11/01/2026
What happens if you drink standing water in the mountains? 💧
Clear and cold doesn't mean clean. Germs like Giardia and Crypto come from animal (and human) p**p, and Giardia symptoms usually show up 1–2 weeks later.
• Flowing water is a better pick than a still, scummy pond, but it still needs treating
• Boil 1 minute (3 minutes above 6,500 ft), or filter and disinfect
• Skip green, scummy water: boiling doesn't remove algae toxins
Save this for your next hike and send it to the friend who "just takes one sip." 🥾
Sources: CDC – Water Treatment for Hiking, Camping & Traveling (2025); CDC – Giardia (2024); CDC – Harmful Algal Blooms (2024); Wilderness Medical Society – Water Disinfection Guidelines (2024).
backcountry water safety | hiking tips | camping water treatment | Giardia | water filter