Water from natural resources (2024)

If you enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping or four-wheel driving, you should take drinking water with you. If you run out of water, or cannot carry enough water with you for your entire trip, you may need to source drinking water from natural water sources. Drinking untreated water such as bore water, river water or spring water (including mineral springs) can lead to illnesses such as gastroenteritis and diarrhoea. Gastrointestinal illnesses can be particularly severe for the very young, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

The following is some simple advice on how to ensure that if you need to use natural water sources for drinking that you minimise the risk of getting sick.

Avoid the danger zones

When selecting natural waters to use as a drinking water source there are a few common-sense rules you should follow:

  • Check how it looks. The appearance of the water is not a guarantee that it is safe to drink, but water that is clear, free of surface scum or debris, and has no odour is more likely be to free of contaminants than cloudy, smelly water that has visible surface scum.
  • Choose water that is free flowing rather than water that is stagnant or still.
  • Avoid collecting water from sources that are downstream of:
    • camping areas
    • areas where mining has occurred
    • agricultural areas
    • unsewered dwellings and towns.

Treat natural water before you drink it

Water from untreated sources is variable in quality and its safety can never be guaranteed. You should use natural water sources for drinking and food preparation with caution and, where possible, treat the water to make it safe to drink.

The most straightforward treatment method is to boil the water before you drink it. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cool it and then use it for drinking.

Boiling is effective against most microbial contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa.

If boiling the water is not practical other treatment methods can be used. These include chlorine and iodine tablets, handheld ultraviolet (UV) light units, portable microfilters and purifiers. These treatment options can be purchased from camping and outdoor stores. In all cases, follow the manufacturer’s recommended instructions for use.

Boiling or disinfecting the water may not make the water safe if it is contaminated with harmful chemicals, including natural metals such as arsenic or lead. The only way to reduce the health risk associated with harmful elements and chemicals is to limit your consumption to smaller quantities or occasional use only.

Don’t use natural, untreated water sources, such as bores, rivers and springs (including mineral springs) as regular drinking water supplies.

Think before you drink, and treat the water if you are unsure.

Where to get help

Water from natural resources (2024)

FAQs

What is water as a natural resource? ›

Water is the most abundant natural resource on the planet, the source of countless ecosystem services, and critical to industrial, agricultural, household, and recreational activities.

Is it safe to drink water from a spring? ›

Drinking spring water is risky. The shallower the well, the less likely bacteria and other contaminants have been filtered out of the water by rock, sand, gravel or soil layers. Open springs also attract birds and other animals, which use the spring for drinking or bathing.

How to test if water is safe to drink in the wild? ›

Avoid the danger zones

Check how it looks. The appearance of the water is not a guarantee that it is safe to drink, but water that is clear, free of surface scum or debris, and has no odour is more likely be to free of contaminants than cloudy, smelly water that has visible surface scum.

Is water from a waterfall safe to drink? ›

Never drink water from a natural source that you haven't purified, even if the water looks clean. Water in a stream, river or lake may look clean, but it can still be filled with bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can result in waterborne diseases, such as cryptosporidiosis or giardiasis.

What is the water answer? ›

Water is a tiny molecule. It consists of three atoms : two of hydrogen and one of oxygen. Water molecules cling to each other because of a force called hydrogen bonding.

What are 10 sources of water? ›

Freshwater sources include rivers, lagoons, lakes, wetlands, icebergs, glaciers, groundwater, groundwater currents, aquifers, ice caps, and ice fields.

Can you drink 100% spring water? ›

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency, both purified water and bottled spring water are considered safe to drink.

Can you drink rain water? ›

To lower your risk of getting sick, consider using rainwater only for uses such as watering plants that you don't eat or washing items that are not used for cooking or eating. Avoid using rainwater for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth, or rinsing or watering plants that you intend to eat.

Does boiling river water make it safe? ›

If you don't have safe bottled water, you should boil your water to make it safe to drink. Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing germs, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. adding a pinch of salt for each quart or liter of boiled water.

Is running water safer than still water? ›

Stagnant water can be dangerous for drinking because it provides a better incubator than running water for many kinds of bacteria and parasites. Stagnant water can be contaminated with human and animal feces, particularly in deserts or other areas of low rainfall.

How many glasses of water should a person drink in a day? ›

Is 8 cups (64 ounces) of water a day enough? Despite the popularity of the 8 glasses of water a day rule, in most cases, you need more than 8 cups daily to maintain your water balance. Males typically need about 15.5 cups (124 ounces) while females typically need 11.5 cups (92 ounces) of water per day.

Is it safe to drink lake water if you boil it? ›

Boiling the water that you collect can kill off many of the harmful bacteria. This is the simplest way. Another way of making lake water safer to drink is with water purification tablets. These are small dissolvable tablets that contain chemicals (most commonly chlorine and iodine) that kill off pathogens.

Why can't you swim up a waterfall? ›

Never swim or wade upstream near a waterfall, even if the water appears shallow and calm. The currents close to the falls could pull swimmers over the edge.

Is it good to drink water without touching lips? ›

That is not only bad manners, but also harmful,gurgling water with raised neck can enter your respiratory tract and cause chocking , it also takes a lot of air with it which can cause flatulence or gas problem.

How is water classified as a resource? ›

Water is classified as a renewable resource because of the water cycle that exists on earth that takes used up water and re-releases it in the form of rainfall or snow. This rain cycle redistributes water to different parts of the earth. Water that is used is taken up again via evaporation and released via rainfall.

Which type of resource is water? ›

Water is a renewable resource since it is replenished through water cycle.

What is the explanation of water as a resource? ›

water resource, any of the entire range of natural waters that occur on the Earth, regardless of their state (i.e., vapour, liquid, or solid) and that are of potential use to humans.

Is water a natural resource yes or no? ›

Water, air, and soil are three natural resources that we cannot live without.

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