One of the biggest challenges for my field trip into the Arctic is the availability of clean water. I need it for standard preparation, cleaning and rinsing. I have considered shipping the necessary amounts (close to 40 L was a rough first guess), but I am a bit concerned that contamination issues from the packaging (which would be plastic for weight reasons) could arise.
A de-ionised water source is available at Alert, and although it is not suitable to be used as a water source itself, if is an ideal feed water source, because ultra-pure water systems typically need pre-treated water, e.g. de-ionised or reverse-osmosis.
My advisor supported my considerations and I am very grateful that she provided funding for a portable ultrapure water system, which is now ready to be shipped. Apart from the cartridge, it is fitted with a UV lamp to reduce the remaining TOC levels even further.
Photocredit: Millipore Corporation
