this post was submitted on 04 Jun 2025
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[–] Hupf@feddit.org 3 points 6 days ago
[–] Kyrgizion@lemmy.world 187 points 1 week ago (6 children)

A Brita filter =/= a survival straw. There ARE filters you can use to drink directly from water sources in nature that will filter out all contaminants but a Brita ain't one.

[–] jodanlime@midwest.social 65 points 1 week ago

Exactly, there are filters for tap water and there are backpacking or survival filters for filtering dirty water. I use both regularly, but wouldn't ever take my filter pitcher hiking.

[–] LH0ezVT@sh.itjust.works 20 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Imagine using the right product for the right job

[–] Artyom@lemm.ee 5 points 6 days ago

You must be new here?

[–] AshLassay@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Do those straws also take out pathogens? I thought you’d still need to boil the water pre filtering.

[–] Stitch0815@feddit.org 39 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Yes

At least bacteria. Viruses are a whole different beast but usually viruses are also not the problem in natural watersources.

Be free comes to mind, very popular in europe. Sawyer filters are very popular in the US

There are also combo filters that filter sediment and bacteria and pass the water through a charcoal filter to remove taste and organics.

[–] This2ShallPass@lemmy.world 28 points 1 week ago (1 children)

From Lifestraw website:

The majority of LifeStraw products for individual use are microfilters with an absolute pore size of 0.2 microns which remove bacteria, parasites, microplastics, and dirt/silt.

LifeStraw also manufactures ultrafilters/purifiers that, in addition to the above contaminants, also remove viruses. The absolute pore size on these purifiers is 0.02 micron.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

Said a moment ago, one saved my ass. Cut the top off a beer can and sucked river water out of it kayaking. Tasted like nothing, like tap water that's been in the sun for a while.

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[–] Apytele@sh.itjust.works 83 points 1 week ago (6 children)

I feel like boiling PLUS the Brita would be a pretty solid combo. Boil to kill everything then Brita to remove the remaining inert sediment. I can't think of any metals or anything that there would be enough of in river water to hurt you after you've killed anything that was alive.

[–] hydrospanner@lemmy.world 47 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I can't think of any metals or anything that there would be enough of in river water to hurt you

We're talking about rivers like the one in Cleveland that they caught on fire?

Twice?!

IDK what's in that but I'll leave my cup for you haha

[–] Floodedwomb@lemmy.world 23 points 1 week ago (3 children)

It happened 13 times. But not since 1969. The Cuyahoga is now a shining example of environmental restoration with even the most polluted sections meeting the standards of the water quality act.

[–] piccolo@sh.itjust.works 18 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

"we must make america great again. The woke mob has stolen our beautiful burning rivers. We aim to bring them back bigger and better!"

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[–] slaacaa@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Yes, this is what I was told in a survival course (as a company team building). You have to filter out large particles, even a few layers of cloths is enough. Then you boil it to get rid of bacteria or other problematic stuff.

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Wouldn't boiling first be better so you don't end up with a bacteria colony in your filter?

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[–] finitebanjo@lemmy.world 74 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (12 children)

Boil your water, then after it cools run it through a charcoal and/or osmosis filter. Even then, it's still not great. Commercial/community water treatment isn't some silly little optional process.

[–] WolfLink@sh.itjust.works 25 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Get a water filter that’s designed for camping. The two varieties I’ve seen are either a hand pump or using gravity to force the water through a ceramic filter. Try to pick water that is relatively clean looking (not obviously murky, and it helps to pick flowing water).

Best tasting water I’ve ever had and you won’t get giardia (the most common cause of diarrhea symptoms described above).

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[–] mcteazy@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 week ago

The biggest risk out in the woods is microorganisms. If you boil it or use a well designed filter you are likely going to be fine if you're drinking otherwise clear water.

