freshwater beach sand spike

[TheRealAndy]

Have been drinking the water out of the beach at rainbowfor yrs with out any probs.
What better filter is there sand !

Sand is ok at removing visible material, but it is useless for filtering microorganisms and viruses.

IF you must drink it, use some purification tablets.

We are pretty lucky here in Aus, but you could still end up with a dose of the shits. Worst case some hep carrier could take a dump upstream from your spear and you end up with a dose. Its not worth it in my opinion. purifier tabs a cheap.

[Flatterhead]

I thought they where illegal to use on fraser and rainbow?

[oldboot]

Aparantly it is pretty amazing what a few meters of fine sand can remove......I'd like to see some tests though.

Like a good boy scout.....I would be enclined to boil anything I wanted to drink.......why do you think tea was so popular in the past.

cheers

[Slider]

The scientist that conducted tests at Fraser earlier this year on ground water and sand contamination from human effluent in the camping areas, said to me recently he wouldn't eat the eugaries on the beach in front of the camping areas because of the level of contamination.
We stopped drinking any of the water on Teewah Beach in the late 70s due to the fear of contamination then. I can remember a couple of kids getting crook from drinking water out of 'the bubbler' in '76 and things haven't improved.

But I think you will find that sand spears have been banned on Teewah Beach.

[MEGA'bite]

i think you will find that they are not banned on teewah, but the rangers do not recomend to drink any water from under ground, public liability etc

[TheRealAndy]

Just took a look on the EPA website, this it what is says:

Drinking water

Fresh water obtained from pools, creeks or from sub-surface supplies on Teewah Beach is not suitable for drinking, cooking, showering or swimming. The use of portable sand spears to collect sub-surface water from the foredune areas is an offence and is not permitted. Fresh water is available at the Freshwater day-use area and campground. Treat all water before drinking.

[TheRealAndy]

I just breifly looked for some legislation that enforces this, but couldn't find anything. I thought perhaps its legislated the same way bores etc. are, but the Water Act says you can take water for camping. I did not look very hard, but I would guess that if they say its an offence on the EPA website then it must be either written in legislation or a by-law somewhere. I guess the EPA could answer that question.

[mod5]

I just breifly looked for some legislation that enforces this, but couldn't find anything. I thought perhaps its legislated the same way bores etc. are, but the Water Act says you can take water for camping. I did not look very hard, but I would guess that if they say its an offence on the EPA website then it must be either written in legislation or a by-law somewhere. I guess the EPA could answer that question.

From the DERM website. You will find that this covers ALL beach and Island areas managed by DERM

Can I use a water spear (that is, a device to pierce the ground to obtain water from underground)?

No, this interferes with a natural resource (which is an offence under the Nature Conservation Act) and QPWS cannot guarantee the quality of the water.