Natural Springs

[unusual_suspect]

Hi there,

Does anyone know if it is safe to drink from natural springs? I am about to move to a part of the UK and I know there are many natural springs in the area, do you have to do anything to water that you collect from them?

Thanks :)

[stickwhistler]

It depends!

If there are sheep nearby, you have to watch out for
a snail that grazes on water plants e.g. watercress.
These snails have a parasite that uses the sheep as part of their life-cycle,
and spend some time as a fluke - in the sheep's liver.
If you swallow one - you become a proxy sheep. :eek:

Also, it depends on the soil/rock/vegetation the spring passes through,
there might be a high mineral content e.g. iron, tin etc that can
cause problems for us humans, peat colours the water.

I would filter the water, and UV treat, or just boil it before use.
This is what my neighbours and myself do.
The UV option treats water after filtering, as it is used
i.e. pipework and UV installation.

I'm a cheapskate, so I just boil in a kettle after filtering.
(65C for 10 seconds kills all virii).
The filters take out any life-form over 0.9 microns
i.e. bacteria and fluke eggs/spores etc.
Let it cool, use later.

For long term continuous water use, use a ceramic filter system.
For the occasional use, hiking or camping - Millbank Bag.
The Millbank Bag is still used by the army all over the world,
just boil the water collected after filtering. Cost = about £5
for a 1 litre bag, approx' £10 for a 5 litre bag.

For a permanent system - look at bio-sand filters.
Cheap, but larger than the ceramic method,
but is infinitely usable.
There is a thread on this forum about these,
or Google or http://www.biosandfilter.org/biosandfilter/index.php/item/229

[mightiswrong]

If the spring is coming from deep underground it should be good to drink with no need to filter or boil. If you are opening up your own spring I would get a sample tested to see what it contains. Speak to local people and find out what they know about the local springs.

[unusual_suspect]

Hi, thanks, I am not sure if the water comes from deep underground or not. Also, is it legal to collect the water?

[mightiswrong]

Hi, thanks, I am not sure if the water comes from deep underground or not. Also, is it legal to collect the water?

Ofcourse it is.

[unusual_suspect]

Ofcourse it is.

Really? I had to ask as it's illegal to collect your own firewood, it seems that anything that's free is now illegal!

Do you reckon that I could just drink some of the spring water and if I don't get ill I can assume that it's ok and safe?

[mightiswrong]

Well if you want legal advice I would ask a lawyer (however the lawyer might take that as an opportunity to ask the government to create some law so that they can make more money. Provided you are not planning to take large quantities to sell I do not see what it has to do with anyone else). Personally I avoid them and do not think there are very many here. I don't think that it is illegal to collect fire wood especially if you live locally, are known and people do not see you collecting it. Certainly you should not steal wood from other peoples gardens. If you are going to drink the spring water and no one knows anything about it I would get it tested. You could try a little. It is probably safe if you feel like it is and the land above it has no sources of contamination and you could research the type of rock in the area incase there is anything dodgy. If animals are drinking it then it is probably good but you know I am just giving you my opinion and it is better be safe than sorry.

You might find this useful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGk0iHGRIV4

[legaata]

As long as it is spring water, it should be good to use. There are different methods of recognising a spring. Use a thermometer to take the temperature of the water. In summer, spring water is colder and in winter it is warmer than other sources of water. Sometimes you may find springs in wheel tracks. This is because many large wheels tend to reach down to the bedrock and cut off subterranian water flows that would have reached a spring, would it not have been cut off. Therefore, large machines used by forest industry may often drain whole creeks by cutting off the subterranian waterflows that supply them with water. The best places to look for springs are around hills and mountains. Sometimes you can recognise a spring by the plants that grow inside them. Do not worry about parasites and bacteria, because when kept in good shape, the body is constructed to resist such attacks. Spring water has a higher level of life energy, and many springs are attributed healing powers.