Chlorine Dioxide Drops/Water Purification

[merrellj]

Anybody taking these or used them before, or anything similar for water purification on the camino, or am I raising a ridiculous question about something totally unnecessary.

What I'm really interested to know is whether the risk of giardia en route is a real risk. I'm not paranoid about this parasite, but both my wife and son suffer different, permanent, unpleasant side effects from having ingested it on lettuce in France and fruit in Australia respectively. So with first-hand experience of it's unpleasant long-term effects, I'm quite keen to avoid it if I'm going to be drinking untreated water from the springs and fountains along the way

Would welcome the benefit of your general views or (unfortunate) experience if you did actually encounter it on your camino.

 

[dazzamac]

On the Camino Frances, it is extremely unlikely that you'll need to drink untreated water and the majority of towns and villages you pass through will have treated water fonts - agua potable - is what you need to watch out for. Granted there are a few stretches where it is advisable to bring extra water with you for the day but for the most part treated water is readily available.

That said, I did contract a stomach bug while walking and experienced dehydration as a result. That however, was more to do with foolishly eating an omlette that I'd carried for too many hours in the warm sun. When I got into the albergue, I made myself a slightly salty-sugary drink to restore my fluids and started drinking lemon water to kill the bug. About half a lemon (rind and all) to 500ml of water. Took a rest day and after 24 hours the bug had cleared my system and I was good to go.

 

[dougfitz]

I carried Puritabs, but didn't used them. There were only a couple of fonts which were labeled 'sin purificado' or 'non-potable', and I didn't need to use them. Other than these, I was happy to use local water sources. I only had one morning where I had diarrhoea, and there were too many other possible sources to even think about blaming the water.

 

[mralisn]

Near 60 days walking on the Caminos, and I never used any water purifiers. Also, I never met anyone who used them or needed them. I fully understand your hesitation and concern to be without as this sickness is pure evil. However, I really do believe you will be just fine.

Keep a smile,
Simeon