Not sure how old you are, but when I was in the Boy Scouts in the early to mid 80s, we were told to ONLY trust wild water sources if they are filtered. I still have my First Need, and use it when I need to get water from untrusted sources. As you mentioned, Giardia is NOT fun. That is why filling up from known good, generally municipal sources is a good idea. If you can't, filter, and even then, sanitize with iodine drops. But generally speaking I will NOT introduce untrusted water to my onboard water system.
Does Anyone Actually Use Their House Water for Drinking?
- Thread starter Nailhead
- Start date
Not sure how old you are, but when I was in the Boy Scouts in the early to mid 80s, we were told to ONLY trust wild water sources if they are filtered. I still have my First Need, and use it when I need to get water from untrusted sources. As you mentioned, Giardia is NOT fun. That is why filling up from known good, generally municipal sources is a good idea. If you can't, filter, and even then, sanitize with iodine drops. But generally speaking I will NOT introduce untrusted water to my onboard water system.
What, no Scotch and water? Or are we holding the water?
What is water conditioner? (the actual not smart a--ed reason I replied...)
What I need to figure out is how to get / keep ice cubes for extended duration in hot climates so I can make frozen margaritas off grid...
dstefan
Well-known member
Glad to hear its better than I've been led to believe. I still will not drink any wild water without treatment. Just not worth it to me.
You are so right-on re:mining impacts. Last summer we camped upstream from an old gold mining town in NE Nevada. Beautiful stream. Drove out through the town and downstream it was visually obvious how contaminated it was from the old tailings. Which is not to say the upstream wasn’t also full of heavy metals we couldnt see, but it was stunning to see the change in the stream.
Todd780
OverCamper
Nah, if I want a water back I'll just let my ice melt a bit.
Here's a couple examples of water conditioner.
TexasSixSeven
Observer
Before we sold the ranch my favorite place to fill my canteen was an old windmill on the backside of the place. Cold fresh water that was just refreshing. I don’t have any issues out of cold moving sources such as streams and rivers, but I typically run them through a filter on my pack. Not always, but typically.
Nailhead
Well-known member
When I was a kid, we'd fill buckets from the river near the cabin we went to every summer west of Walden, Co, fill the old Igloo galvanized water cooler and drink that water. When we were out fishing that river, we'd just bend down and get a drink whenever we were thirsty (gotta keep those deer flies fed, ya know...). It's just what we did, and none of us ever got sick from it.
vintageracer
To Infinity and Beyond!
AHH!
Just had a LARGE glass of cold and refreshing TAP WATER to start my day!
Just had a LARGE glass of cold and refreshing TAP WATER to start my day!
macuaig
New member
There needs to be a simple, publicly available way to get your tap water tested, (and the procedures widely communicated), at least to the same standards at the processing plant. It doesn’t matter a tiddly twat what the upstream lab results are, I don’t get that water. I get it after it’s gone through the city, neighborhood, and whatever cheap ratty pipes and 60 year old plumbing in the house. I‘ve NEVER seen this basic reality even mentioned when water quality is reported.
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vintageracer
To Infinity and Beyond!
A HOME water test is simple and easy to get for FREE!
Just call your local Culligan Man or any of the other folks in your area pimping home water filters.
They will come to your home, test your water and then try to sell you a water filtration system. Compare their results to those published by your local water system provider and see what if any differences there are.
These guys will test your water and give you a detailed report without ever leaving the comfort of your home.