Drinking un-treated water in the US?

[SkinnyJoe]

I was wondering the same about mountain snow (heated in a cup).

 

[sadiejane]

as with many other responders, i too, used to drink water from "fresh" water sources in the pnw, rocky mtns and springs in arkansas and missouri. with no ill effects. but these days-no way! i always carry some form of water treatment even on "day" hikes,. in fact , there are always two in my pack. water treatment tablets and a method to boil water. and for longer hikes , a filter is added. keep water treatment tabs and a steri-pen on my person, "just in case" i get seperated from my pack. it would have to be a life or death situation today, for me to drink untreated water. tho theres no doubt drinking untreated water "can" create a life and death situation.
i also eat plain active yogurt every single day. there is some evidence those active bacteria can aid in preventing food and water born illness.

 

[dogboye]

From a stream emerging from the ground or rock, I wouldn't hesitate. From ANY surface water source, I would treat with iodine at a minimum.

 

[Quirt]

Here in the PNW you cannot trust any source of water - period. The only source that is less risky is water coming directly out of a spring at the source but there is some risk of chemicals leaching from prior mining operations etc. I have drank out of Glacier fed streams untreated but it was only because I had no other alternative. Again, there is less risk as with springs but there is risk.

Getting away from springs/and Glacier fed streams the odds start going against you.

You have no way of knowing when any animal including humans have defecated in the water ahead of you or if a critter died in/near the stream. There are just too many variables working against a modern human being. Keep in mind, we're no longer raised in the wild like our grandparents and great grandparents so our bio system is not acclimated to eating a steady diet of wild foods and drinking unfiltered/purified water. It doesn't take much for our systems to react to foriegn elements found in water in the wild.

Therefore because we're no longer wired for all the contaminants found in wild streams, and with the plethora of devices available to filter and treat water there is no reason to take such a risk unless you're into that sort of thing or your so broke you cannot afford a filter, Steripen, or chemicals. However, there is no reason why you cannot at least boil the water. At least get a Camelbak and the really cool filter system for it. Just hook up to the mouthpiece connector, drop the filter into the water, pump it directlly into the bladder, unhook and go. It takes very little time and the dividends from this investment are worth-it.

Trust me, you do not want to get sick in the wild - it ain't pretty!

 

[abo4ster]

A couple thoughts...
- there are many variables so you would be taking a chance really no matter where you are.
- chances are if you get sick, it probably wasn't the water anyway, but poor hygiene that got you there.
- it's not just what you are drinking, but what is already in your gut that makes a difference in how you process wild water. If your gut is sterile from anti-biotics, you drink treated water, and/or have a diet high in starches and sugar; chances are you won't fare as well with wild water because you wouldn't have much good bacteria in your stomach and/or it is too busy working on the beer in your gut!

Here is video I did on what I do. I am not claiming to be an expert as there are many varying opinions out there. This is just what I do and my thought process...

[youtube]0GUTZS7QBPs[/youtube]​

 

[Thomas Linton]

The parasites Cryptosporidium and Giardia are spread by any mammal via their droppings. So, as to them, the question is, "Are there mammals upstream?"

Giardia has been found in every county in Maine. Ask the local authorities about the area in which you will be operating, but assume the worst.

"In a survival situation I would take the chance, but just camping/hiking I would plan to treat/filter it somehow. "

By definition, in a "survival" situation you are already facing odds that are worse than "just camping/hiking." In such a circumstance, it seems unwise to take added risks unless those risks are unavoidable.


(The exception would be da' "Bear." In that case, take all kinds of added risks 'cause you're rough and tough -- and other things. ^____^ )

 

[k_estela]

Treat all water as suspect. Boiling is best. If in dire circumstances and no other alternative is available, anti-biotics can cure what you'll contract except for death. Again, consider life or limb (even though you don't lose limbs from drinking bad water you get the point.)

 

[Gadgetaholic]

I have drank the water directly from streams, but a certain amount of caution is required. You really need to be confident that there are no farms or industry upstream - fertiliser run-off from farms isn't usually toxic, but it does fuel bacteria growth and manure is full of bacteria. Stagnant water takes very little to be unsafe to drink, I wouldn't risk it.

What you want is water with good flow, without any kind of industry or even people living upstream. You want cold water, which you would expect if the source is in the mountains. Flowing cold water won't have a high bacteria count, even if animals are crapping in it and dying in it. But you want all the water from the source to be flowing well, if there is a lake (natural or man made or beaver made) between you and the source then the more still water of that lake can make a breeding ground for bacteria.

