Risks of Drinking Untreated Water

If you’re at home and worried about the condition of your water then the logical thing to do is get yourself a water filter. There is an array of them on the market, from the impressive reverse osmosis water filters to a standard activated carbon filter. 

But, if you’re filter has expired or you’re lost in the wilderness, you may find yourself contemplating drinking untreated water. You need to understand the risks of drinking untreated water.

Understanding The Difference

It’s important to note that untreated water means water that hasn’t been through any type of filtration. Although you may want to use a water filter at home, this is a personal choice, many people drink the water at home without filtering it and have no issues.

However, if you’re considering trying untreated water, that means water directly from a river, stream, or a pond, then you need to know the risks.

Bacteria

Bacteria need water to survive and flourish, they generally prefer still water, which means if you’re getting your water from a still source, such as a puddle or a pond, you’re increasing the chances of drinking bacteria when drinking the untreated water.

Don’t forget mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water, that’s really not something you want to be drinking!

Bacteria that enter your bloodstream through the water you drink can multiply quickly and cause an array of health problems, ranging from diarrhea to headaches or serious gastro problems.

Contaminants

Other issues with untreated water include tiny contaminants, you won’t be able to see these with the naked eye but they can cause serious issues for your health.

Contaminants include pesticides that farmers have used which have entered the water cycle, feces and other waste from animals, this often transferred into the water by rain or because the animals have done their business in the water. 

You can also find chemical contaminants in your water that have leached out of local factories. 

Again, these contaminants can lead to serious health issues if you drink the water untreated.

Solutions

If you’re at home a reverse osmosis water filter is a great idea. But, you can also invest in a carbon filter and this will remove most of the common issues.

However, if this isn’t an option you can always try some of the following techniques:

• Boiling

Boiling water is a great way to kill bacteria and pathogens. You’ll need to boil it for approximately 5 minutes before drinking. 

• Filter Straw

You can now purchase a straw that has a filter built into it. This is a great survival accessory and something you should carry with you all the time. All you have to do is insert the straw into the water and suck as you would do normally, the filter in the straw works in the same way as the ones at home, giving you clean water to keep you healthy.

• Charcoal

This is another good option if you’re away from home. Charcoal is actually used in most household filters. However, it is heated to activate it and increase the surface area. The good news is that standard charcoal will work just as well.

Simply cut a plastic bottle in half and remove the lid. Turn the lid half upside down and compact a layer of charcoal into it. You can then pour the water into the bottle, it will move through the charcoal, bacteria, and debris will be removed. You can collect the clean water in the other half of the bottle, under the lid opening.