Filling the water tank at home

Mike134 wrote:
I remember my first trip to the boundary waters canoe area in Minnesota.
Us city kids were stunned when the outfitter told us to drink the lake water no filter needed.

I must say we had no issues.

Works great...until it doesn't.

Mike134 wrote:
I remember my first trip to the boundary waters canoe area in Minnesota.
Us city kids were stunned when the outfitter told us to drink the lake water no filter needed.

I must say we had no issues.

And I recall portaging around the beaver dams there as a youth. Ever here of beaver fever (giardia)? We also drank the water; after treating it.

Didn't Minnesota have a big outbreak ofCryptosporosis?

When consumed in contaminated water, the microscopic parasite Cryptosporidium can cause symptoms of stomach cramps, diarrhea and fever. Now, researchers reporting in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology have detected evidence of the parasite in about 40 percent of surveyed wells in public water systems in Minnesota -- even wells not influenced by surface water. The team emphasizes that they don't know whether the parasite levels are high enough to actually cause health concerns.

or Giardia:

Surface Water. Cysts have been found all months of the year in surface waters from the Arctic to thetropics in even the most pristine of surface waters. Occasionally, seasonal variations are reported. Cyst levelsare generally higher in rivers or streams influenced by agricultural (e.g., cattle or dairy farming) or residential(e.g., sewage discharges) activities. Cysts occur in surface waters throughout the year. In North America, levelsare generally higher in the late summer to early winter. Generally, no relationship is seen between cyst levelsand bacterial indicators of water contamination. In the United States, levels of Giardia in water are somewhatlower than Cryptosporidium; in Canada, surveys have found higher levels of Giardia than Cryptosporidium.

These are the reason hikers care Life Straws or other water treatment devices with them. Even the old iodine pills.

Used to drink water straight from lakes in BWCA in late ‘70’s (took from below surface)…but by early 2000’s it was recommended to filter it before use. Backpack filters are a pain to use, but we never got sick…which would be more of a pain.

I too am a little surprised about lake source for drinking water

valhalla360 wrote:

Mike134 wrote:
I remember my first trip to the boundary waters canoe area in Minnesota.
Us city kids were stunned when the outfitter told us to drink the lake water no filter needed.

I must say we had no issues.

Works great...until it doesn't.

Are you related to Glum from the book Gulliver's Travels? Asking for a friend.

MNRon wrote:
Used to drink water straight from lakes in BWCA in late ‘70’s (took from below surface)…but by early 2000’s it was recommended to filter it before use. Backpack filters are a pain to use, but we never got sick…which would be more of a pain.

I too am a little surprised about lake source for drinking water

Then you won't want to learn about where and how NYC gets it's water.

When I first bought the MH I stayed a month at Lake of the Woods in Ontario which draws its water from the bottom of the lake and was safe to drink. I had a canister filter and noticed after several weeks the water pressure was low. When I unscrewed the canister to check the filter it was loaded with a clear jelly like substance that was blocking the flow of water. I followed the plastic tube out to about 40 ft of water and dove down with my mask and saw a filter on the end of it but this stuff was still getting through. So I am glad I had the filter in the MH.

swimmer_spe wrote:

MNRon wrote:
Used to drink water straight from lakes in BWCA in late ‘70’s (took from below surface)…but by early 2000’s it was recommended to filter it before use. Backpack filters are a pain to use, but we never got sick…which would be more of a pain.

I too am a little surprised about lake source for drinking water

Then you won't want to learn about where and how NYC gets it's water.

LOTS (most?) cities get water from lakes and rivers, but pretty sure it’s treated before it shows up in your tap. Pulling drinking water directly from surface sources is what surprised me…

MNRon wrote:

swimmer_spe wrote:

MNRon wrote:
Used to drink water straight from lakes in BWCA in late ‘70’s (took from below surface)…but by early 2000’s it was recommended to filter it before use. Backpack filters are a pain to use, but we never got sick…which would be more of a pain.

I too am a little surprised about lake source for drinking water

Then you won't want to learn about where and how NYC gets it's water.

LOTS (most?) cities get water from lakes and rivers, but pretty sure it’s treated before it shows up in your tap. Pulling drinking water directly from surface sources is what surprised me…

NYC does not treat it's water. Read up on it and it will impress and surprise you.

My lake water is treated with 2 filters and a UV filter.

NYC does not treat it's water. Read up on it and it will impress and surprise you.

No but it is frequently tested for 126 priority pollutants and scores of others continuously. Include E.Coli, Viruses, BOD and other biological testing. Unless the EPA has upped the test count.