I wouldn't just filter the water from the Hudson river and go to town, but if it's 10 miles to the nearest road I think you're probably doing better than your tap

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[–] Scott_of_the_Arctic@lemmy.world 51 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

I had a similar experience at a pseudo pagan ritual/drum thing/moonlit naked dance thing. They'd stocked the sweat lodge with several bottles of water. Some for drinking and others full of river water for tossing on the stones. I failed to correctly identify them in the dark and was very sick as a result.

Editted for spelling

[–] LH0ezVT@sh.itjust.works 57 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (8 children)
$ sudo pagan ritual
sudo: pagan: command not found

PS: I am appropriately sad that I am a person that knows linux and not a person that visits moonlit naked dancing rituals. Meh, you can't have it all.

[–] ConstantPain@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago

You forgot the path "ritual/drum thing/moonlit".

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[–] considine@lemmy.ml 25 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Since people are just going to make command line jokes and leave you confused, the spelling is "pseudo".

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[–] NewDayRocks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 31 points 1 week ago (2 children)

The missed pro tip: don't believe everything you see on tv

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 18 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Are you saying the media would LIE??? On TELEVISION??? Are you sure about this?

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[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 29 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Welcome to giardia or whatever other parasites and bacteria are in natural water sources.

Pretty much all natural surface water, no matter the source, is gonna have stuff in it that can make you sick. Maybe some cramps and diarrhea, some potentially lethal. Any time you drink untreated water it’s a risk no matter the “bro science” about how some is “safe”. Even glacial water has bacteria in it. Just some sources the concentration of bad stuff is going to be low enough that your body can hopefully deal with it without you becoming symptomatic.

Use proper filters and treatments designed for biologically contaminated water, or filter and boil your water before consuming. Stay safe out there!

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

IDK why, but your comment made me think of a really awful business idea... Immunity building microdose water. Basically you sell and advertise water that has a few parts per billion bacteria to build your immune system.

Will you get sick, maybe? Do we accept any liability... no it says so right on the bottle.

Drink of that with a few bites of Crunchy Frog candy.

Delectable.

[–] Fleur_@aussie.zone 5 points 6 days ago (1 children)

How come animals are fine drinking it? And what about pre industrial people? Was everyone just always sick?

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Plenty of animals are riddled with parasites, and early humans absolutely got sick. Think of all the cholera epidemics even in recent history. I’m sure some animals get sick but I’d bet their stomachs are a far harsher environment for bacteria and parasites to survive so it’s less likely for them to be ill.

[–] Fleur_@aussie.zone 6 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Honesty didn't expect the answer to be "yeah they are just sick all the time lmao"

[–] Contramuffin@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

If parasites weren't an effective life strategy, there wouldn't be parasites in the world

[–] Baguette@lemmy.blahaj.zone 26 points 1 week ago (3 children)

If you're going anywhere in the wilderness for an extended amount of time, it's best to have the person driving to bring a case of water in the trunk for this situation (and also first aid)

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[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 20 points 1 week ago (1 children)

We went on a vacay when I was maybe twelve. Canada and Montana, saw a moose, hiked in the forest. My dad told me to drink from a stream. The water seemed super fresh and clean.

I puked my guts out at the airport and on the flight home. Other people were donating their barf bags on the plane because I was so sick. My mom was really pissed at my dad.

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 12 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I grew up in Canada and regularly drank from the streams. Bad luck

[–] BootLoop@sh.itjust.works 3 points 6 days ago

I regularly drank from a stream in Canada as well haha. There was a stream fed by a spring near where we lived that we tested and was clean. We'd then fill up jugs right from the spring to drink at home.

[–] Numenor@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)
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[–] Natanael@infosec.pub 19 points 1 week ago

Some filters can do that, not all. Gotta check what your filter is rated for!

[–] ryedaft@sh.itjust.works 17 points 1 week ago

The Brita would (should) pull out various carcinogens from the water since they will stick to the filter rather than the water. But it won't do anything for bacteria, viruses, amoeba or any other protists. Which would make you acutely sick.

[–] tetris11@lemmy.ml 12 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Well yeah, next time wait for the water to trickle through the filter instead of gulping from the loading compartment

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