Can i drink this?
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You can kill all the germs with tablets or by boiling, but you cant get the pollution out. So the answer is it depends on how clean the water is. Canal water in cities often has lots of oil and chemicals in it from all the boats and industry, boiling wont fix that. But sometimes it gets pretty clear in the country. Generally, the rule of thumb is the higher you go, the cleaner the water.
Same is true of rivers too really. Just dont collect water from industrial areas, or anywhere near factories, land drains that sort of thing. Up in the hills, it's much safer and you can usually be pretty sure that boiling or tablets will do the trick. If you get up into very high places, then sometimes the water is so clean you dont need to do anything with it, you just need to watch out for sheep.
I would not drink canal water anywhere.
Apart from the oil pollution mentioned, there is the inevitable 'accidental' emptying of toilets into the canal from boats. Canals are essentially stagnant.
Apart from the oil pollution mentioned, there is the inevitable 'accidental' emptying of toilets into the canal from boats. Canals are essentially stagnant.
If it's clear, you can drink it but might be sick then continue to drink it and it won't affect you anymore.
Don't recommend it but it works for me.
Don't recommend it but it works for me.
Can filtering through charcoal remove the heavy metals, pesticides and chemicals if you have no choice but to drink this tainted water?
Steve.
Steve.
if you must drink from such water use a filter/pump system, they are getting very good now and will filter to a very fine micron (size). your after the filter with a ceramic block in it and an iodine block, the ceramic filters the chemicals and the iodine kills any bugs, jobs a fish....
make sure you look into it propperly first though...
regards.
chris.
EdS
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Up to a point, yes, but it's a very limited thing. The charcoal doesnt actually filter the chemicals as such. The chemical molecules are minute and easily pass through the fairly coarse pores oft he charcoal - but the charcoal acts as a sort of pollution magnet. The chemicals kind of stick to the charcoal through a process called adsorption (not absorption). Charcoal filters reduce in efficiency very quickly and are only usually good for a couple of hundred litres at best. The best way to think of it, is that charcoal starts out by hoovering up a lot, but not all of the pollution and quickly gets filled up till it's just collecting a bit of it. Best used as a backstop when there might be pollution as well as bugs in the water, but you should not rely on them to clean water you suspect is heavily polluted.
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A gypsy well, dug a few metres next to a canal or river, would do some filtering. Do remember to cover it up.
EdS
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
SimonM
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
If you are near canals, get hold of a British Waterways key. They cost about a fiver (10 years ago anyway!) and open all the toilets, washrooms and taps on the canal system.
Simon
Simon
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SimonM
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Alright thanks for the answers i don't think i would drink from any canal near knottingley anyway or any other industrial town for that matter.I wouldnt like to camp out near here anyway i would think they are bigger and better forests obviously seek permission also.
