Across every continent except Antarctica are found above ground or underground caverns. These landforms are usually made of limestone or calcium carbonate. When above or underground water dissolves this very soluble rock, the result is a cavern, a waterfall, a lake, a sinkhole or any number of topographical changes. This is called karst topography.
Since these Karst areas are often depressed, water will collect in such areas. When such depressions are found near residential areas, they make ideal sources of water: the water is already clear and the supply is often endless. This water is assumed to be pure because it has flowed underground, unaffected by manufacturing contamination. It is water in its pristine purest form, many believe. However, recent studies show that this may be a serious misjudgment.
This study of karst water in East Tennessee revealed the presence of viruses and bacteria connected with human waste. One clear evidence of this is the presence of e coli bacteria. The water being tested in Knoxville had not yet been treated for residential use and thus was not a threat to the people in the community.
The results of the study did not surprise everyone. Many scientists are aware that karst aquifers are very susceptible to fecal contamination because of their location. Basin type draining tends to collect anything and everything off the surface of the land, leaving the water unfit for human use no mater what it looks like.
As we said, this was not a threat to the safety of those drinking the residential water. The concern is two-fold. First, some visitors to the area may assume the clear water in the karst aquifer is obviously safe and drink it as is. This could lead to serious illness. The other concern is for those whose source of drinking or cooking water is from a karst aquifer. Unknowingly, they could be exposing themselves to serious viral and bacterial contamination.
This study should evoke two responses from those reading this article. First, don’t assume a clear pool in a natural setting is automatically sanitary. It could be, in fact, the repository of all kinds of lethal material. If you are hiking, it is best to take your own water along, even if you will be a long way from any sign of life. A Sport Berkey helps you do this in a very convenient way.
Second, if you use a water source that is naturally filtered such as well or spring water, you would be wise to filter it before ingesting. Even if the water has been tested and deemed safe for drinking, an unknown contamination could occur and leave your whole family ill as a result.
Berkey water filters, for example, are able to filter out viral and bacterial contamination so effectively that it reaches an undetectable level. How refreshing to know for sure that your drinking water is safe for the whole family!
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Tags: Karst Water
If our water is 7 grains hard do we need to do anything to it before we filter it? Is it healthy to do any softening or neutralizing?
7 is between moderately hard and very hard. See this link:
http://www.fcwa.org/water/hardness.htm
The only issue this may cause for the filters is that they may require more cleaning to remove the mineral residue that accumulates on the outside of the filter. Otherwise this should not be of much concern and would not require softening prior to filtering.