Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Backcountry Water Sources

In this video presentation, we dive into a critical topic to raise awareness about the increasing problem of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, in backcountry water sources.
See the companion article:
* backpackinglight.com/cyanobac...
This module is part of our comprehensive online course, Water Treatment and Backpacking Hygiene. Explore the full course to deepen your understanding of water safety, effective treatment methods, and best practices for maintaining hygiene in the wild.
See the course:
* backpackinglight.com/water-tr...
Recommended gear and supplies (water treatment and hygiene):
* backpackinglight.com/water-tr...

[@Glowbetraveler]

What a great find. Extremely informative. Especially for pet owners who may take unsuspecting wilderness walks. Thank you -Old former backpacker😊

[@dbstewart4496]

This was relevant for me, and well presented. So thank you.

[@livesoutdoors1708]

We use a piece of copper pipe in all our stock tanks. It stops alga from growing.

[@KrizAkoni]

Very good discussion, learned a bunch from this!

[@LA-cc6sy]

Very informative and enlightening. I expect we'll see other brands create activated carbon add-ons. Is there one for the Sawyer Squeeze yet?

[@ljsong1]

6:59 Maybe not "dramatic" injection of nutrients, but what about from backcountry campers and their catholes? That lake basin is a catchment for all the hikers that travel through there. Yosemite backpackers, PCT'ers or otherwise... anyone in the last 100 years or so who wanted to climb a mountain and decided to poop on it. I appreciate your practical solutions and overall discussion on this topic.

[@sanfransimo]

Very curious about the impact of human waste in the back country on cyanobacteria, but that part of the Sierra has active cattle and sheep grazing leases that have been grandfathered in for generations. With herds in the thousands going through in the warm months, it's hard to imagine human waste having a comparable impact. It should be noted that the basin he singled out is on the Hoover and Inyo side of the crest divide and would not be a catchment for PCT or Yosemite hiker waste.

[@bretbowlin2617]

Great info! Thx.

[@aquanoun]

I saw cyano mats in upper Rae Lake a couple of years ago and I was pretty surprised (and saddened) - further evidence of human impacts on wilderness areas.

[@billb5732]

Nice PSA, thank you. Charcoal is readily available to backpackers -- can be made in minutes almost anywhere below tree line. How much do I need to eat for first aid? Are there any quality guidelines?

[@oldcrust4741]

Does anyone here know if the cyanotoxin is heat-labile?

[@jamesking9941]

What about boiling?

[@kensmith7567]

Question related to filtering and then passing through a carbon filter. If the filter media captures the bacteria does that mean that the bacteria will then die in the filter and release the toxins at a later date?

[@keelanrose5706]

backflushing will take care of that. it should get rid of nearly all the algea and if there are dead algae it'll get rid of the water soluble toxins. After using your filter for a trip you should soack it in clorine dioxide water for a few minutes to kill off any algea and bacteria (not just cyano bacteria, also any others). Then backflush and you'll have a nice clean filter. also use vinegar if you think there might be some mineral build up from filtering hard water.

[@jamesking9941]

And what about the east coast?

[@Quantumgrow]

First!