fractal enchantment wrote:it has been tested. The water that comes from the spring is tested regularily becasue it comes out of all the drinking fountains in the park as well. Contamination from civilization I am not worried about because the water comes out of the cascades..no development to contaminate it.
Surface contamination I dont think is possible here becasue I get the water right at the source where it comes up from way deep underground. It does not sit in a large spot an pool..it bubbles up from the ground in the rocks and flows off into a stream right away.
OK, I originally thought you were talking about small "natural springs," i.e., a small spring you can find yourself in mountainous areas (that maybe nobody has drank from in 300 years). You're talking about large "official" springs. I'm sure they're tested for heavy metal contamination.
I once lived in the woods in upstate NY, and used a small natural spring. Great water, but it was sometimes subject to a bit of ground contamination. In big mountain areas (like the Cascades) one must realize that heavy metals are a possible contaminant--one could find a small spring with delicious tasting water, and actually be drinking a swill high in cadmium and arsenic...