This spring is publicly known but not widely used. It is covered by a cistern and flows out via metal pipe.
Nearest Address
Approximately 15km west of Rimbey, AB.
Directions from Nearest Address
Drive west out of Rimbey, AB on highway 53. A sign for Open Creek Dam campground will be seen about 15-20km out of Rimbey. Turn left at the sign and follow the signs for ‘spring’.
Drive west 32 km from Rimbey on highway 53. Turn left after you see a blue sign for Open Creek Dam Campground. Take a left at the first intersection and look for the cistern. This water flows fairly quickly and is very cold! I recommend bringing smaller jugs and a funnel to assist in filling up larger carboys as it is difficult to fill up large jugs at the mouth of this spring. Always draw water from the flow, and not the pool.
The pin is definitely in the wrong place. Looking at Google Maps using the Satellite feature, shows that RR 22 is actually in the middle of a field. The “Open Creek Dam” address is actually a PO Box, not the location of the Campground. It would be best to follow the directions as stated, paying no attention the pin on the map. If you look at Google Maps Satellite of the area, its safe to assume the dam would be near the river. The campground (unlisted) would possibly also be near the river.
When my grandparents lived in Rimbey they used to go out there all the time to get their water. They used for everyday drinking and making beer and wine. It made great coffee too.
The pin is definitely in the wrong place. Looking at Google Maps using the Satellite feature, shows that RR 22 is actually in the middle of a field. The “Open Creek Dam” address is actually a PO Box, not the location of the Campground. It would be best to follow the directions as stated, paying no attention the pin on the map. If you look at Google Maps Satellite of the area, its safe to assume the dam would be near the river. The campground (unlisted) would possibly also be near the river.
The directions say west of Rimby but the pin on the map is east of Rimby. I drove down range road 22 (as it says on the map) but there are no signs and I saw no spring. Can you move the pin or give better directions? Thanks!! 🙂
Went to the spring today. From Rimby you go west on 53 for 30-33km. There are a couple big curves in the hyw, and then you go into a small dip or valley. There is a blue hyway sign that says Open Creek Dam. Go left, then left again at the split a few meters in. Round about driveway, and the culvert style spring is fairly noticeable. The spout is down low, so you have to submerge larger containers into the water below to fill completely. Bring rubber boots and a towel if you have any concerns about being wet, or having a wet outside of the container.
I was informed about this Spring by an online source and will be heading there this weekend to check it out. Will this water be safe for my young children to drink? Has anyone been to the Spring lately?
We just returned from the Spring. While the gas/oil industry is in the area, there was nothing immediately around the spring itself. The spring is located inside a campground maintained by a fish and wildlife society. The water appears just as any of the other springs I have been too. If anyone does end up testing it in doubt, I am hoping they post it here.
This spring should be tested thoroughly! The last time that I made the trip from Edmonton was late in the evening after the sun had gone down. We witnessed an absurd amount of fracking operations that were already in place or else being set up. I believe this will have a a very unfavorable effect on the water from what I have learned on the subject. Very sad that clean water has become such a scarce commodity.
Hi, Jeremey. The information you have learned on the subject is false and fueled by ill-informed environmental activists. Fracturing in the Rimbey area happens in the duvernay formation which begins at 1,700 meters below the surface and reaches 5,000 meters in total depth. The water table is at 40 meters. There is absolutely no way that this water will be contaminated by hydraulic fracturing treatments. After the drilling process and before any pressurized chemical treatments. The well is isolated from the surrounding rock and water formations with an extremely dense and strong cement casing and then inside that casing a steel production casing is inserted into the well to create yet another barrier from the outer walls to prevent the oil companies oil or gas from becoming contaminated with silt, rock, water, etc. The oil companies would have to spend millions of dollars to separate all this contamination from their oil or gas on the surface with specialized equipment, so they do immense amounts of preparation to prevent the hassel and expense. Only in extremely shallow coal bed methane fracs <300 meters (Which aren't even performed in Alberta anymore) is there a potential risk for ground water contamination when fracturing.
I did find the fresh spring today and I took pictures. It is just inside the gates of the Open Creek Campground park off to the left. The first time I didn’t drive far enough to see the sign. Thanks everyone for the directions. It is truly a great find.
Unfortunately, I followed google map and ended up in a field of farms. I should have consulted the comments before I left. Since I’m not quitter, I’ll be going again today. DO NOT FOLLOW GOOGLE MAP!
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.
Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug
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.
