Originally Posted by
EKW in DC
Re: the filter bottle, I'm not generally too picky about water, so I'm just taking some small powder mixes to help cover up any bad taste in the water. I don't mind a little grit either. Hopefully I won't regret my decision. Given current finances, I'm trying to do this with as minimal an additional investment in equipment as necessary for now... I'll keep that suggestion in mind, though.
I hope I'm misreading this. You're planning to just drink from the canal with no treatment?
It's not the taste and texture you should worry about. The water could make you sick. If you don't want to invest in a water filtration system of some sort, you can buy tablets to at least kill the bad things. They are inexpensive and lightweight. I always carry some when I'm backpacking, but they are only my backups as I also carry a filter.