11

Mountain View News Saturday, July 13, 2024


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 

[Nyerges is the author of several books including “Self-Sufficient Home” and 
“How to Survive Anywhere.” He also leads wilderness classes every weekend. 
He can be reached at School of Self-Reliance, Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 
90041, or www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]

MEET JOEY & 
JULIUS, AGE TWO

These tuxedo brothers 
from different mothers are 
the epitome of sweetness. 
While they may be a bit shy 
at first, once they warm up 
their friendly and playful 
purr-sonalities will shine 
through.

These handsome boys both sport classic black and white 
coats, but with their own unique flair. Joey boasts a cute 
black mark around his nose, accentuating his charming 
features, while Julius rocks a wide blaze that adds an 
extra dash of personality to his handsome face.

They get along wonderfully with other cats and enjoy 
playing with toys, chasing feathers, and pouncing on 
anything that moves. Treat time is a favorite, and they'll eagerly await their tasty rewards.

Their other siblings were all adopted when babies, but J & J have been consist-ently passed 
up, and we can't fathom why! They've never had a real home! Joey & Julius are incredibly 
sweet and are sure to bring joy and com-panionship to their new home. If you're ready to 
add double the love to your life, come meet these delightful boys! See more pictures and 
adoption info at https://www.lifelineforpets.org/joey--julius.html.


WATER PURIFICATION METHODS & DEVICES

Water. You’ve got to have it. It is essential to life. And sometimes, the 
situation is truly

“water everywhere but not a drop to drink.”

 

According to hydrologists, you should suspect any open sources of water and you should 
treat that wa-ter before you drink it.

 

WATER PURIFICATION 101

According to hydrologist Talal Balaa, when you are not sure of the water’s purity, one should 
follow the “Rule of Three.” 

 

WATER PURIFICATION RULE OF THREE

First, filter the water through a cloth. This removes all large sediments and particles in the 
wa-ter. Second, allowing the sediments in the water to settle. This could take 30 minutes 
or a few hours, depending on the quality of the water. Lastly, boil the water or use water 
purification chemicals. “If any-thing is left in the water that will get you sick,” adds Balaa, 
“your body’s immune system should protect you, if it can.”

 

Balaa also advices people to practice the “Rule of Three” when observing water in the first 
place. Does it look good, does it smell good, does it taste good? These are just common sense 
observations, though even if the water passes these observations, that doesn’t make it safe to 
drink in all cases.

 

4 PRINCIPLES OF WATER PURIFICATION

As I describe in my “How to Survive Anywhere” book, water is purified by one (or more) 
of these four basic methods: FIRE (high heat), THE SUN (UV rays), CHEMICALS, or a 
physical FILTER.

 

FIRE

Boiling the water is perhaps the most widely-advised method of water purification, whether 
in the back-woods or city. And this method costs nothing! You just need a can, and a fire.

Boiling occurs at 212 degrees, and everything that gets you sick is dead at about 170 degrees. 

THE SUN

Yes, you can put water a glass jar and set it out into the sun. This is called water pasteurization, 
and it kills any organisms that will get you sick. In general, a quart of water is deemed same 
to drink after about four hours in the sun. This too is a method that costs nothing.

In India, one widely practiced low-cost method of water pasteurization is to fill one litre clear 
plastic bot-tles with water and lay them in the sun for at least four hours. (For more details 
on this method, check out “SODIS” on-line).

 

CHEMICALS

Chemical methods of water purification 
have been around for decades. They 
typically are chlorine or iodine based. 

One good brand is Katadyn’s Micropur 
purification tablets. Katadyn is regarded 
as the “Cadillac” of wa-ter purification 
systems. Their purification tablets come 
in a 30 pack, each tablet used for a liter of 
wa-ter. Katadyn says that their tablet is the 
only tablet or liquid which has been proven 
effective against viruses, bacteria, giardia 
and cryptosporidium under all water 
conditions. In addition, this is the only pu-
rification tablet (or liquid) that is EPA-registered as a microbiological water. You need to wait 
about 30 minutes after adding the tablet to the water under normal condition.

Another popular, and well-rated chemical system for water purification are the Chlorine 
Dioxide tablets by the Portable Aqua company, which are widely available on-line or at 
backpacking stores.

FILTERS

There are many filters on the market, widely available at backpacking stores. The water is 
pumped through a filter, which physically removes the contaminants.

One of my favorites is the Sawyer Mini-Water Filter. This filter is the lightest and most 
versatile personal filtration system from Sawyer. With a total field weight of 2 ounces it fits 
in the palm of your hand. This tiny filter is great for camping or traveling abroad. The filter 
removes 7 log (99.99999%) of all bacteria (like salmonella) as well as other harmful bacteria 
which causes cholera and E. coli and 6 log (99.9999%) of all protozoa such as giardia and 
cryptosporidium. These removal rates equal or exceed other filter options. EPA guidelines 
allow ten times more protozoa left in the water than this filter removes. 

 

NOTE: I don’t advise drinking your tap water from your kitchen without some level of 
purifications. Doc-tors have noted that you can still get certain bacteria from our relatively 
pure tap water.

Pet of the Week

 
Reese is a fun guy who has been flying under the radar at 
Pasadena Humane for too long! This handsome three-year-
old husky is ready for his time to shine. 

 Reese was initially very nervous at the shelter and would 
sometimes hide in the back of his kennel. Thankfully, he has 
come out of his shell a bit and is now very happy to see the 
volunteers who take him out for exercise. He walks along by 
their sides, tail happily wagging as he prances along. 

 Reese weighs about 45 pounds, so he is smaller than an 
average husky. He packs a lot of fun and entertainment into 
his petite body, though. He loves playing with toys- he will 
often play fetch with himself- throwing the toy into the air 
to chase it without needing anyone to throw it for him. 

 He would love a quieter home as he will probably take a 
little time to get acclimated to the new surroundings. Once 
he’s made himself at home, he’s going to be the most fun 
dog you can imagine! Come meet this sweet guy today!

 Reese and all other dogs over 40 pounds can be adopted 
at no charge during Pasadena Humane’s Big Dog Summer 
adoption event, happening 7/11 - 7/25. 

 The normal adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions 
include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate 
vaccines. 

 Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 2:00 – 5:00. For those who prefer, adoption 
appointments are available daily from 10:30 – 1:30, and can be scheduled online. View 
photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org.

 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal 
Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.


HOT TEMPERATURES CAN MAKE CONCRETE AND ASPHALT 
TOO HOT FOR YOUR DOG’S PAWS. 

Asphalt and concrete temperatures can usually be 20-40 degrees hotter 
than the ambient temperature. If the back of your hand can’t stand the 
heat on the concrete or asphalt for 7 seconds, it’s too hot for a walk.

When it's above 90 degrees outside, bring dogs and cats indoors.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com