Should you filter water in the Bankhead National Forest before drinking it?

Sipsey Fork rapids ~ Photo credit: Tony Barber

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​The quick answer is yes, most definitely!

The Sipsey Fork is Alabama's only Wild and Scenic River, protected under the Wild and Scenic rivers act of 1968. It is part of the larger Black Warrior watershed. The headwaters of the Sipsey Fork undulate freely and without restraint off the Tennessee Valley Divide, a ridge line that runs generally east/west separating the Tennessee Valley and Black Warrior watersheds. For tens of thousands of years, indigeneous peoples, settlers and now locals have used this pathway for many reasons. It's continued high elevation allows for unobstructed travel without having to navigate the intricate canyons and precipitous slopes. These unique features provide outstanding opportunities for water to shed and filter through boulders and creek beds creating pristine clear waters that are necessary for the health of the ecosystems they support. 

Settlers began to populate the area in the early 1800s bringing with them farming and homesteading practices that would influence the quality of water. Non native plant and animal species such as privet and wild pigs have been introduced to the landscape. The headwaters of the Sipsey Fork have no specific upstream threats such as chicken houses or runoff from farms. The threats to the water quality are local on the landscape. Wild pigs and unburied solid dog and human waste can cause e-coli to be present in the water. When unfiltered water is consumed by recreationists it can cause gastrointestinal issues. Other threats to water quality include sedimentation due to runoff from unsustainable hiking trails and "user made" trails but that is an entirely different blog post. 

What are the best ways to treat water? 

The most traditional way to treat water is through boiling. This would involve resources such as a camp stove or fire to heat. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends boiling water for at least one minute with increased times at higher elevation. Further guidance can be found HERE. The disadvantage to this method is having to wait for it to cool down enough that you won't burn your mouth. If you are in a critical position where you are nearly dehydrated, this is not a feasible method. 

Another method of filtering water is to use a water filtration system that uses a carbon cartridge. Popular brands like Katadyn make several light weight models. The drawback to this method is trying to filter murky standing water. Pro tip: cover the prefilter with an additional prefilter, a paper coffee filter. Take extra according to how many you may need on your trip. Another consideration is they do freeze in winter which can crack the plastic or clog the tubes. 

One of the most effective methods are tablets. Some brands kill everything from viruses to bacteria. You put the recommended amount into a one liter Nalgene bottle and wait at least 20 minutes. Add more time if the water is cold. The disadvantage of this method is the wait time if you are in a pressing situation with dehydration. 

A final method of filtering water is through UV treatment. This method will also kill bacteria and viruses. It can be expensive but it takes the least amount of time among all of the methods of water treatment. The downside is the water MUST be free of debris so prefilter, prefilter, prefilter. 

There are other ways that I did not mention here like LifeStraws and more. Feel free to leave your water filtration advice in the comments.

What can YOU do to help improve and sustain good water quality in the Bankhead National Forest? 

• Bury both human and dog waste in a 6-8 inch "cathole" or simply pack out all solid waste.
• Clean camp dishes at least 200 feet from water. 
• Volunteer to help improve the quality of the trails. Learn about the Legacy Trails project. 
• Stay abreast on water quality issues through reputable organizations such as Alabama Water Watch, Alabama Rivers Alliance or Black Warrior Riverkeeper.

Kim Waites is a Leave No Trace Level Two Instructor, Wilderness First Responder. She has over 15 years of hiking and backpacking experience and teaches courses on LNT, map reading, Ten Hiking Essentials and more. She can be contacted at [email protected]