Why is it Not Safe to Drink Lake Water?

When a person is camping or hiking in a wilderness area, he must take steps to remain hydrated. He might want to reconsider drinking water from the nearest body of water. Even in a seemingly pristine place like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on the Minnesota and Canadian border, lake water can be contaminated.

Microscopic Organisms

Lake water may look clean and fresh but it contains small micro-organisms that, when ingested, can make a person ill with stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever or nausea.

Municipal Treatment

Even though some cities around lakes get their water from the lake, they treat the water before it is sent into their municipal water systems.

Contamination Sources

Water in the most pristine lake can be contaminated from animal feces and urine, human waste and garbage which has been disposed of improperly, the movement of animals like beavers through the water, and decomposing fish and animal bodies.

Precautions

All water sources in the outdoors, including water from a lake, should be considered as possibly contaminated. Treat lake water through an accepted method like boiling, disinfecting or filtering.

Contaminants

Some of the harmful micro-organisms that can be in lake water include protozoa like giardia lamblia, bacteria like salmonella and intestinal parasites like pinworms, viruses.

References

• Detailed look at what may be in the lake water.

Resources

• Suggests where to draw lake water from and ways to ensure it is properly treated before use.
• EPA suggestions for treating water for use in an emergency.