Water fountains, wells, streams – where to drink water on vacation?

A hiker weary from walking in 30-degree heat will welcome the sight of a roadside well or a cold mountain stream. But can water that looks clean or is marked as potable always be consumed without health risks? How safe are water fountains? Let’s clear up the doubts.

Drinking water fountains – be careful where and how you drink

In the vast majority of developed countries, water from urban fountains meets sanitary standards, as long as it is properly marked (e.g. drinking water/potable water). However, this does not mean it is 100% safe for direct consumption.

The problem lies not so much in the water itself, but in the infrastructure and the thousands of people using it. According to researchers from São Paulo, fountains located in public spaces can be contaminated with dangerous microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus or Salmonella bacteria, which grow on tap surfaces and basins. Paradoxically, illness can occur not from the water itself, but from touching the tap or bringing your mouth close to the spout.

Researchers from the Pacific Institute, who analyzed dozens of reports on public fountain contamination in the USA, also warn about noroviruses and rotaviruses (causing so-called stomach flu), as well as viruses that attack the respiratory tract. All it takes is for someone to sneeze or cough on the tap while drinking for an infection to spread to a wider group. They also point to heavy metals – especially lead and copper – as an additional threat, as these can leach into the water from corroding, rarely inspected pipes.

In Poland too, drinking fountains can pose a health risk. Scientists from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń examined four such points in 2013 – E. coli and fecal streptococci were found in three of them. In 2009, 27 species of fungi were identified in fountains in Olsztyn, half of which were pathogenic.

A well? Only if you know the source

Quenching thirst with water from a roadside well may also not be the healthiest option. The fact that the water comes from underground does not guarantee its safety – by law, every well owner is required to have the water tested, but results can vary significantly.

Potential contamination may be caused by anything from leaks to flooding. After last year’s flood in the Lower Silesian region, the Provincial Sanitary Inspectorate in Wrocław identified numerous wells with exceeded microbiological and physicochemical standards. The PIS warned at the time about the risk of diarrhea, muscle weakness, and general malaise from consuming such water.

Even if there hasn’t been a flood recently, contamination of the aquifer by sewage or industrial toxins is still possible. To confidently drink water straight from a well, it’s worth… asking the owner for recent lab test results.

Mountain streams can be deceptive too

The last hope of a thirsty hiker – a crystal-clear mountain stream – can also hold unpleasant surprises. In the mountains, there are shelters, pastures, roads, and even homes, and any watercourse situated downstream from them can be contaminated with microorganisms or chemical compounds.

Last autumn, after several teenagers were poisoned in the Tatra Mountains, the Sanitary Inspectorate openly appealed to avoid drinking directly from mountain streams. One of the risks cited was the large number of tourists on the trails and the very limited number of toilets. The widespread practice of “going behind a bush” may seem harmless, but it negatively impacts the quality of surface waters, as highlighted in our campaign The 10 deadly sins of the unaware tourist.

As for water, that from a guesthouse tap – while it may not taste great – is far safer than that from springs, wells, or streams along the trail. Unfortunately, we live in a time when nature itself needs purification!

main photo: mediazeit/Pixabay