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Fresh drinking water from a river

Tuesday, January 22, 2013 10:42

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(Before It's News)

We posted on our Facebook page:

Loui Dubstep Messham asked: “How far up river (or a body of ‘fresh’ drinking water) should you go up to make sure it’s not contaminated?”

Some comments we received:

Comment #1: Never trust un-purified water, unless you are at the place where it comes out of the earth, be careful. I am speaking from experience here…oh man.

Comment #2: You’re always down stream from up stream unless you are where the water is coming out of the ground!

Comment #3: I do not think I would ever trust a river, creek or stream to not be contaminated. Better to have a Life Straw or other form of filtration. If not filtration, always boil. The downside is so bad it simply is not worth the risk.

Comment #4: Always have a couple easy treatment options. even if you just keep a small bottle of bleach or iodine with you … its better to be safe than to be sick.

Comment #5: I’ve drank plenty of unfiltered water and so have plenty of people I know. Hundreds of times, if not thousands. It’s about where and how. Almost %100 of contamination is from your own unwashed grubby paws and the water gets blamed. Above 7000 feet or upstream from any campgrounds/towns, and no mines around…drink it IF YOU DON’T HAVE A FILTER. Your immune system shouldn’t be so weak you get sick every time you encounter a pathogen, or something’s already wrong with you.