SURFACE WATER

Surface Water: What Could Be Your Problems?

When camping, hiking, or traveling by RV, you may plan to use water from a lake, river, stream, pond, or another natural source.

Knowing the possible problems from surface water helps you determine what treatment you need and what your filter or treatment system must be able to handle.

See Common Problems of Surface Water

IN THIS GUIDE

What surface water isExposed water that can be affected by its surroundings

What you may noticeSediment, cloudiness, color, algae, taste, and odor

What you may not noticeMicroorganisms, chemicals, pesticides, and other contaminants

What actually needs treatmentStart with the source and the problem. Test when needed.

Start here

What Is Surface Water?

Surface water is water that comes from exposed sources such as lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, reservoirs, and some springs.

Unlike protected groundwater sources, surface water is directly exposed to the surrounding environment. Rain, runoff, soil, wildlife, and activities around the source can all affect the water.

This means the condition of surface water can vary depending on the source, the surrounding area, and recent weather conditions.

Unlike protected groundwater sources, surface water is exposed to the surrounding environment. Rain, runoff, soil, wildlife, and activities around the source can all affect the water, so conditions may change with the source, surrounding area, and weather.

What you can notice

Noticeable Surface Water Problems

Some surface-water problems are easy to see, smell, or taste.

Others become noticeable only after the water enters your home or starts affecting filters, plumbing, fixtures, or appliances.

Start with what you can see, smell, taste, or observe.

Sediment & Cloudy Water

What you may notice: Water that looks cloudy or muddy, or contains visible sand, silt, grit, or other particles.
Why it can happen: Surface water can pick up soil, clay, silt, plant material, and other particles from the surrounding environment. Rain, runoff, erosion, flooding, and changes in water flow can increase the amount of sediment in the water.
What it means: Sediment can vary with the source and weather conditions. Large or frequent amounts can clog filters and affect pumps, hoses, tanks, and other water equipment.
What to do next: If sediment may be present, prepare a sediment filter to remove particles before the water enters your RV or other equipment.

Understand Sediment

Color, Algae & Organic Material

What you may notice: Discolored water, visible algae or plant material, or water that suddenly looks different from the source.
Why it can happen: Surface water can contain natural organic material, plant material, and nutrients carried into the source by runoff. Warm weather, sunlight, and other conditions can also support algae growth in lakes, ponds, and other surface waters.
What it means: Color and visible material can have different causes. A change in appearance does not by itself tell you what is in the water or whether a particular treatment will work.
What to do next: Prepare the appropriate treatment for the concern: pre-filtration for visible material, activated carbon for some taste and odor issues, and disinfection when microorganisms are a concern.

Understand Water Color & Algae

Unusual Taste or Odor

What you may notice: Earthy, musty, grassy, stagnant, metallic, or otherwise unusual taste or odor.
Why it can happen: Taste and odor can be affected by organic material, algae, minerals, microorganisms, and other substances in the source. Surface-water conditions can also change with weather and other changes around the source.
What it means: A noticeable taste or odor does not by itself identify what is causing it. Different substances may require different treatment.
What to do next: If taste or odor may be a concern, prepare activated carbon or another treatment designed for the specific substances that may affect the water.

Understand Water Taste & Odor

Hard Water & Mineral Deposits

What you may notice: White mineral deposits around faucets, shower surfaces, sinks, or other water equipment.
Why it can happen: Surface water can contain dissolved calcium, magnesium, and other minerals depending on the source and surrounding geology.
What it means: Hard water is not usually the main concern when using surface water for camping, but mineral deposits can build up in an RV’s plumbing, fixtures, and water-using equipment.
What to do next: If you plan to use surface water in an RV and want to reduce mineral buildup, consider preparing a water softener for the water supply.

Understand Hard Water

What you may not notice

Other Things That May Be Present

Surface water can look clear and clean while still containing problems you cannot see. Unlike protected water sources, it is directly exposed to the surrounding environment, making it more vulnerable to contamination.

Microorganisms and other contaminants may be present without changing the water’s appearance, taste, or odor. You cannot reliably judge these concerns by looking at the water.

For this reason, surface water should be approached with treatment in mind, especially when it will be used for drinking. Knowing that a source looks clean is not enough — plan for the treatment your water may require before you use it.

Microorganisms

What may be present: Bacteria, viruses, parasites, algae, and other microorganisms can be present in natural surface water.
What it means: Surface water supports a diverse and changing microbial environment. Even during short-term use, exposure to certain microorganisms can cause illness, especially when the water is used for drinking or cooking.

Learn About Microbial Concerns

Nutrients & Algae-Related Concerns

What may be present: Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, algae, cyanobacteria, and substances produced by certain algae may be present in surface water.
What it means: Excess nutrients can support algae and cyanobacteria growth. Certain types may produce substances that can affect water quality and make the water unsuitable for drinking or other uses.

Learn About Algae & Water Quality

Chemicals & Pesticides

What may be present: Pesticides, fertilizers, petroleum-related substances, industrial chemicals, metals, and other contaminants may be present in surface water.
What it means: The potential impact depends on the substance, concentration, and exposure. Some contaminants can create health concerns even when they do not change the water’s appearance, taste, or odor.

Learn About Chemical Concerns

Surface water can change

Your Water May Not Be the Same All Year

Surface water can change quickly with weather, season, and conditions around the source. Water that looks suitable when you arrive may be different later during your trip.

Heavy rain, flooding, dry periods, and seasonal changes can affect sediment, microorganisms, algae, organic material, and other characteristics of the water. These changes can happen even when you use the same source repeatedly.

For short-term use, this means your treatment plan should account for changing water conditions, not just what the source looks like when you first collect it.

Learn More About Changing Water Conditions

A common misconception

Clear Water Doesn’t Mean Safe Water

Surface water can look clean while containing concerns that cannot be identified by appearance, taste, or odor. At the same time, cloudy, colored, or unpleasant-smelling water does not tell you exactly what is causing the problem.

Appearance can help you notice changes in the water, but it cannot tell you whether the water is safe to drink.

Know What to Check

Your next step

Choose Your Next Step

When you plan to use surface water while camping, you may not know exactly what is in the source before you arrive. Your goal is to choose a suitable source, understand what you may encounter, and have the right treatment ready before you use the water.

Choose Your Water Source

Start with the available surface-water sources and consider the conditions around each one. Look for the source that appears most suitable for your intended use rather than assuming that every nearby source is the same.

Know What to Look For

Know What Your Water May Contain

Surface water can contain sediment, microorganisms, algae-related concerns, chemicals, and other problems that may not be obvious. Knowing the possible concerns helps you understand what your treatment needs to handle.

See Common Surface-Water Problems

Plan Your Treatment

Choose treatment based on the problems your source may present and how you plan to use the water. For drinking and cooking, make sure your treatment is designed to address the concerns that matter for that use.

Find the Right Treatment

Know Your Water. Then Choose What to Do.

Surface water can change with weather, season, and conditions around the source. It may contain problems you can see, as well as concerns you cannot identify by appearance, taste, or odor.

For camping, the goal is to choose a suitable source, understand what the water may contain, and have treatment ready for the problems your water may present.

Start with your source. Know what it may contain. Then choose the treatment.

Continue to the Water Treatment Guide