Few places on Earth have water as pristine as in the Tasmanian wilderness. Your habits are crucial in helping to preserve this quality. Careful toilet habits are the main way that walkers can preserve water quality.

Collect drinking water from hut water tanks, or from deep lakes or fast flowing streams. Drinking water should be collected upstream of any places where people are swimming. Likewise, bathe downstream of obvious water collection points such as near huts and campsites.

Of course, the water within our national parks is not treated. It may therefore not meet the National Health and Medical Research Council's Guidelines for drinking water. The Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services thus advises that as a precautionary measure, untreated water should be boiled (1-3 minutes) before drinking or being used for food preparation. Other forms of water treatment (iodine, water filters) may also be used.