Jul 22, 2026, 01:52Jul 22, 2026, 01:52
Authorities in France are warning hikers against drinking water from mountain rivers. This was after a number of sick tourists had to be taken to clinics by helicopter.
A few days ago, two groups with a total of nine hikers in the Pyrenees who had drunk water from streams and lakes were flown to the clinic in Tarbes with massive vomiting diarrhea, the Sud-Ouest newspaper reported. The day before, two other hikers were affected.
Such emergencies are by no means an exception, said the head of the local mountain rescue, Sébastien Abbadie, to the broadcaster Ici. “We have missions every day.” In 2025 there were over 50 emergencies after drinking mountain water. “You shouldn’t drink this water to avoid such missions.”
Even if the water of the mountain streams appears clear and fresh, it is not necessarily drinkable and can cause serious health problems, emphasized the prefecture of the Hautes-Pyrénées. The reasons could be animal feces and human waste that ended up in the waters. Instead, hikers should use safe water sources such as tap or bottled water.
A new phenomenon is troubling the rescue workers: The filter bottles, which are becoming increasingly popular, are apparently now being used by a number of tourists as the main solution for water supply during a hike and no water supply is being taken with them.
Warning about filter bottles
But the prefecture warns: Using filter bottles to drink water from mountain streams or rivers is not enough to purify water taken from nature. Tourists should have half a liter of drinking water available for every hour of a hike. They could use the water supply in mountain huts to refill their bottles.
The French hiking association also warned against drinking water from nature due to possible microbiological contamination. Filter bottles should only be used in emergencies, it said. (sda/dpa)