Is it safe for a backpacker or a camper to drink water from a remote mountain stream?
No. While these sorts of stream appeal to our eyes, they may contain protozoans that may cause illness, such as Cryptosporidium of Giardia, which cause cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis, respectively. Backpackers should carry a filtration unit and disaffection tablets to treat water collected in the wild for drinking purposes. Of course, boiling the water vigorously for a few minutes is a sure way to make the water safe to drink. Back to Top Are chemicals that are found in water naturally (not because of pollution) safe to drink. Not necessarily. Some chemicals that may be found in water naturally may be harmful, such as selenium, arsenic, and radon. Some harmless chemicals in water react with other chemicals and form harmful compounds. The U. S. E. P. A. requires public water purveyors to test for 100 different chemicals, and that list is expected to grow. If you want a current analyses of AWAs water, please call the office at 209.223.3018 or write to: Amador Water Agency, 12800 Ridge
