Using the backcountry in Alberta means visiting remote areas in the foothills and mountains. Never assume that water in the backcountry like water from lakes, streams, rivers, or springs, is safe to drink.
Use only boiled, treated, or bottled water for:
- drinking
- preparing food
- washing dishes
- brushing your teeth
Water treatment
Portable water filters clean water by forcing it through a very fine strainer (mesh). This can trap germs that can make you sick, like bacteria, parasites, and viruses.
Use this
table to learn the best ways to treat your drinking water.
Boiling water
Boiling your water is the best way to make sure the water is safe.
Let the water cool to a safe temperature before you use it.
Chemicals
If you can't boil your water, filter it first and use chemicals to make it safer. Use chlorine and iodine to kill bacteria and viruses. These chemicals won’t kill all the parasites. Whenever possible boil your water to make sure it’s safe to drink.
Learn
how to make your drinking water safe when you can't boil it.
Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection pen
UV light can help make water safe by killing germs. It will only work if your water is very clear. It will not work if your water is cloudy or has floating debris.
Before you use a UV disinfection pen, let your water sit for a while so that any small particles (sediment) have time to settle. Follow the directions for your UV disinfection pen exactly.
You also need to use a water filter or use chemicals to make your water safe.
