WALKERS taking on the West Highland Way have been warned not to drink water from streams after two people fell ill, with one of them having to be taken to hospital.
Lomond Mountain Rescue Team said they were called out on two separate occasions by Police Scotland this week due to people taking on the route being left incapacitated due to vomiting.
Rescuers believe the walkers may have taken ill due to contaminated water on the trail.
The team was called out to help a German man, who was taken to the hospital last week, after he was left “incapacitated” near the Rowchoish Bothy due to vomiting throughout the night.
An American walker was also rescued by the team on Tuesday, north of Rowardennan, by Loch Lomond, who had also spent the evening being sick and was unable to walk.
According to rescuers, both walkers are believed to have drunk water from a burn near Conic Hill and became ill despite using portable water filters.
The team leader of Lomond Mountain Rescue, David Dodson, explained to the BBC that the water in nearby streams and burns in the area is likely to be contaminated by not only livestock waste but also human waste too.
“That area - where the West Highland Way passes through - is agricultural land where livestock can be found,” he said.
“With so many walkers now tackling the long-distance footpath, there is an increasing issue with human waste not being properly disposed of.
“All too frequently, signs of human waste can be seen in the vegetation not many metres off the main footpath and inevitably, may be close to some watercourses.”
Hikers on the route, which stretches 96 miles from Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire to Fort William in the Highlands, are now being urged not to drink only bottled water or from safe sources such as Scottish Water drinking fountains.
A warning on social media explained: “In the first instance, water should be obtained from known sources, e.g. the Scottish Water fountains, taps marked or known to be drinking water or bottled water (please consider the environmental impact of this one).
“If water is collected from a stream, it should be treated prior to consumption.
“Please bear in mind that filtering alone may not guarantee safety, and we would recommend secondary treatment such as boiling or chemical treatment.
“This is especially suggested in areas where livestock/run off may be an issue e.g. on the approach to Conic Hill.
“We don’t want to be alarmist, but we also want all walkers on the West Highland Way to enjoy the hike and stay fit and healthy.
“Hopefully those reading this are already aware, but please also have conversations with others who may not.”