I live in a country that has a lot of rivers & streams that are safe to drink directly from. There are periodic tests by the Dept of Conservation that confirms the safety of that water on every test. Unsafe water is the exception rather than the rule and warnings are given for the water that isn't safe. Much of the water is snow melt and there is good flow of the water from the source to the camping spot. Before I go camping I check on the DoC info for the area/campsite on the DoC website.

If you come across water and don't know what the upstream history of that water is then you really shouldn't risk it, it is better to filter & boil than puke & crap!

 

[Thomas Linton]

I have drank the water directly from streams, but a certain amount of caution is required. You really need to be confident that there are no farms or industry upstream - fertiliser run-off from farms isn't usually toxic, but it does fuel bacteria growth and manure is full of bacteria. Stagnant water takes very little to be unsafe to drink, I wouldn't risk it.

What you want is water with good flow, without any kind of industry or even people living upstream. You want cold water, which you would expect if the source is in the mountains. Flowing cold water won't have a high bacteria count, even if animals are crapping in it and dying in it. But you want all the water from the source to be flowing well, if there is a lake (natural or man made or beaver made) between you and the source then the more still water of that lake can make a breeding ground for bacteria.

I live in a country that has a lot of rivers & streams that are safe to drink directly from. There are periodic tests by the Dept of Conservation that confirms the safety of that water on every test. Unsafe water is the exception rather than the rule and warnings are given for the water that isn't safe. Much of the water is snow melt and there is good flow of the water from the source to the camping spot. Before I go camping I check on the DoC info for the area/campsite on the DoC website.

If you come across water and don't know what the upstream history of that water is then you really shouldn't risk it, it is better to filter & boil than puke & crap!

Again, giardia and crypto are parasites spread by all mammals - including in New Zealand, which hosted an international conference on the wee beasties.

Absence of farms and industry is not a guarantee of safety any more than good flow.

Water safe today is unsafe tomorrow after an infected mammal takes a dump in the stream, depositing millions of cysts in the water.

G & C are, however, relatively large, and a good filter will remove them, after which regular chlorine will slaughter bacteria and viruses.

Bringing water to boil remains the Gold Standard for living threats.

 

[Gadgetaholic]

Absence of farms and industry is not a guarantee of safety any more than good flow.

It may not be a guarantee, but the risks can be increased a thousand fold (or more) by the wrong conditions existing upstream - I'd rather have 0.1% (or less) chance of getting sick than 100%. A good flow of water will quickly dissipate those nasty things in the water but a big pool of water and phosphates and rapidly multiplying bacteria feeding a stream that you are drinking from - that's a different cup of poison all together.

Here we don't even have many mammals in the mountains. Did you know that there is only one mammal native to NZ - that is a small bat. If I was in a country that had beavers and I thought it was possible that there was a lake upstream that they had created and were swimming and crapping in - you bet that I'd be boiling the water before drinking it!

 

[malago0]

Yeah because when you put mercury in water it doesen't change the color much, but I don't think it's healthy to drink mercury polluted water.

 

[Gadgetaholic]

Yeah because when you put mercury in water it doesen't change the color much, but I don't think it's healthy to drink mercury polluted water.

If the water is polluted with mercury then it wouldn't be safe to eat fish from that water either.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Giardia (pronounced gee-ah-dee-ah) is a parasite found in the gut of humans and animals such as cattle, sheep, cats, dogs, rats and possums.

It is passed on in the faeces (poo, tutae) of infected animals and humans.

Giardia is widespread in New Zealand and the parasites can live in the environment for long periods, especially in lake, river, stream and roof water.
. . .

Water in rural areas

* Drinking water taken from the roof, rivers, lakes etc. should be boiled for one minute or an approved filter (Standard AS/NZS4348:1995) should be used.
* When using roof water, spouting should be cleaned regularly and roofs kept clear of bird and animal droppings.
* Aoid placing TV aerials on the roof for birds to perch on and avoid planting trees close to the house to prevent animals from getting on to the roof.

New Zealand Ministry of Health

Cryptosporidium infection is not uncommon in rural New Zealand.

New Zealand Journal of Medicine, 20-08-04

New Zealand has a high incidence of cryptosporidiosis compared to other developed countries.

New Zealand Journal of Medicine, 27-02-09

NOTE: It seems Crypto is carried by birds, lizards and turtles.

 

[Gadgetaholic]

Yeah, that's pretty much why if the Dept of Conservation don't say that the water in the stream where I'm camping is safe then I would boil it. The further you are from the source the more danger there is and if you aren't sure of the safety then boil it.

