Potability of backcountry water
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The potability of backcountry water is uncertain. Though it is sometimes believed that natural sources of water in backcountry or wilderness areas are clean and potable, and this may once have been so, this water is often unsafe to drink.
Large rivers may be tainted with pesticide runoff and industrial pollutants from sources far upstream, but water in the backcountry, where people usually go for hiking or backpacking, originates nearby and is free from these hazards. The most common danger is microbial.
In most parts of the world, water may contain bacterial or protist contamination originating from human and animal waste. Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium spp., both of which cause diarrhea (see giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis) are common pathogens. Viruses may also be found in water, but are not common in developed countries.
See also: Portable water purification
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