How to Test if Water Is Pasteurized

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 80% of all diseases are caused by infected/contaminated water. Therefore pasteurisation (destroying disease carrying organisms like bacteria, parasites and viruses) of drinking water is very important. This is also a worry for trekkers and tourists as they travel to very remote places with little or no medical facilities. To kill disease carrying organisms you do not have to boil water. Water is pasteurised at 65oC (149oF). Some heat resistant spores can survive the pasteurisation, but they are rendered harmless. An easy way to test if water is pasteurised is by using a Water Pasteurisation Indicator

The WATER PASTEURISATION INDICATOR (WAPI) is a sealed tube with a special white wax (brazilian carnauba wax) inside. The wax melts at 69oC (156oF) just above the temperature needed to pasteurise water, that is when your water is safe to use. The thermometer is a transparent plastic tube that has been crimped and fused at both ends using heat. Inside the tube is a small amount of wax which melts at 69 degres celsius. The rest of the is filled with air. The thermometer is placed in the water vessel with the ""wax at the top"". A metal washer slides along the tube to hold the opposite end of the tube at the bottom of the vessel. The air in the tube then acts as a float to position the wax away from the bottom. This is necessary since water at the bottom of the pot/pan may be very hot due to its contact with the fire or the black heat absorbing tray.