27 ms·

>any water kept in one place too long will be contaminated. Clean water stored in clean, sealed containers will not spontaneously become contaminated.

DanBC 8y ago
...for very specific definitions of clean water, clean container, and sealed.
- Scoundreller 8y ago
  Who doesn’t sterilize their water for 90 minutes at 15psi anyway?
  - moneytide1 8y ago
    I don't. It comes from the ground and I keep it in a container for a couple of weeks. I keep my sourdough starter open in the same area for a similar reason: I want to come in contact with local bacteria. Over time it builds up my immune resistance to things in that area. I don't go different places often (to minimize fossil fuel output), but I imagine when I do reloacte I'll have to start with sterilizing water for 90m as you recommend, then slowly start adding local water to introduce my immune system to the region.
moneytide1 8y ago
Good point, I shouldn't have said "any". I'm sure over long stretches of time there could be bacterial growth, but extremely limited especially if no sunlight (besides, a little bacteria is a good thing). I suppose my opinion is that as a matter of principle I wouldn't want to drink any water stored in one place for so long, regardless of the quality of the seal. I drink out of a 7-gallon non-BPA container that I keep out of direct sunlight. Refill about every two weeks.
- Scoundreller 8y ago
  Algae is the problem with sunlight, not bacteria. Temperature plays a role too. A little bit of bleach would go a long way in preservation, but maybe that’s what you’re trying to avoid.
  - moneytide1 8y ago
    I am trying to avoid complete sterilization after reading a quote from a study: "... a lack of exposure of children (as well as adults) to dirt, commensal bacteria, and 'minor' pathogenic insults results in an immune system that does not function normally. This lack of antibodies to true pathogens in the immune system has resulted in the dramatic increase in allergies and asthma in developed countries over the past twenty years." -Callaway, Harvey, Nisbet
    - fencepost 8y ago
      To my mind at least there's a significant difference between commensal bacteria and sucking down one of the bacterial 'spurts' from a rotting pigeon or rodent in the drinking water.
      - moneytide1 8y ago
        I'd like to start harvesting rainwater instead of relying on a well, but these 'spurts' you're talking about will the primary issue with a catching system. I'll probably just make a quick gravel->sand->activated charcoal filter in order to capture the bulk droppings, bugs, or whatever runs down the collection surface.

DanBC 8y ago

...for very specific definitions of clean water, clean container, and sealed.

Scoundreller 8y ago
Who doesn’t sterilize their water for 90 minutes at 15psi anyway?
- moneytide1 8y ago
  I don't. It comes from the ground and I keep it in a container for a couple of weeks. I keep my sourdough starter open in the same area for a similar reason: I want to come in contact with local bacteria. Over time it builds up my immune resistance to things in that area. I don't go different places often (to minimize fossil fuel output), but I imagine when I do reloacte I'll have to start with sterilizing water for 90m as you recommend, then slowly start adding local water to introduce my immune system to the region.

moneytide1 8y ago

Good point, I shouldn't have said "any". I'm sure over long stretches of time there could be bacterial growth, but extremely limited especially if no sunlight (besides, a little bacteria is a good thing). I suppose my opinion is that as a matter of principle I wouldn't want to drink any water stored in one place for so long, regardless of the quality of the seal. I drink out of a 7-gallon non-BPA container that I keep out of direct sunlight. Refill about every two weeks.

Scoundreller 8y ago
Algae is the problem with sunlight, not bacteria. Temperature plays a role too. A little bit of bleach would go a long way in preservation, but maybe that’s what you’re trying to avoid.
- moneytide1 8y ago
  I am trying to avoid complete sterilization after reading a quote from a study: "... a lack of exposure of children (as well as adults) to dirt, commensal bacteria, and 'minor' pathogenic insults results in an immune system that does not function normally. This lack of antibodies to true pathogens in the immune system has resulted in the dramatic increase in allergies and asthma in developed countries over the past twenty years." -Callaway, Harvey, Nisbet
  - fencepost 8y ago
    To my mind at least there's a significant difference between commensal bacteria and sucking down one of the bacterial 'spurts' from a rotting pigeon or rodent in the drinking water.
    - moneytide1 8y ago
      I'd like to start harvesting rainwater instead of relying on a well, but these 'spurts' you're talking about will the primary issue with a catching system. I'll probably just make a quick gravel->sand->activated charcoal filter in order to capture the bulk droppings, bugs, or whatever runs down the collection surface.