>>2584289i am disappointed there are not more infographics about how to find safe drinking water from a stream. i have drunken from many streams and places people said would not be good but i have not gotten sick or had any health problems.
my method:
1. check up stream about 100 feet for shit, dead animals and still spots. you should not drink downstream from large pools or still areas, this will make the water stagnant and bad.
2. check water is clear, even some brown water can be drunken if it is stained by peat and not dirt.
3. taste a little, if it tastes bad, don't drink it. it should taste slightly sweet and fresh, like the nicest water you've ever drunken.
4. water is purified to a significant degree by flowing over a long area. this allows shit and sediment to settle out of the water because gravity. this will not remove chemicals and really nasty shit but see above, i have had no problems. only drink and collect water from a good long area of flowing water.
5. only drink from streams away from civilization. in some places, uk included, raw sewage is now pumped directly into streams near towns.
6. do not stir up the sediment when collecting water. do not collect downstream from anyone else doing anything in the same stream/river.
t.never had the shits while out.
