But can a guy still swim in it?

Trendy “raw water” source under bird’s nest sparks diarrheal outbreak

Health officials would like to remind you that drinking untreated water is a bad idea.

Proponents have argued that raw water avoids undesirable components of municipal water, which they identify as disinfectants, fluoride, imaginary "mind-control" drugs, traces of pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals, such as lead from pipes. They also suggest, without evidence, that raw water can contain unique probiotics and other "natural" minerals and compounds that can improve health.

Granted, mind control drugs could be a bad idea. But "natural" minerals [sic]? {And what are unnatural minerals? What are they covering up with that periodic table?}

Stories of people dying from contaminated — or even poisoned —  water are, I suppose, as old as time itself. But still there were plenty of places where, with ordinary care, on could still find water safe to drink. The sparkling, remote lakes of Minnesota's northern forests come to mind.

Maybe it was never a good idea (think bear piss and goose poop) but we did it anyway. And we're still here — older, wiser (maybe), and way more polluted. It's kind of sad.