Topic: Water, Water Everywhere! (Read 3012 times)

Rusty Madra · « **on:** November 12, 2012 »

Have recently been converted to the concept of bringing only a small drinking bottle with me and filling up from natural sources along the way.

There was a day when I'd have a 2litre water bladder everywhere with me and a couple of bottles just in case. On the Mourne Mountain Marathon more experienced Mountain Folk scratched their head as to why anyone would carry so much excess weight.

Having tried it their way I'm definately enthusiastic about taking only a water bottle and filling up as I go. It gives a strange connection to the landscape: after all it is looking after you by giving you water.

I've managed thus far without any water purification of any sort. I'm careful enough about only taking water from fast streams high up in the hills: away from dead sheep and the like.

Question is do people think this is safe enough? I've had a rather funky experience after drinkng contaminated water years ago... it ain't fun! .... On the otherhand though: there's something amazing about drinking from streams!

LennyJ1 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 12, 2012 »

I always have drunk from stream and have never had a problem touch wood.

RedLeader · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2012 »

I've never worried about it. If I'm heading up a peak I'll always plan ahead and try and get water on the way, down low in forests I usually just bring what I need. Choosing streams carefully and boiling where possible has worked well for me to date. If you're worried get something like a Travel Tap that purifies water as you drink..

twentyclicks · « **Reply #3 on:** November 13, 2012 »

I've been fine drinking from 'selected' streams.
Some routes can be low on water though (like Mourne Wall), or if you are doing a summit camp you may want to bring extra for brews and cooking.

wmoulds · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2012 »

A general rule of thumb I've been told is make sure the source has a good flow and make sure there's nothing dead for at least 100m upstream. This is okay for going down hill as you pick a point, walk down 100m, if all's fine then fill up. But going up hill you'd have to walk up 100m, then back down again, fill up, then continue on your journey up. Needless to say I wing it if I'm going uphill.

8thsinner · « **Reply #5 on:** November 28, 2012 »

I have been drinking from fresh since i was about 5 and never had a single problem.
Dew and Rain has supplied the rest. But i try to boil when i can anyway. Tried multiple chemical methods and still prefer kmn04 for cost and versatility. It's a good back up for torrential weather when the fresh stuff runs brown.

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Author Topic: Water, Water Everywhere! (Read 3012 times)

Rusty Madra

Water, Water Everywhere!

LennyJ1

Re: Water, Water Everywhere!

RedLeader

Re: Water, Water Everywhere!

twentyclicks

Re: Water, Water Everywhere!

wmoulds

Re: Water, Water Everywhere!

8thsinner

Re: Water, Water Everywhere!

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