Written by Dakota Chanel. Water Priestess and Ceremonialist. DakotaChanel.com
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Open Creek Dam Spring, Rimbey, Alberta, Canada
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Brian
Drive west 32 km from Rimbey on highway 53. Turn left after you see a blue sign for Open Creek Dam Campground. Take a left at the first intersection and look for the cistern. This water flows fairly quickly and is very cold! I recommend bringing smaller jugs and a funnel to assist in filling up larger carboys as it is difficult to fill up large jugs at the mouth of this spring. Always draw water from the flow, and not the pool.
the spring water at open creek comes out of the earth cold and clean, checking for ph in this water would be like checking Jesus for freckles.l
The pin is definitely in the wrong place. Looking at Google Maps using the Satellite feature, shows that RR 22 is actually in the middle of a field. The “Open Creek Dam” address is actually a PO Box, not the location of the Campground. It would be best to follow the directions as stated, paying no attention the pin on the map. If you look at Google Maps Satellite of the area, its safe to assume the dam would be near the river. The campground (unlisted) would possibly also be near the river.
I was out on Dec 16/12 with my new TDS meter and had the water temp at 4.7 and the TDS: 279. Outside temp was -13
will definitely hunt this one down – what a well kept secret
When my grandparents lived in Rimbey they used to go out there all the time to get their water. They used for everyday drinking and making beer and wine. It made great coffee too.
How can we test the water or find out the pH?????
The pin is definitely in the wrong place. Looking at Google Maps using the Satellite feature, shows that RR 22 is actually in the middle of a field. The “Open Creek Dam” address is actually a PO Box, not the location of the Campground. It would be best to follow the directions as stated, paying no attention the pin on the map. If you look at Google Maps Satellite of the area, its safe to assume the dam would be near the river. The campground (unlisted) would possibly also be near the river.
The directions say west of Rimby but the pin on the map is east of Rimby. I drove down range road 22 (as it says on the map) but there are no signs and I saw no spring. Can you move the pin or give better directions? Thanks!! 🙂
Is this spring still alive and well? Are there any springs closer to Spruce View?
Alford Lake. There is a piped spring off to the right of the gravel road.
Went to the spring today. From Rimby you go west on 53 for 30-33km. There are a couple big curves in the hyw, and then you go into a small dip or valley. There is a blue hyway sign that says Open Creek Dam. Go left, then left again at the split a few meters in. Round about driveway, and the culvert style spring is fairly noticeable. The spout is down low, so you have to submerge larger containers into the water below to fill completely. Bring rubber boots and a towel if you have any concerns about being wet, or having a wet outside of the container.
Such a great spring. Since finding it, it’s the only water we drink at home. We take a trip there every two week to fill up 8 big water jugs.
I was informed about this Spring by an online source and will be heading there this weekend to check it out. Will this water be safe for my young children to drink? Has anyone been to the Spring lately?
My family and I journeyed out to this spring today from Sylvan Lake. Water tastes amazing!
We just returned from the Spring. While the gas/oil industry is in the area, there was nothing immediately around the spring itself. The spring is located inside a campground maintained by a fish and wildlife society. The water appears just as any of the other springs I have been too. If anyone does end up testing it in doubt, I am hoping they post it here.
Just got back…filled 24 wine bottles and drank one on the way home. Beats dead bottled water!
Has anyone been drinking this water lately?
This spring should be tested thoroughly! The last time that I made the trip from Edmonton was late in the evening after the sun had gone down. We witnessed an absurd amount of fracking operations that were already in place or else being set up. I believe this will have a a very unfavorable effect on the water from what I have learned on the subject. Very sad that clean water has become such a scarce commodity.
Hi, Jeremey. The information you have learned on the subject is false and fueled by ill-informed environmental activists. Fracturing in the Rimbey area happens in the duvernay formation which begins at 1,700 meters below the surface and reaches 5,000 meters in total depth. The water table is at 40 meters. There is absolutely no way that this water will be contaminated by hydraulic fracturing treatments. After the drilling process and before any pressurized chemical treatments. The well is isolated from the surrounding rock and water formations with an extremely dense and strong cement casing and then inside that casing a steel production casing is inserted into the well to create yet another barrier from the outer walls to prevent the oil companies oil or gas from becoming contaminated with silt, rock, water, etc. The oil companies would have to spend millions of dollars to separate all this contamination from their oil or gas on the surface with specialized equipment, so they do immense amounts of preparation to prevent the hassel and expense. Only in extremely shallow coal bed methane fracs <300 meters (Which aren't even performed in Alberta anymore) is there a potential risk for ground water contamination when fracturing.
I did find the fresh spring today and I took pictures. It is just inside the gates of the Open Creek Campground park off to the left. The first time I didn’t drive far enough to see the sign. Thanks everyone for the directions. It is truly a great find.
Unfortunately, I followed google map and ended up in a field of farms. I should have consulted the comments before I left. Since I’m not quitter, I’ll be going again today. DO NOT FOLLOW GOOGLE MAP!
i’ve been drinking home this spring for months now and its truly amazing ! what a awesome place .