Water quality testing results

Testing Summary:

  • Sources Tested: 44

    • Springs: 13

    • Streams: 18

    • Lakes: 3

    • Beaver Ponds: 1

    • Pumps: 2

    • Cisterns: 1

    • Taps: 6

  • Drank from: 35

  • Didn’t Drink From 9

  • Why didn’t I drink from all sources

    • Because of my own observations, or because of Guthook warnings

Metals:

  • Number Tested: 28

  • Non Detects: 21

  • Highest:

    • Hand Pump Silver Hill: > 1.75 ppm

    • Hand Pump Morgan Stewart: 0.23 ppm

    • Rausch Creek: 0.18 ppm (very close to red water)

    • Beaver Pond:

    • Glasgow Town Shelter:

    • Little Schuylkill

    • Brook at 1902.6

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Other contaminants:

  • Turbidity is the cloudiness of water, which may be caused by suspended solids, microorganisms, and other particles. Although certain sediments are not necessary harmful, higher levels or turbidity are often associated with higher levels of pathogens.

  • Inorganic Chemicals may be naturally occurring or caused by anthropogenic activities such as industry and agriculture. Examples include arsenic, mercury, and nitrate.

  • Organic Chemicals are carbon based compounds which can enter waterways as runoff from agricultural land and through other human activities. Examples include atrazine and benzene.

  • Natural Organic Matter (NOMs) refers to organic material that comes from the presence of plants and animals. For example, tannins occur in many species of trees and plants. Tannins can leach out of these plants, and as water passes through decaying vegetation it can take on a brown tea-like appearance.

Additional information on contaminants and sanitation of backcountry drinking water sources: