Are you living in a snowy area? You are curious in finding out whether glacier water is safe to drink or not. Right? Or you are an adventurer spending some time in a snowy area. You want to know whether it’s safe to drink. At the time of need?. We will tell you.
Glacier water is not generally considered safe to drink. It is because there are certain pollutants in snow that could eventually affect the purity of water. Here, we will share all about these pollutants and how they affect the quality of water in detail below. Moreover, you will also learn about ways to make glacier water pure.
Reading this guide will clear up all your doubts about Glacier usage. Stay with us to learn how to drink it safely at the time of need.
How Do You Check Whether Glacier Water Is Safe To Drink Or Not?
Glacier water may seem pure but in actuality, it may not. We have environmental scientists and water quality technicians working all around the world. They conduct a thorough test on the quality of water and detect hidden impurities present in it. Without the consent of water quality technicians, we cannot drink the glacier water. Be Careful, it may contain E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter and chemicals like Arsenic and Nitrates etc. All these bacteria and chemicals may harm your health.
You can easily check water by knowing its color and smell. The color appearing brown, green or murky suggests unclean water, which needs to be purified. Similarly, if the smell of it is unpleasant like rotten eggs or chemicals, then surely, you should avoid that water.
There are some research kits, mainly Hach water quality test kits and API freshwater Master test kits. Our environmental scientists do research on glaciers with the help of testing equipment like field spectrometers. They use scientific tools like remote sensing technology and GPS devices. According to their findings, populations of wildlife and garbage have impacted the cleanliness of glacier’s water.
What Does Water From Glaciers Taste Like?
You can praise the glacier water because it has a clean and great taste. It offers a taste that is completely free from any unpleasant flavors. People who have experienced drinking glacier water provided positive feedback, such as its gentle sweetness. You may also find it very light due to lack of minerals. There are no extra chemicals present in it and no harmful substances.
Some glaciers may be present closer to the industrial areas which may pollute its water. While, some are found closer to the agricultural lands. These agricultural lands contain pesticides and fertilizers which affects its taste as well. So, what is the ideal location? Glaciers which are found on the mountains are considered to be pure with respect to their water content. Such glaciers that are located about 4900 feet till 9800 feet high above the earth have good characteristics. They contain pure water without the influence of human activities.
Pollutants In Glacier Waters
There are several types of pollutants that could affect the quality of water. These can be both natural and man-made. You need to keep these in mind before considering that shiny water to be completely pure. Let’s take a deep look into them.
Natural Pollutants
These are the natural potential pollutants that may affect the quality of the water.
- Minerals leached from the surrounding rocks.
- Organic matter from vegetation and soil.
- Microorganisms are naturally present in the environment.
- Sediments are carried by meltwater.
Man-made pollutants
Following are the potential man-made pollutants that could also play a role in it.
- Industrial pollutants such as heavy metals and chemicals from nearby factories or mining activities.
- Agricultural runoff contains pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides.
- Trash and debris deposited by human activities.
- Pollution from vehicles and machinery used in glacier tourism or research expeditions.
How To Make Glacier Water Safe To Drink?
Glacier water generally may not be safe to drink, but it could be made with some changes. Following are some measures that could be taken to ensure its safety for drinking:
- Filtration: Utilize water filtration systems designed to remove contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, and chemical pollutants.
- Boiling: Boiling glacier water can also be an effective remedy. It could kill harmful microbes and pathogens. It can reduce the risk of waterborne illnesses. Boiling water from a glacier in a rolling boil is a convenient option. Inside it , water keeps boiling at 100 degree Celsius with bubbles arising from it. In this way harmful germs like Cryptosporidium are killed effectively.
- Chemical Treatment: Chemical disinfectants like chlorine or iodine tablets can also be used to purify glacier water. These chemicals can kill harmful microbes and pathogens present in glacier water and make it safe to drink.
These are some ways to purify glacier water. Now, it is cleaned from all the germs. Many people love to drink glacier water, which they buy from the market. It is commercially available as well.. It is very pure. Many brand companies use the above methods to clean that water. And finally they are packaged in bottles.
Final Words
Yes, glacier water is normally good, but it may not be completely pure, so you should not consider it completely safe to drink. You can drink it at the time of need, but consider boiling it before even doing so. But if you live around glaciers or are thinking of using them more often, you should consider thorough testing.
You may check its purity by ph levels as well. Or you can also send a sample to the laboratory for thorough testing. If you don’t have anything else, take a deep look at its physical properties before drinking.
