Lake Water Quality

[Idunn]

The water from various fountains in Manitou Springs, CO is from natural springs. You'll see some signs in town that briefly explain its provenance.

However not sure if this water is treated. There is a natural spring at Allenspark, CO which has a sign explaining that it is. Which to me, at any rate, defeats the whole purpose of the thing. This means they flush it out with chlorine or otherwise muck up nature's own water.

There is a spring near Creede, CO, whose only improvement a metal pipe the water issues from. Delectable water, and surely not otherwise fussed with.

My supposition that most spring water safer than runoff, such as from snow banks. But for the truly fastidious or cautious best stick with the purified or bottled stuff. Some of the most popular and well known brands of bottled 'spring' water come from nothing more than municipal tap water sources, just with a little extra filtering. Some of it actually tests less well than certain tap water.

So, yes, there is a certain risk with entirely natural water. But if you've never tried it you'll never know the difference. Some of the high streams within Rocky Mountain National Park couldn't be much purer. Do not believe there are any mine tailings to contend with either. Even if one only looks, it will surely lend a new appreciation for water.