Is a water purification system needed on this route?

Pray'nwalk

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2015. Levante, Avila-Toro & Sanabres, Ourense-Santiago
2017. Invierno & Oseira monastery

• Jul 10, 2015

• #1

In less than a month I leave the U.S. for my walk in Spain. It is time to eliminate everything unnecessary from my packing list. Originally I planned to take a Steripen along to purify the water (it uses ultraviolet light), but I know that I cannot carry a twenty pound pack from Avila to Santiago. Is the Steripen one of the things that should stay home?

 

Melensdad

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2016 SJPdP to Santiago, Finisterre. Hadrian's Way, 2015. Sections of the AT + National & State Park trails.

• Jul 11, 2015

• #2

Yes leave it home, it is not needed. Spain is a civilized western nation with safe drinking water.

Unless you plan to drink out of streams or rain puddles.

 

Robo

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Frances 15,16,18
VdlP 23, Invierno 23, Fisterra 23

• Jul 11, 2015

• #3

Not needed. I carried a couple of puri tabs for emergency use. Never used them.

 

Anniesantiago

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2006 to date: Over 21 Caminos. See signature line

• Jul 11, 2015

• #4

The only time I ever do NOT drink from the fountains is if it has been raining HARD and the streams are running brown.
On those days, I buy water or take it from the municipal supply at the albergue.
Otherwise, water is just fine from the fountains as long as you don't see a sign saying "non-potable."

If you DO make a mistake, head to the nearest bar and have a few shots of whiskey!
Joe did that one year, and he was fine.

 

nalod

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Frances 2011, Finnesterre 2011,Le Puy to SJPDP 2011& 2012,Via de la Plata,Sambrasa 2012, Mozarabe 2013, Portugees 2013.PartNorde 2011, VDPL 2014,St-Guilhem 2014.Espalion-Roncesvalles 2014.Levante2015

• Jul 11, 2015

• #5

Not needed.

 

KinkyOne

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

I'am not perfect, but I'm always myself!!!

• Jul 11, 2015

• #6

Pray'nwalk said:

In less than a month I leave the U.S. for my walk in Spain. It is time to eliminate everything unnecessary from my packing list. Originally I planned to take a Steripen along to purify the water (it uses ultraviolet light), but I know that I cannot carry a twenty pound pack from Avila to Santiago. Is the Steripen one of the things that should stay home?

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Hola, Teresa!
After Avila I haven't seen "no potable" even once. Only today after leaving Castronuño at San Juan dam there was a notice that water from a fuente wasn't analysed.
Leave it at home!

 

Oztrekker

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

I started in st jean and am currently in leon. My foot is blistered after my boots wore out.

Have completed many long distance treks longest is 1000 km, bibulmun track.

• Jul 11, 2015

• #7

Use chlorine tablets all the time. 1 TAB to 1 liter of water.

 

Tincatinker

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Donating Member

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2012

• Jul 11, 2015

• #8

I simply do not understand this obsession with the potability and availability of water. Spain is a highly civilised country with a wide range of beers and wines easily available. A rub down with a flannel soaked in vodka should cover most hygiene needs and if teeth cleaning is necessary after a particularly chewy piece of "buen carne" a quick gargle with some orujo should dissolve most organic substances.
No, you do not need to carry water purifying systems, steripens or dose your drinking water with chlorine (more likely to give you the screaming liquorice than anything swimming in your tooth- glass). Just take reasonable precautions, drink from public fonts rather than random streams and treat "agua non- potable" signs with the respect they deserve.

 

KinkyOne

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

I'am not perfect, but I'm always myself!!!

• Jul 12, 2015

• #9

Oztrekker said:

Use chlorine tablets all the time. 1 TAB to 1 liter of water.

Click to expand...

Tap water on Camino de Levante cities already has so much chlorine that sometimes I've had feeling that I'm drinking directly from the municipal swimming pool...

@Tincatinker's remark is spot on as (almost ) always!!!

 

WldWil

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2015 SJPDP - Halfway
2016 Fromista - The other half

• Jul 13, 2015

• #10

I understand the obsession. I am from the USA and have my own private drilled well system. I do not care to drink any municipal water if possible anywhere including in the USA. I bring a charcoal filter system that does not purify the water but to take out the chemicals used in the purification process. It is basically a super light attachment right on your drinking bottle itself.

I also think it's a very reasonable question to ask since many people do not see non potable water signs where they live and is fair to confirm its frequency when traveling to unknown places anywhere.

This is not to pick on Spain water, but the generalization of asking questions about unknown things when traveling to a foreign place. To say otherwise means its a stupid question and there are very few of those,

 

Pray'nwalk

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2015. Levante, Avila-Toro & Sanabres, Ourense-Santiago
2017. Invierno & Oseira monastery

• Jul 13, 2015

• #11

Hola, Amigos! Thank you all for your very thoughtful, and humorous replies. You have confirmed my gut instinct, that the Steripen can stay home. Charcoal does have a certain appeal, for the reasons WldWil stated, and I might look into that.
Buen camino!