How do I know which water source is ok to purify

[sir2600]

Hello I live near many water sources one including the river don. My question is can you purify water from such a source as the river don because of the amount of factory's dumping chemical waste in them. Its ok for me to filtering the water and boiling it but if it's full of chemical will this get it out are is it still unsafe to drink after this. I won't to know is there a safe way to purify suck water and if so how? Any help would be appreciated thanks sir2600

[preppingsu]

That's a great question, I don't know the answer but I'm sure someone will.

[cpslashm]

Looks like you need to make an activated charcoal filter.

I think...

[Malthouse]

A filter may not be needed. Plumbers use water quality test kits, I would get one of those and see what lights up.

I don't think the kits cover everything, but it will give you an idea.

Another indication is the type of life there is in the river, if you can find that out you will have more info to go on.

Edit: Just did a quick Google and there are a few reports available online for the Don. A quick scan suggests standards are improving but still not great.

[pseudonym]

Have a good read on this thread:

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showth ... ence+water

HTH

[sir2600]

Hello thanks for the advice guys I don't no if it helps but I used to fish this river and there was trout, perch, greyling and other fish but after the Sheffield floods in 2007 the fishings is not so good there any more there's fish but not even a quarter of what there used to be I don't know if all the fish just got swept down river after the floods are if the local factory's are just dumping more now than before and it's just killing the fish off. This is what made me suspicious in the first place about the pollution in the rivers thanks sir2600 p.s where could I get one of these plumbing tester kits B&Q? Or would it be a plumbing specialist

[ForgeCorvus]

General rule on gathering water.
As small as possible, as fast as possible and as near to source as possible.

You can purify any water with the right gear and enough time and effort, however some water requires too much gear, time and effort..... Bloody big rivers running through industrial cities are probably close to (if not in) this category.

According to Wikipedia the upper reaches of the Don are (or maybe were) used for drinking water

Boiling, chemical treatments* and some filters don't remove chemicals or heavy metals. Some filters and purifiers** have activated charcoal and other science-trickery to deal with non-organic hazards, expect to pay a premium for such products.


* Such as Chlorine or Iodine (Iodine is contra-indicated for quite a few medical conditions, such as thyroid problems and pregnancy)

** Purifiers either remove or kill Viruses, filters don't

[Devonian]

There will be 100's of small streams and water courses draining into the Don, look to source water from them rather then the main river itself as the EA will not allow such discharges into small streams.

[Yorkshire Andy]

With the lower don been tidal i know the ouse can carry salt a good way inland up from the humber / north sea

[sir2600]

Thanks guys the info you've all given is has been helpful to me, that bushcraft link has learnt me alot about purifying water so thankyou for that post. I think am going to try and find a smaller stream that's close by because it's only for a SHTF situation anyway but it's one more thing I can tick of the ever growing list of questions you just need the answer to thanks again sir2600