Safe drinking water in Scotland?

[billymitchell90]

Alot of people I speak to are under the impression that any flowing water in Scotland is safe to drink but I don't believe that. What kinda water is safest to drink? can you drink water from a lake if you filter/boil/purify it??

Any tips or advice on this would be much appreciated as every other post has been.

Thanks

Billy

 

[brambles]

Well. given that there is only one lake in Scotland, it should'nt be difficult to find out how good the water there is

For a real answer though, common sense is your best ally. I would'nt drink from the Forth or the Clyde but have drunk from countless mountain burns and managed to get to 46 without lurgey

 

[billymitchell90]

Haha ya ken what I mean, lochs, rivers etc. Yeah I wouldn't drink out of the tay myself. Say for example I take some water from Loch Fiskally and boil it, and use a purification tablet will it be ok to drink and cook with?

 

[Ronnie]

Mountain burns without houses upstream are almost always safe.

Be aware that the spring dieoff can mean there are dead deer in the watercourses - the Highlands has far too many red deer. A good briskly flowing mountain burn tumbling falling and splashing oxidises the hell out any micro organisms and has a powerful sterilising effect.

Using a quality activated charcoal microbial water filter you can drink just about anything. Freshwater lochs tend to be pretty clean and the higher the altitude and the more remote they are, the cleaner they'll be. Lower altitude lochs are more likely to be contaminated with agrichemicals and effluent particularly if their watersheds drain inhabited or agricultural land.

 

[Goatboy]

Well. given that there is only one lake in Scotland, it should'nt be difficult to find out how good the water there is

For a real answer though, common sense is your best ally. I would'nt drink from the Forth or the Clyde but have drunk from countless mountain burns and managed to get to 46 without lurgey

A Furryboot City mans got to 46 and no learned no tae wind up a Clootie city man wi-out the fear oh gettin' his pus skelpped?

Aye it's all about location as to wether I'd drink from it, most fast flowing wee burns I'm happy with. Do have a filter for loch water though boiling it's also good. (Don't forget the Cremola Foam in case the water tastes p***!)

 

[John Fenna]

Stick to whisky!

 

[billymitchell90]

Stick to whisky!

Of course that's the first thing to remember to pack! Nah but the reason I ask this is that I am fed up of taking water for cooking with its so much weight. I would like to maybe take one drinking bottle (for drinking) and then get some water from a lake to use for cooking.

 

[Goatboy]

Stick to whisky!

That'll be Stewarts Cream Of The Barley in Dundee Mr Fenna, you sure? Actually it's not bad at all, used to be my cheap sippin' whisky of choice at one time long ago.

 

[brambles]

A Furryboot City mans got to 46 and no learned no tae wind up a Clootie city man wi-out the fear oh gettin' his pus skelpped?

Shire over city, mannie! And as for fear of a Dundonian reaching as far up as "ma puss" - having spent 5 years in Dundee at university, either the average height has increased or they all now carry step ladders! Still have lots of good memories of the pubs there and working the door at Fatties though

 

[billymitchell90]

working the door at Fatties though

bet that was great..