The Barto Spring is located by the Barto Bridge that crosses over the West Branch of the Perkiomen Creek.
Barto is located between the boroughs of Bally and Bechtelsville in
Washington Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Barto is part of the
Delaware Valley, located near the border of Montgomery County.
This spring gets checked by the township every few months to make sure there is no contamination. If you have any questions, you can call
Washington Township
120 Barto Road
Barto, Pa 19504 (610) 845-7760
email: info@washtwpberks.org
website: https://www.washtwpberks.org
i just went today and it was lovely! i was in allentown and always wanted to go. the water is amazing! the drive there was very pretty with the fall foliage, will definitely be returning!
Hi! Jenna here. Just stopped at the spring with my partner and collected 15 gallons. Water tastes pretty good, I tried some before filling up our bottles. The walkway could use another pallet or two if anyone sees this and is able to bring one out. I’m not sure if the owners of the property tend to that – I did notice it’s on private property.
Also the coordinates on the website for this are not accurate, the address is :
2346-2444 Old State Hwy 100, Barto, PA 19504 and that will take you directly there.
Mark saw my post and replied. He wasn’t able to do it from his own account. Therefore I copied and pasted it here for your information.
Mark replied:
I saw your comment on findaspring.com. Just wanted to send you a note that i collected water from Barto Spring on 3/19, and tested with a home drinking water test kit. It was negative for bacteria, pesticides, and lead, and everything else came back in normal range as well. I know it’s not a professional test, but thought you’d like to know. I tried to post a comment on the spring page but looks like it hasn’t been approved yet.
I collected about 40 gallons at Barto Spring today. Flowing much better than the last time I visited. Got the following results with a home water test kit. Nitrate between 2.0-5.0, Nitrite negative, pH ~7, Hardness ~120ppm, Chlorine negative, pesticides negative, and lead negative. In 48 hours I’ll have results of the bacteria test, so far the solution is purple (negative).
I visited this spring earlier this month and collected 10 gallons. I tested the TDS and pH using a liquid test after I got home. The pH measured 7, and my TDS meter showed 71 ppm.
went to get my water today and made a few observations.
1. two people stopped their car in order to ask me wether or not if the water was tested. They seemed concerned because something happened a few years ago regarding some contamination by a company called “Texas” something. I got two comments from people who seemed to live near by. The one guy told me that his own well is also contaminated and he doesn’t use it any more. I think this all happened years ago.
2. I called the Barto township office on 120 Barto Road (mentioned here for water testing) and the lady told me there wasn’t such thing that anyone was testing water or for that matter the spring itself.
Now. Does anyone have any information? Any REAL data on this spring being tested?
Josh mentioned that the owner was hopefully testing it. But if he is not using the spring for himself I doubt that he is testing it for US users.
I would like to test the water myself. What are the necessary steps?
Any really recent info would be helpful. I don’t want to put my family in jeopardy with questionable water.
I visited the spring on 11/22, the flow is very slow and the water had a stronger taste than normal. It took about 10 minutes to fill half a gallon. I plan to stop back again in a few weeks and will update.
Yea everyone ive been steadily using this water since my very 1rst post! Even though its and hr and a half drive both ways for us its definitely worth it!!! I meet people there all the time who swear by this water and have been drinking it as long as they can remember!… I go about every 2 weeks and fill seven 5 gallon glass carboy jugs… The water comes out at a pretty decent speed right now since its gotten cold out and it only takes me like 35-40 mins to fill the 7 jugs but in the summer it takes me 2 hrs to fill all 7 so yea in the summer its a long day to do this…3 hrs driving time + 2 hrs to fill the jugs but its still a good adventure for me and my son cause while the jugs fill he has a blast exploring the woods above the spring plus this spring im gonna plant a bunch of wild edible greens all around that area in hopes of trying to teach my son to forage for wild foods!.. Hope everyone enjoys it as much as us!!
Hey Thank you so much Josh, my friend! : )
We’re going to make the hr drive here and I’m so glad that I know the quality before hand, and is such great news of how clean it sounds… As I needed to find a new spring since recently my other spring just tested for bacteria, and my family can’t live without living water -we’ll sacrifice on our food if we must, but not our water.
Are you without a home that you must acquire water via a spring? If so, we can set up a donation page for you and your family to help you all out. It’s cold out this time of year and no family should be stuck in such a rut.
Hey Josh just wanted to say thanks for verifying the quality of this water! this definitely motivates me to check this one out even though it might be a long drive it sounds like its worth it. cant wait to try it
any updates on the cleanliness of this spring? it’s close to us and I’ve known about it for a while, but I’m concerned about the Bally water contamination from the old case and cooler (refrigeration contaminates) affecting it. any thoughts? thanks!
I lived in Bally when there was a problem and it is reported that the problem is gone. When I lived there I used this water. It was wonderful. now that I am in the area again, I will use it again.
Is anyone drinking this water? It has a really good taste but I worry it could be contaminated. I called the township and they said not to drink it because it is not tested.
I called Washington township yesterday, August 19, 2013. The person I spoke with said that they are not responsible for checking the water. Since it is located on a state road, the State would check it and to contact the DEP for verification of the safety.
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
Do you have info you'd like to add to the main spring description or perhaps a more accurate gps coordinate?
Please start by making a comment on this spring's page with any additional info, or something that you feel should be changed to reflect more accurate data. After your comment is liked by enough community members, this will validate the improved information.
Please notify us if an update with enough likes hasn't been updated in the description yet.
Please note:
This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin.
Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.
Mike
i just went today and it was lovely! i was in allentown and always wanted to go. the water is amazing! the drive there was very pretty with the fall foliage, will definitely be returning!
