Water Pollution on the Trail

imported
#1

Hello,

I am wondering. People talk about filtering water (or not filtering it) for Giardia, but no one ever seems to mention chemical-type pollutants in the water. Is this a problem? After seeing the photos of that Zinc Mountain (is it in Pennsylvania? New Jersey?), I’ve got to wonder how safe it is. Then again, no one seems to mention this as an issue, so maybe it’s not bad.

Any comments?

Nunyet

#2

. . . well, I sure didn’t filter from “nuclear lake” — was that somewhere up north?

yogi

#3

Yeah, doggies -

and then there was that “orange” creek outside of Pearisburg, dribbling past the industrial plant…

LiteShoe

#4

I saw a whole lot of untested water this year, long before you get to your “toxic” areas, I guess. Some folks think if the State has a “drink at your own risk” boil water sign posted that the water is unsafe to drink. I haven’t been checked for excess in minerals or dirt from the day my filter blew and I had to drink hot, slimy, sandy pond water for about 9 miles.

I am told that filters such as the one I used, PUR/Katahdyn does not filter out the polutants such as gasoline and oil runoff from roads. Down in Pearisburg, I don’t remember the orange creek, but I do remember that industrial complexes are really not too far removed from the AT.

I would check with SOBO hikers about water, when I was a worry wart about water. The fact is, I hike fast enough to get to the next water source that is reliable, and tasty.

Drinking right out of snow runoff just past Mountain Mommas was the greatest tasting water in the world. Use your best judgement. After all, you will know.

Burn

#5

There is no approved water source in the Palmerton, Pa, Hazardous Clean up site. There is a spring by the shelter on the west side of Lehigh Gap. The next water source north is on the Katellen Side Trail. Signs are posted warning not to drink the water in this section.
I haven’t seen the orange river yet, but New Jersey has some beautiful black rivers. They’re the color of tea from tannic acid from the cedars. Nuclear Lake is in the East Hudson section of New York.
Me, I prefer to get my water from spring, whenever possible.

Harry Dolphin