The most well known river in this country is not safe to drink from and I wouldn't be at all keen on its water without filtering & boiling.

Not that many houses use water from the roof collected in a tank - that would happen in some rural areas though - it doesn't surprise me that some people suffer from giardia or crypto when they can't be bothered boiling their roof water.

 

[CraigR]

The best guide on water treatment methods is from the CDC here:

http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/drinking/Backcountry_Water_Treatment.pdf

Only boiling is 100% effective.

Filteration and Chlorine Dioxide (Aqua Mira Solution) is second.

Iodine and plain chlorine is third.

I have drank from springs and glacier run off and not had a problem. But I usually try to filter it or use Aqua Mira if I can for the streams or lakes. Dehydration is always a far bigger danger so if you have to drink, drink. Don't get yourself sick worrying about getting sick.

Re: Snow

Melted snow is safe to drink as long as it is not yellow.

Re: Steripens

I am friends with a very experienced backcountry traveler. He used a Steripen and got Giardia. First time this has ever happened to him. But it took weeks to develop and frankly it only bothered him mildly. He went to a doctor and got diagnosed, went on some meds, and it cleared up with no lingering effects. If I recall he hadn't used a filter in over 20 years of work that took him out to remote places and this was the first time something like this had happened to him.

So why did the Steripen fail? His doctor suspected that the Giardia cysts were locked into microscopic particles (like pieces of wood) floating in the water. The UV light probably wasn't able to come into contact with it. So the moral is to filter water through a good water filter before doing the UV to it. Cloudy water is definitely going to affect how a Steripen works.

Re: What will probably get you sick before water borne disease?

I agree with Ray Jardine in thinking that not washing your hands after going to the bathroom is a good way to pick up a stomach bug. It takes weeks for most of these other water borne parasites to take hold. So if you are out and get sick in a day or two, check your bathroom hygiene procedures before worrying about the water filter.

 

[jw2n]

During a multi month trip to Montana in 1993, I picked a parasite. This happened despite being careful about my water consumption. I then went thru a year of meds, multiple endoscopies, and colonoscopies. As a result I have chronic acid reflux and IBS. The first doctor I dealt with was a specialist and told me not to be suprised if I developed lifelong problems even after Flagyl killed off the parasite. He was absolutely right. I was unable to determine where I picked it up as I was traveling all over the state.

 

[fixer]

I would rather have a little soapy tast from Iodine, than get sick.

if you add a vitamin C tablet (crush or grind it so it dissolves faster) to your treated water AFTER the treatment time it will neutralize the iodine and any taste.

some electrolyte replacement mixes (like Emergen-C) are powders and that solves needing to crush the pills. they contain Vitamin C and will do the same thing, plus replace electrolytes. the packets are fairly inexpensive, normal vitamins are way cheaper.

 

[tsacain]

There is a random spring on the side of the road close to my house that I drink straight from. (In Howard County, MD) I have also consumed water from a couple local streams but not in quantity. With no ill effects.

 

[mdauben]

My question is, what do I need to do health wise after the fact, if I were to drink relatively clear, running water in the US, without having treated/filtered/boiled it? This would be out on a hike, camping, etc., not indoor, tap or hose water.

Personally, I would never drink untreated water no matter how remote the location or apparently pristene the water source. No place in the world it truly 100% safe.

After the fact, my advice would just be to be very aware of your health for several months following the exposure. If you find yourself suffering from aches or pains or what you think is just a cold or flu, be sure to inform your doctor that you might possibly have been exposed to giardia lamblia or one of the other common water borne pathogens.

This is not something that urban doctors will typically test for and I know personally of two people who were misdiagnosed for several weeks becuase of that.

 

[teacher]

A couple thoughts...
- there are many variables so you would be taking a chance really no matter where you are.
- chances are if you get sick, it probably wasn't the water anyway, but poor hygiene that got you there.
- it's not just what you are drinking, but what is already in your gut that makes a difference in how you process wild water. If your gut is sterile from anti-biotics, you drink treated water, and/or have a diet high in starches and sugar; chances are you won't fare as well with wild water because you wouldn't have much good bacteria in your stomach and/or it is too busy working on the beer in your gut!

Here is video I did on what I do. I am not claiming to be an expert as there are many varying opinions out there. This is just what I do and my thought process...

[youtube]0GUTZS7QBPs[/youtube]​

I enjoyed your video. Very informative about how you do what you do...
Good job. :thumbup: ..