When you’re out hiking or camping, it’s tempting to help yourself to the water in Colorado’s beautiful, clean-looking streams. However, crystal clear doesn't mean it's clean. That water could harbor infectious germs.

Health officials with the El Paso County health department say those infectious germs can include parasites, bacteria or even viruses. Two of the most common germs found in un-purified water sources are giardia and cryptosporidium or “crypto.”

To avoid drinking contaminated water, health experts recommend bringing plenty of bottled water with you when going outdoors. A good rule of thumb is to pack one gallon per person, per day.

If you must consume untreated water, health officials say there are a number of options:

The first treatment option is boiling. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says boiling water is the best method for making water safe to drink, as it kills the germs that cause infectious diarrhea. At altitudes greater than 6,500 feet, boil water for three minutes or use a chemical disinfectant after water has boiled for one minute.

If boiling water is not possible, you can use iodine tablets to chemically disinfect unsafe water. Note: Some parasites (namely crypto) might not be killed by iodine tablets. Chlorine in various forms also can be used for chemical disinfection. However, it is not as reliable as iodine for killing disease causing germs in the wide range of water-quality conditions that travelers might encounter.

Another treatment option is filtering the water you find in the wilderness. Outdoor/camping supply stores typically sell water filter systems. However, not all water purifying options are created equal. Filtering systems don’t eliminate all germs found in natural water sources, especially viruses which are too small to be captured by the filters.

When you're outdoors this year, the fear also exist that you can easily cross-contaminate your drinking water. Health officials say to avoid this scenario, you should store or serve purified water in clean containers only; don’t put purified water into containers that have held “raw” water.

For more information on specific water-borne germs and illnesses, you can visit the health department's website by clicking on the link below.