Impatient, forceful pumping can shove particles through the filter and into your drinking water. Purifiers have equally significant downfalls. Because the active ingredient for treating water in a purifier is iodine, some people should not drink water from a purifier. It is recommended that pregnant women or people with thyroid problems do not drink from iodine-treated water. Also, iodine can add a foul taste.
Many people resort to boiling water that they draw from streams or lakes.
This is a very effective method of killing microorganisms. Its drawbacks include the time it takes to boil water over a fire and the inconvenience of having a pot handy and fuel available. Iodine tablets are another method used to treat water. It is inexpensive, compact, and will kill most microorganisms. Unfortunately it is less effective against Giardia and ineffective against Cryptosporidium.