Water from Terlingua Creek

[mule ears]

I asked this before but it was buried in an old post.

The park service website says

This creek normally flows year round...Water in Terlingua Creek is not potable and not recommended for human consumption.

It would sure make trip planning easier if you could use the water from the creek (filtered or treated of course).  Is it just a general warning or is there some nasty stuff from the mining tailings upstream or something else?

It's like the warnings for using Rio Grande water but several folks here have done that without any problems. 

Aggiehiker says he has used Terlingua Creek water before without problems.  How about the rest of you? 
Thanks, mule ears

[mountaindocdanny]

I've had small amounts of it to drink with no ill effects, but never completely relied on it as a water source. I'm sure you've seen a lot the mineral that crystalizes out of it.

[Red Hawk]

Mercury?

[TheWildWestGuy]

I have filtered and drank it with no ill effects.  The best water is near the gauging station at Terlingua Abaja or slightly upstream.  There is a row of springs on the West bank about 1/4 mile upstream from the gauging station that accounts for most of the baselevel flow.  About 2/3-2 miles upstream (depending on rainfall) the stream goes dry with only intermittent pools, during wet periods it will have water but during dry/normal periods it's probably stagnant ponds.  I would say you can count on it 100% as long as you are planning on intersecting the creek near the gauging station/Terlingua Abaja.  It's a ~clear running stream at that location and spring-fed.  I would not drink it unfiltered unless I was getting it directly from a hole dug at the spring locations but if you have a decent filter you can drink it and in large quantities.   The park website warnings are mainly disclaimers and meant for newbies without filters or people who think they can just drink anything unfiltered (idiots)... TWWG

[mule ears]

TWWG you are amazing!  Great detail.  I assumed it might be the park service being over careful but thought it might be something like Red Hawk suggested such as mercury from the old mining operations upstream.  We could cache water at TA when we come thru but it would be easier if we could just use the water from the creek.  I treat all my backcountry water anyway. Thanks.

Any other opinions/experience out there with water from the creek?

[okiehiker]

TWWG is right on the money.  I have used TC water a lot over the years, from the area he described.  If you search hard enough you can find test results done on TC water and there is nothing of concern in the creek. 

From the BIBE website:
"In Big Bend National Park, researchers sampled two sites: the mouth of Santa Elena Canyon and Terlingua Creek before it flows into the Rio Grande. The study found no specific readings at the park stations that should raise concern."

http://www.nps.gov/bibe/naturescience/waterquality.htm

[Roy]

Nice to know;  I'd always assumed there was toxic stuff leaching out of the old tailings upstream. 

[okiehiker]

The Rio Grande is less palatable than Terlingua Creek, though lower in mineral content.  It also has few if any concerns regarding toxicity.  There have been some coliform readings, thus the need to filter or otherwise treat the water. 

Here is the synopsis from the park's website: (remember NPS is EXTREMELY conservative in addressing this sort of issue... hike to far YOU'LL DIE... drink this water ... YOU'LL DIE... so as occasional users for a day or two in the midst of a long hiking trip you are quite safe.)

In May 1993, the University of Texas at El Paso conducted a water quality study of the river between Lajitas and La Linda. Ten sampling sites along the river and other backcountry water sources provided a snapshot view of the water’s quality.

The study showed that most pollution in the Rio Grande within the park occurred from general runoff that picks up pollutants from upstream areas as it travels. No iron or mercury were found, and the levels of cadmium, lead, and arsenic were below this study’s detection limits.

Researchers did, however, detect high levels of fecal coliform bacteria in this snapshot view. These originate from humans, cattle, or other warm-blooded mammals that live near the river. These organisms are not usually harmful but may indicate the possible presence of pathogens.

[lighter fluid]

I have filtered and drank it with no ill effects.  The best water is near the gauging station at Terlingua Abaja or slightly upstream.  There is a row of springs on the West bank about 1/4 mile upstream from the gauging station that accounts for most of the baselevel flow.  About 2/3-2 miles upstream (depending on rainfall) the stream goes dry with only intermittent pools, during wet periods it will have water but during dry/normal periods it's probably stagnant ponds.  I would say you can count on it 100% as long as you are planning on intersecting the creek near the gauging station/Terlingua Abaja.  It's a ~clear running stream at that location and spring-fed.  I would not drink it unfiltered unless I was getting it directly from a hole dug at the spring locations but if you have a decent filter you can drink it and in large quantities.   The park website warnings are mainly disclaimers and meant for newbies without filters or people who think they can just drink anything unfiltered (idiots)... TWWG

Great info TWWG!
Thanks!

Matt

[lighter fluid]

The Rio Grande is less palatable than Terlingua Creek, though lower in mineral content.  It also has few if any concerns regarding toxicity.  There have been some coliform readings, thus the need to filter or otherwise treat the water. 

Here is the synopsis from the park's website: (remember NPS is EXTREMELY conservative in addressing this sort of issue... hike to far YOU'LL DIE... drink this water ... YOU'LL DIE... so as occasional users for a day or two in the midst of a long hiking trip you are quite safe.)

In May 1993, the University of Texas at El Paso conducted a water quality study of the river between Lajitas and La Linda. Ten sampling sites along the river and other backcountry water sources provided a snapshot view of the water’s quality.

The study showed that most pollution in the Rio Grande within the park occurred from general runoff that picks up pollutants from upstream areas as it travels. No iron or mercury were found, and the levels of cadmium, lead, and arsenic were below this study’s detection limits.

Researchers did, however, detect high levels of fecal coliform bacteria in this snapshot view. These originate from humans, cattle, or other warm-blooded mammals that live near the river. These organisms are not usually harmful but may indicate the possible presence of pathogens.

I've taken water from the Rio Grande and treated it with Klearwater and had no ill effects. It isn't exactly the most palatable water, as Okiehiker mentioned, but beggers can't be choosers in the desert. If you add some Gatorade mix to it, it's not bad at all.