill vegetables. What a shamne! Preparing vegetables on the barbecue grill je a healthful, delicious and 'heart smarte way to cook vegetables. Vegetables cen ha cooked by placing them directly on the grill, on skewers or wrapped in fol.' Grilling vegetables je easy to, do and allows Von to cook an entire meel on the barbecue. Grilled vegetebles add a deightful texture and wonderfui fiavour te a meai when pirepared on the grill. An abur.dance of fresh vegetables can ho grilled -- from asparagus to zucchini -- te add te your ontdoor meais. Firet, bush prepered vegetebles with cooking oul or a bottled vinaigrette saiad dressing. Then place them right share the heat with the meat. Turn theni once and before long they'Il be crisp, tender and ready to eat. Here are a few exemples of how ta, grill vegetables: Asparagus: wash and ecrepe off scales. Snap off and discard the woody stenms. Arrange spears crosswise on the cooking grill; SEE PAGE 10 (because of time and fuel limitations), chionine and iodine compounds can be effective, although cheinical treatment may give the water a peculiar teste. Chemicai niethoda include chlorine (from chlirine bleach or teblets), iodine (from tincture, iodine tablets or iodine crystale). Filtration methods >Water filters for use in the wilderness are available but avoid filter units thet allow particles larger than 0.5 microns to pees. FoIlow the operating and maintenance instructions care- fuily. Improperly used or improperiy cleaned filters can become contaminated by bacterial growth. Some units employ a hand pump and special filter and can process a litre of water in about 90 seconds; others have a repleceabie glass fibre filter that should be changed often if used in heavily contaminated water; some use ceranie cartridges that are brush cleaned; and others are charcoal-based units that screen out some. chemnicel and biological impuritieà (an ectivated carbon filter alone does not disinfect water effevtively). Keep yourself and the envirornment healthy With'more people using the backcountry each year, try ta minimize your impact on weter quality. Do your part by using a basin or other container for washing dishes, clothes or yourself and use as littie soap as possble. Even 'environmentally friendly' soap cen alter the environnient. When disposing of waste weter, scatter it over a wide area et leest 100m (333 lb.) away from any water source or canipsite. Do not use established latrines for waste water disposai as this disrupts the naturel biological breakdown. Remember Sorne water-borne diseases are difflicuit to diagnose. If you do drink wilderness weter, treat it before use with the most effective method available, and if you do not feel well, tell your doctor. 'lhicksof Rd. IVALL ILiE FNltytILI WH IT Y MA L & Hwy 4t2 MONDAY - STRA A L579-2515 SUNPI). 2noon - 5pm