Surviving in the Wilderness: How to Find Safe Drinking Water
During an extended adventure, it is essential to ensure proper hydration by utilizing natural water resources. However, not all sources in the wild provide safe water for consumption. Below, we’ll outline some strategies to ensure you always have drinkable water during your journey.
What is Drinkable Water?
Water is considered drinkable if it is clear, odorless, tasteless, colorless, and harmless, meaning it does not contain:
Pathogenic microorganisms
Fecal bacteria
Chemicals beyond established levels
Heavy metals and polluting molecules
Surface material
How to Identify Safe Water to Drink?
NEVER COLLECT
Stagnant water from puddles, lakes, and ponds because bacteria reproduce very easily in these water bodies.
Water too close to glaciers because it carries small debris deposited in the glacier that can be harmful to the kidneys.
Snow within the first 12 hours is relatively clean with "only" five bacteria per millimeter, but after two days, the number of bacteria quadruples, making it unsafe.
PAY ATTENTION TO
Flowing water, such as stream water, is generally safe if there are no pastures or animals upstream.
Generally, water from fountains and washbasins near houses and refuges is drinkable, as well as water that flows from pipes.
DRINK WITH CONFIDENCE
The only 100% safe and drinkable water is the one that has been purified after being collected. Water can be purified mainly in two ways:
Boiling the water for at least 1 minute eliminates all harmful microorganisms (3 minutes above 2000m). However, dissolved substances in the water are not removed.
Using filters specifically designed for this purpose. These can be standalone or mounted on water bottles. You can even use straws containing these filters!
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