What About The Water?
One of the chief concerns of many prospective visitors to India is whether the water is safe to drink. To put it simply, it's not, though your unfamiliarity with Indian micro-organisms is generally more of a problem rather than any great virulence in the water itself. As a rule, it is not a good idea to drink tap water , although in big cities it is usually chlorinated. However, you'll find it almost impossible to avoid untreated tap water completely: it is used to make ice, which may appear in drinks without being asked for, to wash utensils and so on. Bottled mineral water is widely available and cheap. Always check that the seal is intact, as refilling bottles is not uncommon; some brands are better than others with Bisleri being the best, though you don't always have a choice. Always crush bottles after use and dispose of them properly. Note that plastic is a real menace to the environment especially in fragile areas such as the mountains; try to recycle where possible, or purify your own water. If you plan to go somewhere with no access to bottled drinks (which really only applies to travellers venturing well off the beaten track) you'll need to find an appropriate method of treating water , whether your source is tap water or natural ground water such as a river or stream. Boiling it for a minimum of five minutes (longer at higher altitudes) is sufficient to kill micro-organisms, but is not always practical and does not remove unpleasant tastes. Chemical sterilization is cheap and convenient, but dirty water remains dirty, and still contains organic matter or other contamination. You can sterilize water by using chlorine or iodine tablets, but these leave a nasty aftertaste (which can be masked with lemon or lime juice). Pregnant women, babies and people with thyroid problems should avoid using iodine sterilizing tablets or iodine-based purifiers, or use an additional iodine-removal filter. The various kinds of filter only remove visible impurities and the larger pathogenic organisms (most bacteria and cysts); however fine the filter, it will not remove viruses. Purification , a two-stage process involving both filtration and sterilization, gives the most complete treatment. The Aqua Pure Traveller water bottle (GBP34.99) has a filter top that turns contaminated water into safe, clean drinking water. Tested and approved by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, it uses replaceable filters to strain out even the smallest viruses and pathogens. Each one lasts for 350 litres, making it money saving as well as environmentally friendly. Available from most good outdoor stores and large pharmacies, and www.thirstpoint.com . Another supplier of water purifiers is Pre-Mac - for suppliers contact: Pre-Mac Ltd Unit 5 Morewood Close, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2HU, England tel 01732/460333, www.pre-mac.com . All Water Systems Ltd Unit 2018, Citywest Business Campus, Faggart, Dublin, Ireland tel 01/466 0133. Travel Medicine 351 Pleasant St, Suite 312, Northampton, MA 01060, US tel 1-800/872-8633, www.travmed.com . Nomad Travellers Store and Medical Centre 3-4 Wellington Terrace, Turnpike Lane, London N8 0PX tel 020/8889 7014, fax 8889 9529, www.nomadtravel.co.uk .
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