Water purification question

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grant4353

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Aug 15, 2003
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Theres this little stream I know of, it is about 100 feet or so from a highway, and the highway is on a hill. Do you think it would be safe to drink if I purified it with my MSR mini works, and boiled it too? Thanks
 
I would be afraid of the run-off oil from the highway as well a whatever the DOT might use on the right-away. Biologically you should be ok, I would be concerned about chemical. But I am no expert, let's see what others say too.
 
Do you know the source of the stream? If not, be careful. But if you follow it up to a major tributary, you should be alright with both filtering and boiling.
 
Myself, I'd pass. Residues from gas, oil, tranny fluid, brake fluid, window washer fluid, coolant and any other toxic product that can drip, overflow or otherwise escape from a vehicle could be in that little stream. Don't know what would filter out if any of it, but I don't think boiling would do much good.
 
No, boiling won't help much with petroleum products...
You'll want to use a really good filter, either with activated charcoal or something that filters at least as well.

I wouldn't try it without looking into the filter's documentation, and maybe even checking independent reviews to make sure it filters what it says it does.
 
Bodyhammer said:
No, boiling won't help much with petroleum products...
You'll want to use a really good filter, either with activated charcoal or something that filters at least as well.

I wouldn't try it without looking into the filter's documentation, and maybe even checking independent reviews to make sure it filters what it says it does.
Click to expand...

Filtering with your carried filter is half the part. Is the stream seperated from the stream by vegatation, grass, trees bushes or all the above? If this is the case, and there is no point source of entry of storm runoff into the stream, it's probably as safe as your liable to find. If you treat the bejeesus out of, filter and disifect - let stand for 30 minutes for the possible floatable chemicals to float to the surface.

I have tested many many roadside ditches and at least in eastern NC and most areas around domestic animals - almost all ditches have significantly high levels of coliform bacteria in the ditches, streams ponds. To some degree if there are warm blooded animals, dogs, cats, pigs, goats, sheep, horses, and wild mammals such as deer bear, rats, raccons, beavers, you're gonna get some contamination. BTW, Iguana s have been know to pass both coliform bacteria and salmonella to humans. Pond turtles shave been known to pass salmonella.

Cheery thoughts, huh?

Filter, disinfect (correctly) - store correctly - safe to drink. BTW, personal preference when drinking treated water the colder the better, or in coffee or tea.

Chuck - Waterone
 
grant4353 said:
Theres this little stream I know of, it is about 100 feet or so from a highway, and the highway is on a hill. Do you think it would be safe to drink if I purified it with my MSR mini works, and boiled it too? Thanks
Click to expand...
Well... that's a tough question. Most petroleum-like stuff don't mix with water, so you'll see them float if you hold your bottle still for a few minutes to an hour. You can then easily scoop them out. As for more complex chemicals like windshield washer and such, they DO mix in water, and they really are poisonous. They usually have a sweet sugary taste. You better spit out any sweet tasting water anyways...

Most cooling fluids will boil at a hotter point than water, while windshield washing fluids will evaporate at a cooler point.

For such a water source, I'm no specialist either, but I'd go for something like this:

1 - Decantation, scoop out petroleum stuff
2 - Boil the water for a few minutes to get rid of windshield washing alcohols (that will also sterilize it)
3 - Filter with activated carbon
4 - Drink while crossing your fingers...

Cheers :D

David
 
Since you are near a road, walk along it to see if there is a "higher" water source.

By this I mean does the stream come in from a higher ground/elevation?

Follow it back upstream to see if it starts to have less runoff potential.

Is there another stream that flows into that stream that would be a better provider of non-runoff affected water??

Also, might try looking into getting a sample tested.

Hope that helps.
 
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