Distilled Water for air travel

[cobra4x4]

I'm off to Mexico this weekend with my CPAP machine for the first international time.
I want to take distilled water with me and I know its allowed, but I haven't been able to find a small quantity (say 500ml) which is plenty for a week. Around here we only can find 4 litre jugs (equivalent to appox. 1 gallon). My pharmacist said why don't you just pour some into a pop bottle and take that to which I replied that customs could have an issue with that because they couldn't verify that the liquid was water (after all it could be vodka ) and not having a proper label could cause issues.

His solution was great and I thought I should share it ...

He made a prescription label (Pharmacy branded label) with my doctors name, My name of coarse a RX # with description (Distilled Water) and the words "Use as directed by doctor" which he then put on a plain dark blue opaque (re-sealable) 500ml bottle. He told me to pour in water from my 4 litre jug. He didn't even charge me.

He told me the label had all the required prescription information for traveling abroad.

I put the bottle in the side pouch of the cpap bag that way it stays with the machine & gear. I'm also carrying a copy of my prescription for cpap with humidity.

[BlackSpinner]

All you need is any bottled water when you gt there. The distilled water is so you don't get lime scale build up in your humidifier. Tap water will do in a pinch in most places. Just empty it in the mornings. Carrying water with you is a waste of space and energy.

[cobra4x4]

The distilled water is so you don't get lime scale build up in your humidifier. Carrying water with you is a waste of space and energy.

My point exactly ... I don't want to use tap water (especially in Mexico) in my humidifier period. I also don't want to carry a 4 litre jug either so I wanted just enough for the week.
Where I'm going is somewhat remote so its not like I'm about to go to the local pharmacy or super walmart to get some.

[hyperlexis]

The distilled water is so you don't get lime scale build up in your humidifier. Carrying water with you is a waste of space and energy.

My point exactly ... I don't want to use tap water (especially in Mexico) in my humidifier period. I also don't want to carry a 4 litre jug either so I wanted just enough for the week.
Where I'm going is somewhat remote so its not like I'm about to go to the local pharmacy or super walmart to get some.

Easiest >> boil the water, in a clothes travel steamer, a microwave oven, stovetop, etc.

[cobra4x4]

Easiest for me ... bring a small amount which can be carried with the machine, no boiling, microwaving or steaming etc etc

I'm on holidays .... relaxing and enjoying a few beverages while not having to work at anything.

Just thought I'd share this idea if someone wanted to travel with distilled water.

[jdm2857]

Easiest >> boil the water, in a clothes travel steamer, a microwave oven, stovetop, etc.

While boiling the local tap water will kill most pathogens, it actually increases the mineral concentration a bit
by reducing the volume of the water while leaving all of the minerals.

Boiling alone does not distilled water make. To distill water it is boiled and then the steam is captured and condensed back
into water in a separate vessel. Only the water vapor makes the trip. Everything else is left behind.

[Drowsy Dancer]

I'm off to Mexico this weekend with my CPAP machine for the first international time.
I want to take distilled water with me and I know its allowed, but I haven't been able to find a small quantity (say 500ml) which is plenty for a week. Around here we only can find 4 litre jugs (equivalent to appox. 1 gallon). My pharmacist said why don't you just pour some into a pop bottle and take that to which I replied that customs could have an issue with that because they couldn't verify that the liquid was water (after all it could be vodka ) and not having a proper label could cause issues.

His solution was great and I thought I should share it ...

He made a prescription label (Pharmacy branded label) with my doctors name, My name of coarse a RX # with description (Distilled Water) and the words "Use as directed by doctor" which he then put on a plain dark blue opaque (re-sealable) 500ml bottle. He told me to pour in water from my 4 litre jug. He didn't even charge me.

He told me the label had all the required prescription information for traveling abroad.

I put the bottle in the side pouch of the cpap bag that way it stays with the machine & gear. I'm also carrying a copy of my prescription for cpap with humidity.

I think this is a fabulous idea and cheaper than the "Pap-Flask" I've seen advertised.

[BlackSpinner]

The distilled water is so you don't get lime scale build up in your humidifier. Carrying water with you is a waste of space and energy.

My point exactly ... I don't want to use tap water (especially in Mexico) in my humidifier period. I also don't want to carry a 4 litre jug either so I wanted just enough for the week.
Where I'm going is somewhat remote so its not like I'm about to go to the local pharmacy or super walmart to get some.

And one wash with vinegar when you get home is too much work? I assume you are not going for 6 months.

[The Choker]

I put the bottle in the side pouch of the cpap bag that way it stays with the machine & gear.

Did you really think you could post an idea here without getting plenty of contradicting ideas?

I think what you did is overboard but that is not for me to decide. Enjoy!

[jagzoo]

Hi cobra4x4,
I thank you for posting your solution. Don't know if I will ever need to use it but I can certainly understand you not wanting to deal with local water, that might be unfit to drink, while on vacation, in some out of the way place!
I think the solution is ingenuous.

[HoseCrusher]

I take a 500 ml water bottle, rinse it with distilled water, then fill it with distilled water. I use about 125 ml per night, so that will last me 4 nights. If I am unable to find a source of distilled water where I am after a couple of days, I will use half distilled and half tap water, or use half and half with distilled and drinking water (not mineral water). I put the water bottle inside a gallon zip loc bag in my checked luggage.

Plan B is to simply use drinking water.

Plan C would be to use tap water.

I might add that some tap water has a lot of chlorine in it. To get rid of the chlorine you can put it in a cup or bottle and shake it up and then let the xPAP unit run for a few minutes before masking up. I have a humidifier warm up feature on my machine and this applies heat to the humidifier and blows some air over it. I have had some pretty stinky tap water become very manageable simply by letting it warm up and blowing some air over it.