Hello,
I’m new here. Was just wondering if anyone has visited this spring recently and where I can get my own test kit?
Great water! Using this spring water to make my wines
Hi! Jenna here. Just stopped at the spring with my partner and collected 15 gallons. Water tastes pretty good, I tried some before filling up our bottles. The walkway could use another pallet or two if anyone sees this and is able to bring one out. I’m not sure if the owners of the property tend to that – I did notice it’s on private property.
Also the coordinates on the website for this are not accurate, the address is :
2346-2444 Old State Hwy 100, Barto, PA 19504 and that will take you directly there.
These are the coordinates for those that would rather use that over an address : 40.396559,-75.608034
Hi! Was thinking of visiting this spring. Has anyone been there and tested the water recently?
Go to Amazon and buy a test kit: “Health Metric” Bacteria test
When to the spring today (for the first time) the warter was flowing very fast.
How can I see the last time the township tested the water?
Went*
The Township does not perform any testing of the Barto Spring. The spring is also located on private property.
Spring is very slow at the moment.
Mark saw my post and replied. He wasn’t able to do it from his own account. Therefore I copied and pasted it here for your information.
Mark replied:
I saw your comment on findaspring.com. Just wanted to send you a note that i collected water from Barto Spring on 3/19, and tested with a home drinking water test kit. It was negative for bacteria, pesticides, and lead, and everything else came back in normal range as well. I know it’s not a professional test, but thought you’d like to know. I tried to post a comment on the spring page but looks like it hasn’t been approved yet.
I collected about 40 gallons at Barto Spring today. Flowing much better than the last time I visited. Got the following results with a home water test kit. Nitrate between 2.0-5.0, Nitrite negative, pH ~7, Hardness ~120ppm, Chlorine negative, pesticides negative, and lead negative. In 48 hours I’ll have results of the bacteria test, so far the solution is purple (negative).
I visited this spring earlier this month and collected 10 gallons. I tested the TDS and pH using a liquid test after I got home. The pH measured 7, and my TDS meter showed 71 ppm.
Hey guys,
went to get my water today and made a few observations.
1. two people stopped their car in order to ask me wether or not if the water was tested. They seemed concerned because something happened a few years ago regarding some contamination by a company called “Texas” something. I got two comments from people who seemed to live near by. The one guy told me that his own well is also contaminated and he doesn’t use it any more. I think this all happened years ago.
2. I called the Barto township office on 120 Barto Road (mentioned here for water testing) and the lady told me there wasn’t such thing that anyone was testing water or for that matter the spring itself.
Now. Does anyone have any information? Any REAL data on this spring being tested?
Josh mentioned that the owner was hopefully testing it. But if he is not using the spring for himself I doubt that he is testing it for US users.
I would like to test the water myself. What are the necessary steps?
Any really recent info would be helpful. I don’t want to put my family in jeopardy with questionable water.
I visited the spring on 11/22, the flow is very slow and the water had a stronger taste than normal. It took about 10 minutes to fill half a gallon. I plan to stop back again in a few weeks and will update.
How do you fill a glass 5 gallon water bottle? Do you use a bucket of some sort from the spout to fill a 5 gallon glass container?
You can simply put the opening of the container to the spout of the spring and let it pour in. 🙂
Yea everyone ive been steadily using this water since my very 1rst post! Even though its and hr and a half drive both ways for us its definitely worth it!!! I meet people there all the time who swear by this water and have been drinking it as long as they can remember!… I go about every 2 weeks and fill seven 5 gallon glass carboy jugs… The water comes out at a pretty decent speed right now since its gotten cold out and it only takes me like 35-40 mins to fill the 7 jugs but in the summer it takes me 2 hrs to fill all 7 so yea in the summer its a long day to do this…3 hrs driving time + 2 hrs to fill the jugs but its still a good adventure for me and my son cause while the jugs fill he has a blast exploring the woods above the spring plus this spring im gonna plant a bunch of wild edible greens all around that area in hopes of trying to teach my son to forage for wild foods!.. Hope everyone enjoys it as much as us!!
Hey Thank you so much Josh, my friend! : )
We’re going to make the hr drive here and I’m so glad that I know the quality before hand, and is such great news of how clean it sounds… As I needed to find a new spring since recently my other spring just tested for bacteria, and my family can’t live without living water -we’ll sacrifice on our food if we must, but not our water.
Are you without a home that you must acquire water via a spring? If so, we can set up a donation page for you and your family to help you all out. It’s cold out this time of year and no family should be stuck in such a rut.
Wow Josh, thanks so much for all your efforts. you rock.
Hey Josh just wanted to say thanks for verifying the quality of this water! this definitely motivates me to check this one out even though it might be a long drive it sounds like its worth it. cant wait to try it
any updates on the cleanliness of this spring? it’s close to us and I’ve known about it for a while, but I’m concerned about the Bally water contamination from the old case and cooler (refrigeration contaminates) affecting it. any thoughts? thanks!
I lived in Bally when there was a problem and it is reported that the problem is gone. When I lived there I used this water. It was wonderful. now that I am in the area again, I will use it again.
Is anyone drinking this water? It has a really good taste but I worry it could be contaminated. I called the township and they said not to drink it because it is not tested.
Josh,
So how did you make out? Whats the status on the water? I will help clean the place up. Any suggestions of what I can do to improve the area?
I called Washington township yesterday, August 19, 2013. The person I spoke with said that they are not responsible for checking the water. Since it is located on a state road, the State would check it and to contact the DEP for verification of the safety.