Drinking Water in the Backcountry (2024)

FAQs

Drinking Water in the Backcountry? ›

The best way to make sure your backcountry water is clean and safe is to filter it first, then boil it for at least 1 minute. Boil your water for 5 minutes if it is cloudy or has debris in it. If you can't boil your water, filter it first and then use chemicals like iodine or chlorine to make it safer.

Summary. Consider all natural water sources as contaminated and treat the water before drinking. Don't use natural, untreated water sources as regular drinking water supplies.

Collect water from areas of moving water in rivers and streams, or the top few inches of a lake. Stagnant (standing or non-moving) water is a breeding ground for insects, bacteria and viruses and should be avoided. Dip your bottle just under the surface and fill from there.

You can get water while backpacking from streams, lakes, water caches, waterfalls, rivers, and even animal watering basins along your trail. You can purify water by boiling it or using purification tablets, a UV pen, a sip or squeeze filter, or carrying a bottle with a built-in purifier.

Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes), then allow it to cool before use.

Running/Flowing water

Flowing sources like streams and rivers are your best water sources outdoors. Especially if you have to drink straight without filtering or purifying, small streams are your best bet. For bigger streams and rivers, go close to the source or upstream where water has fewer chances of contamination.

During the hunter-gatherer period of human civilization, river water was used as drinking water, and so civilizations were usually formed near that water source. In case there were no rivers or lakes, they used groundwater for drinking water, which was pumped up through wells.

As ancient Hindu texts reveal, they used heat, sunlight, and copper to purify water. Filtration using cloth, sand, and charcoal was also used to capture other contaminants.

Rainwater can carry bacteria, parasites, viruses, and chemicals that could make you sick, and it has been linked to disease outbreaks. The risk of getting sick from rainwater may be different depending on your location, how frequently it rains, the season, and how you collect and store the rainwater.

The best primary sources of water are those that flow. These include rivers, streams and creeks. From there, you begin to move to more stagnant bodies of water, like lakes and ponds. When you find a water source, scan the shoreline or look upstream for contaminants, such as dead animals.

How to drink water while hiking? ›

For sports like hiking, backpacking and mountain biking, a pack with a hydration reservoir is an excellent option. If you prefer to use a bottle, stash it somewhere accessible, like a mesh pocket that's on the side of many backpacks.

Most thru-hikers use a collapsible 2.5 gallon water bag for supper, cleaning, breakfast and filling canteens. Filling the water bag will be one of the first tasks completed upon arriving at a shelter or campsite. After emptied, the bag collapses nicely and adds little weight to packs.

Drink small amounts frequently, instead of chugging a liter every 2 to 3 hours to help maintain hydration levels for the duration of your hike. Set a timer every 15 to 20 minutes to remind you to take a few sips if you find yourself frequently forgetting to drink. Keep your water accessible.

Know Where Your Drinking Water Comes From

Contaminated water can look clean but still have harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Factory-sealed bottled water is the safest option for most travelers. However, some bottled water can be risky depending on where the bottled water comes from and how it has been treated.

Boiling. Bringing water to a rolling boil for one minute is the simplest way to kill most types of germs, even if the water is cloudy and at high altitudes. If water is cloudy, allow it to settle and filter through a clean cloth or coffee filter before boiling.

Water from springs can contain chemicals, bacteria, viruses or parasites that could make you sick. Ask for help! Contact your local health department at health.ny.gov/ EnvironmentalContacts if your home or workplace is not served by a public water system or an on-site drilled well.

Rain, snow, sleet, hail, ice, and dew can be collected for water. Fresh rain that didn't fall through a jungle or forest canopy should be safe enough to drink as is. New snow can be melted for drinking without processing as well. Water issuing from springs and other underground sources can also be safe in most areas.

Yes, it's often safe to drink, but you can't determine that by sight or taste. Take high-altitude water. You'd think it'd be OK since there are no cows or other livestock uphill or upstream, but scientists have been finding giardia in the scat of high-altitude critters since the '70s.

Drinking Water

So, if you are camping in the wilderness, you have to bring water with you or treat the water that you find in a stream, lake or pond to make it safe.