JarekA natural spring located within Thompson Park in Jamesburg, NJ.
Image courtesy of GetOutsideNJ.com
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How to Collect Spring Water
Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.
The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.
FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.
Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.
When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.
When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.
How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.
How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.
I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.
Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.
I live 15 minutes from the spring and have drank from it without boiling for 40 years. Since I was 10years old. My mother was my Girl Scout leader we used to go camping there a lot. She had the water tested at Rutgers in New Brunswick more than once throughout the years so she could feel safe having her troop drink from it. The original sign next to the spring never said anything about boiling the water. I think it is a recommendation all though I am not a doctor. Please choose whatever makes you feel most comfortable. I however swig that delicious cold water with cupped hands right from the spout into my mouth. It is so crisp clean and cold and tastes very much like FIJI water without the price tag.
Do you happen to remember what the ph level was?
For those who are looking to join in on the community efforts to get the spring unsealed, join the Facebook group called Save the spring! If you type in Thompson Park Spring, it will pop up. There are currently 134 members. Something is definitely fishy going on and we can’t allow for this without a fight. Next thing you know, another spring will be closed, and another, and another, and before we know it, there will be no natural sources of water–only a bunch of rich, money-hungry execs who are laughing at the growing bank account. For those who are wondering what is going on, watch the documentary Blue Gold: World Water Wars. It’s on Amazon Prime Video.
Don’t waist your time coming here, tow shut down this water source, sign is saying, water deemed not for consumption by human, they want us to drink poison tap water
I visited the spring today, as it is only about a 30 minute drive from where I live. I spoke with a few locals who where filling up their containers as I was there. A few of them metioned drinking this water for several months with no issues and refered to knowing others who have drank it for years. The water comes out cold although I don’t have an exact temperature. The ph measured around 5 and the tds was around 90ppm.
You have to drive into the park, then turn right on Thompson drive. Then turn right on willow drive, follow the road with the 2 yellow lines, next at the radio tower turn left. Then turn right into a dirt road and there is a small parking lot with a small area to fill up your water. You need a smaller container to catch the water before you can fill up large jugs.
Anyone know if I can attach a food grade water hose to fill my jugs??
Does it come out of the ground or is there a pipe
Please take Thompson Park off of your website. You do not have permission.
Thank you,
Tracie
Middlesex County Office of Parks
Just curious, what law is this violating? Can you please tell us The Public Law Number it is in violation of?
I went today. I was shocked to see the spring closed shut. If you haven’t done so already please file a complaint by calling 1 800 792 9770. This water is safe to drink.
Hi Everyone, please use this number to file a complaint with the office of health services. They sealed the spring. The number is 732 745 8480. If we don’t stop this, they will close all of the Springs.
Perfectly healthy water people have been drinking for 100s of years if not more. Now shut down cement block over it “for your safety” same as the graphene oxide shoved down our blood vessels. Gotta love communist New Jersey
Matt, something smells really fishy here, I have to agree with you, so many are unaware the turn our government has taken for longer than people know. Yes, our waters are probably being polluted with the stuff. They spray in the skies, never mind what they have mandated to push into peoples veins. I wish more people would wake up. As for the spring a lot of people are probably upset right now I also heard from my friend. They closed one in Edison. Also, this causes me to be very suspicious with the motives are to shut the springs down.
This spring was just closed. Nov 2023. My family has been using the spring for 40 years and I just had water from there last week. I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with us water. We need to find out who and why they shut it.
This spring has been capped as of 11/3/2023. Let’s raise a stink! I see many people getting their water here. Many of which are elderly. F**k Monmouth county!
So is this a natural spring, or an artesian well
I’ll check this spring out within the next few days and leave a thorough review on it.
Mike, did you review the spring? What is that status on the quality of this spring? Has anyone else tested the water?
Mike, did you review the spring? What is that status on the quality of this spring? Has anyone else tested the water?
I went to this spring last month and was/am a bit skeptical. The fact that the signs pretty much say you have to boil the water scares me. The actual location of the pipe also turns me off. It’s hard to get the water since you have to hold your bottles a certain way or they will be immersed in the water you are trying not to step in. I’ve included photos so you can see what I mean. As far as drinking the water, I took one sip as is and boiled the rest. This killed the taste as it then tasted like boiled water. On a positive note, the sip I took was good (I was just afraid to continue since I cannot find any water quality information on this spring).
Once I disregarded the GPS and looked at a map, the spring was easier to find. When we got there another couple was filling up their jugs and said they always get it from there and drink it without boiling. This would’ve meant more if they didn’t seem so weird. Hopefully in the near future someone can do some water quality tests and post them for the rest of us.
Unfortunately I was unable to post photos (cannot figure out how).
Please email photos to findwater@findaspring.com and mention which spring it’s for. Thanks! ~FindASpring.com Team (Q)
Yeah get a tds monitor to check the quality 🙂 🙂
I will do a high quality test on theater spring,it costs $150. If any one is interested in donating to have the test done ,that be cool . If not, I’ll flip the bill
If they didn’t seem so weird? Wow, who are you to judge people by their outward appearances? Pathetic. Learn how to be self sufficient and test your own water. Go buy a test water kit!
I am a naturopath, I know a highly rated nutritional lab in Austin Texas that will test the water for heavy metals , pH, n mineral content. They simply charge $150 n a sample. If anyone interested, we can make donations no I’ll post the results by the spring. Spread the word. My # is 201-575-7852. Peace be with all.
I spoke to the BOH, they do very minimal testing to make sure it is safe to consume.
Hi!
I know that the water says to boil but you don’t have to. I grew up in that area and we got water from that spring for drinking every Saturday morning for about 20 years of my life. My mother and father grew up in that area as well so for about 25 years of their life they drank from that spring. It is a little hard now as we do not live in the area any long. I hope this helps.