View Full Version : Snow and rain water
marty1983
11-28-2011, 19:30
Hello Everyone,
I'm new to the forum and new to hiking. I am going to be hiking the southern A.T. in late February thru April and was wondering if it is safe to use melted snow and rain water once the temp warms up for drinking. I'm from Iowa and I know it's safe to do here but recently I have heard about acid rain along the trail. Obviously, I wouldn't need to worry about bacterial or viral contamination from normal percepitation, just the acidity of the water.
Thanks for all your help!
Marty
hikerboy57
11-28-2011, 19:34
stay away from pink snow(which is a sign of bacteria), and of course yellow snow.although its not very fuel efficient to melt snow for drinking water.seeing that sometimes youre miles from nowhere, play it safe and treat it anyway.
johnnybgood
11-28-2011, 19:43
Don't think its a big deal , try it and report back with your findings.
ChinMusic
11-28-2011, 20:09
Obviously, I wouldn't need to worry about bacterial or viral contamination from normal percepitation, just the acidity of the water.
Thanks for all your help!
Marty
Marty - Acidity in a ZERO issue from precipitation. Any soft drink has many magnitudes more acid.
There are so many water sources that you'll never need to melt snow to get drinking water.
jhensley
11-28-2011, 22:01
I would assume that if you had to melt snow you could run it through a charcoal filter to remove any doubt you have about the pH.
shelterbuilder
11-28-2011, 22:14
If you do ever have to melt snow (and it takes a LOT of fuel), start with a little water in the pot and add some snow; as it melts, add more snow. If you start with all snow, you'll actually scorch the pot and the water will taste wierd - like you burned it!
If you're out in a lot of snow, and get thirsty hiking, make a little snowball using clean snow (half the size of an ice cube), pack it really, really tightly, then pop it into your mouth. Don't swallow it, but let the heat from your mouth melt the snow. As the snow ball becomes saturated, suck out the liquid water; repeat until melted, then start again with another snow ball! (This is a variation of an old Eskimo trick - I know, because I met the old Eskimo once!) ;)
Slo-go'en
11-28-2011, 22:28
People worry about the silliest things.
Actually, acid rain is more of a problem here in the north east, as we're down wind of all the coal fired electrical plants in the midwest. Acid rain killed off a lot of a certian species of spruce trees here, especially those around tree line where the soil was marginal to begin with. I belive the problem was the acidity leached out minerials in the rocks and soil which the trees didn't like. However, acid rain resistant trees are slowly taking thier place, so it isn't as noticable as it once was.
Anyway, acid rain has no effect for drinking and the water in the southern (and northern) appalachians is really good, straight out of the earth. It's water in the middle streach of the trail one should be a little more careful of. And aviod streams down in the valley, which can be contaminated with agricultural run off.
marty1983
11-29-2011, 02:10
Thanks for all the feedback folks! And yes Slo-go'en, I do often worry about the silliest things as I find those are most often the things that come back to bite me in the arse!! :)
I would assume that if you had to melt snow you could run it through a charcoal filter to remove any doubt you have about the pH.
It's true... You will have all kinds of springs and streams to use for your water supply in the southern AT. And there is no danger to humans from the minute change in acidity in precipitation in the south; we certainly eat and drink things that are much worse for our bodies. But... a charcoal filter is not that effective for pH control. The acid ion does not bind well with charcoal; for acid control you need another chemical in the filter (ammonia, for example) or an ion exchange resin. I haven't heard of any filters that buffer acid or provide ion exchange in the filter core. Big deal, so what...
It's true... You will have all kinds of springs and streams to use for your water supply in the southern AT. And there is no danger to humans from the minute change in acidity in precipitation in the south; we certainly eat and drink things that are much worse for our bodies. But... a charcoal filter is not that effective for pH control. The acid ion does not bind well with charcoal; for acid control you need another chemical in the filter (ammonia, for example) or an ion exchange resin. I haven't heard of any filters that buffer acid or provide ion exchange in the filter core. Big deal, so what...
You are right.Carbon filter has no effect on adjusting the acidity or alkalinity.