[swaghauler]

Wallshadow isn't the only Necromancer in this forum. Below are some guidelines for purifying water. As you all know, my campaign is set in Africa in the present world. Water is a BIG DEAL in Africa. There are a number of different contaminants and some are easier to deal with than others. These Contaminants are:

Particulates:

This can be any kind of debris floating in the water. It is the easiest to remove by simply filtering the water with a porous material such as cloth or a combination of sand, clean grass (like the thrushes found by ponds) and clean gravel. Adding Charcoal from a wood fire will add a "filtering effect" for certain chemicals and many biological threats as well. A Routine(1.5 X Skill): Biology or Average(Skill): Survival will build an effective Charcoal filter against Microbes and Bacteria. Many commercial filters will remove particulates as well. Particulates will reduce the effectiveness of chemical treatments (by slowing down the reaction) so water undergoing chemical treatment should be filtered first.

Microorganisms:

This consists of very small creatures like the ameba that can cause illness. They can be killed by boiling, chemically, or be filtered out of water by a 1 to 5 Micron filter. Examples include; Amebic Dysentery, Giardia, Cryptosporidium.

Bacteria:

Smaller than microorganisms, bacteria can be killed by boiling, chemically, or filtered out of water by a 0.2 to 1-micron filter.Examples include; Cholera, E-Coli, Legionaire's Disease, and Salmonella.

Viruses:

The smallest of the living dangers in water. They can be killed by boiling or chemical treatment, but can pass through most filters because they are often less than 1 Micron in size. Examples include; Hepatitis A, Rotavirus, and Norovirus

Chemical Contamination:

These are "man-made" hazards in water. Some can be "boiled off," while others can be "chemically neutralized." Very few chemicals can be filtered out of water.

Radiological Contamination:

The most dangerous of all contaminations. Potassium Iodide (the only treatment for radiation poisoning) will be too rare to use and may not be effective. Radioactive water should be avoided at all costs.



Here are some "real world" methods of making water safe to drink, commonly used by hikers and people living in "The Third World."

Boiling:

Boiling in the NUMBER ONE method of purification. Boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes plus 1 minute for every 300 meters in elevation will kill Bacteria, Viruses, and occasionally remove chemical contamination (depending on what that contamination is) by "boiling it off."

Iodine Treatment:

Water can be treated with Iodine either in tablet form or using good old Tincture of Iodine. Most Iodine Purifier Tablets [Cost= $11 (V/V), Wt= 0.025kg] use TWO TABLETS PER LITER and take 30 MINUTES to work. This method will kill ALL LIVING ORGANISMS (including viruses). Tincture of Iodine will require 5 DROPS PER LITER and 30 MINUTES of TIME to purify. There are some issues with this system though. This system works best when the temperature is ABOVE 68F/21C. The system WILL BEGIN TO FAIL at temperatures BELOW 40F/4.4C as it is too cold for the chemical reaction to properly occur. People using Lithium, Pregnant women, and individuals with Thyroid conditions SHOULD NOT USE THIS WATER TREATMENT METHOD.

Chlorine Treatment:

Chlorine can be used just like Iodine above. The time frame is the same and Chlorine kills ALL organisms and can chemically "breakdown" a limited number of chemical contaminants. Chlorine Dioxide in either drops or tablets is the best method of purification. This "binary system" (consisting of separate tablets or drops) will kill ALL LIVING ORGANISMS IN 30 MINUTES with TWO TABLETS/DROPS (one of each chemical) PER LITER OF WATER. Commercial Chlorine (like pool chemical chlorine) or household Bleach can also be used. It generally takes 2 DROPS OF BLEACH PER LITER OF WATER and 30 MINUTES to reach purity. This method can be dangerous if too much is used and requires a task roll against EASY(2 X Skill): Biology or Chemistry, or AVERAGE(Skill): Survival to safely purify water with ordinary Bleach or Chlorine. This system also has the same temperature limitations of Iodine above.

Aquamira Water Drops: This binary (two bottle) Chlorine Dioxide purification system requires 7 drops from each small bottle to purify 1 Liter of water. There is enough product to purify 113 Liters and the shelf life of this product is 4 years. It kills all organisms INCLUDING VIRUSES. Price= $15 (C/C), Wt= 0.04kg, Bulk 0.1.

Katadyn Micropur Tablets: This binary chemical system uses tablets containing Chlorine and Dioxide to kill ALL LIVING ORGANISMS in water. One tablet will purify 1 liter of water in 30 minutes. The shelf life is 5 years and the 20 tablet bottle will treat 20 liters of water. Price= $10.95 (C/C), Wt= 0.04kg, Bulk 0.1.

Ultra Violet Purification:

Using bright sunlight to purify water is the "option of last resort" in purification. It requires a bright sun, a clear container (preferably glass with magnifying properties) and filtered water (particulates will reduce the effectiveness of this method). This system requires that the water temperature in the vessel exceed 165F/73.8C. It will kill microorganisms and some bacteria BUT NOT VIRUSES. It removes no chemical contamination. This system requires a ROUTINE(1.5 X Skill): Biology or Chemistry or a DIFFICULT(0.5 X Skill): Survival to produce potable water.

Ultra Violet Light Purifiers:

If the characters have access to a UV Purifier that emits high levels of UV light, the purification is EQUAL TO OR BETTER THAN BOILING. But only with a mechanical UV Purifier.

Steripen Adventurer Opti: This pen-like UV Sterilizer will purify water that has been filtered of particulates. Simply insert it into the water and stir with the light on. It will purify 1 liter of water in 90 seconds. It kills ALL LIVING ORGANISMS INCLUDING VIRUSES and can reduce the effects of photo-reactive chemicals. The rechargeable battery is good for 50 uses and the bulb is good for 8000 liters of sterilization. Price= $100 (S/S), Wt= 0.1kg, Bulk 1.5.

These are the basic methods of purification. Even mechanical filters will follow the types of filtration above. I will post a selection of filters as soon as I get some of their stats which I am missing at this time.

As Always, use what you want and ignore the rest.

Swag.