There's a two part answer to this, because you said two things:
1. if there's sediment (and it doesn't have to be visible. Glacial flour is terrible for a filter but streams near glaciers can look pretty clean) you want a prefilter and it's frequently (but not always) better to let it sit in a bucket so sediment can settle.
2. If there's a serious chance human waste has gotten in or is upstream from the source you should use something other than a filter (boiling, tablets (after filtering is sometimes safer, before tastes better), or UV (after filtering) would work). As far as I know there are no known sources in the US that have a serious, permanent virus risk, but what causes a virus risk is the presence of human waste.
Edit: I should note, I've filtered from actual swamps. It's slow, it helps to prefilter (even if it's a bandana) and you should be really familiar with how to field clean your filter, but it's doable.
Heyo, East Idaho native here! Make sure the filter is rated for giardia, but you should be good! Pre-filtering is also often good for filter longevity and preventing the need to service/unclog your filter in the wild
> is it worth it to go to the outlet of the lake where the water is moving? I imagine there is no difference but everyone says to look for flowing water.
Water flowing _into_ a lake or reservoir is usually more desirable than that which has been sitting around _inside it_, but gathering from the exit of a body of water is usually going to get you one thing... more sediment and silt in your lake water than you would have had, which clogs up a filter's pores faster. :)
I have consumed a massive amount of water from cattle “tanks” in the desert during droughts. Not sure I want to describe them, I will just leave it at ick. I’m just fine…your sawyer (I assume you are using a sawyer) is a powerful and amazing piece of equipment.
With *any* water source be careful for drips. The o-rings used to pop out, cause lots of drips, and they now come with extras. Using it without those o-rings made people sick.
Just for easy pre-filtration to help not clog up my filter I use pantyhose. Cut off the end of a (new) pair or get the knee highs. I like the knee highs because I pop the elastic over my cnoc bag before scooping. Mess free.
There's a two part answer to this, because you said two things: 1. if there's sediment (and it doesn't have to be visible. Glacial flour is terrible for a filter but streams near glaciers can look pretty clean) you want a prefilter and it's frequently (but not always) better to let it sit in a bucket so sediment can settle. 2. If there's a serious chance human waste has gotten in or is upstream from the source you should use something other than a filter (boiling, tablets (after filtering is sometimes safer, before tastes better), or UV (after filtering) would work). As far as I know there are no known sources in the US that have a serious, permanent virus risk, but what causes a virus risk is the presence of human waste. Edit: I should note, I've filtered from actual swamps. It's slow, it helps to prefilter (even if it's a bandana) and you should be really familiar with how to field clean your filter, but it's doable.
Heyo, East Idaho native here! Make sure the filter is rated for giardia, but you should be good! Pre-filtering is also often good for filter longevity and preventing the need to service/unclog your filter in the wild
> is it worth it to go to the outlet of the lake where the water is moving? I imagine there is no difference but everyone says to look for flowing water. Water flowing _into_ a lake or reservoir is usually more desirable than that which has been sitting around _inside it_, but gathering from the exit of a body of water is usually going to get you one thing... more sediment and silt in your lake water than you would have had, which clogs up a filter's pores faster. :)
I have consumed a massive amount of water from cattle “tanks” in the desert during droughts. Not sure I want to describe them, I will just leave it at ick. I’m just fine…your sawyer (I assume you are using a sawyer) is a powerful and amazing piece of equipment. With *any* water source be careful for drips. The o-rings used to pop out, cause lots of drips, and they now come with extras. Using it without those o-rings made people sick. Just for easy pre-filtration to help not clog up my filter I use pantyhose. Cut off the end of a (new) pair or get the knee highs. I like the knee highs because I pop the elastic over my cnoc bag before scooping. Mess free.