This spring’s outlet is right along the road so it is very easy to access and easy to spot from the road. The spring’s outlet is along the side of a hill and the whole area is a forested state park (Patapsco Valley State Park) with no buildings or hardscape in sight so I imagine the quality of this spring’s water to be quite high. There seems to be a long steel metal pipe running from somewhere up the hill, and the last ten feet or so change to a pvc pipe unfortunately. But the spring is running constantly and at a high speed so I think this plastic contact has little effect. Also this spring is nice and cool when I tasted it in May. The water has a nice cool, thirst quenching quality. The spring lies on road that is sometimes frequented by fast moving, sometimes noisy cars, trucks, and motorcycles so beware!
The spring flows at about 1.5 GPM which seems rather fast! It would be best if someone would have the water tested to find out its quality.
Nearest Address
8067 Henryton Road Marriottsville, MD
Directions from Nearest Address
If heading east of west on I 70, exit on route 32 heading north toward Sykesville. Drive north on route 32 for several miles until you reach the Sykesville area. Turn right on Raincliffe Road, then a right on Arrington Road, and then a right on Henryton Road. Follow Henryton Road down the hill for a short distance. When you see the first road which looks like a driveway on the right, pull into this driveway. Then turn around and cross to the other side when the traffic is clear. The spring is here across from the driveway. There is an enlarged shoulder where one can park. Simply unload your bottles and set on the table next to the spring. Fill up as needed! The address I gave above is just down the road a bit where there is a horse camp.
I went to the Spring this morning at 6 degrees yes that is right like 26 degrees below freezing and the water was still flowing and was as good as ever! I love this spring. Truly is a blessing from God.
There is a true and distinct taste and feel difference between this and tap water.
Even at this cold I had to wait my time in line for my water. That is awesome.
I bought the “First Alert WT1 Drinking Water Test Kit” from Amazon. About 3 weeks ago my girlfriend used the bacteria test and it failed. I can only assume she didn’t contaminate the test somehow. Also, the water was also collected in a glass jug with a metal container (not sure on the material) and stored in the fridge for about 2 weeks before the test. So the water may have been contaminated after collection. Just to note, the container fell over and spilled a fair bit in the car and the lid came into contact with my car floor.
We tried it out this past Friday filled up four gallon jugs of it before I could run it through the process of boiling and filtering my son drank it and he ended up in the emergency care with 102.7 fever so drink at caution and always boil your natural water!!!!
I drank out of this spring for 5 years straight without incident, never boiling or filtering the water. The one thing you DO need to check is the source, to make sure no animals have piddled in there. If it’s murky/weird, may have to stir and let it clear before collecting.
Melina, I was there Dec. 1st and it seemed good to go. I didn’t run any tests on it though. It’s possible some leaves are decomposing near were the spring exits the hill causing the taste you mentioned. Hopefully that is all it was.
Just a thought but does it make sense that water tested in cold months could give better results than the same water tested in summer? If it’s true that “the water flows open through the woods for several hundred feet until going into the pipes” that is a serious red flag. Of course some folks are more sensitive to bacteria than others.
I have been drinking this water on and off since this summer. During the past few months I’ve noticed that for me drinking this water is associated with bouts of diarrhea. Has anyone else experienced diarrhea in association with this water? I have not had it tested. Does anyone know if it has been conclusively tested for safety?
Keep in mind that right on the other side of McKeldin park (about 2 miles downstream) there is an old landfill with a permanent water filtration facility that feeds into a stream with ‘Contaminated Water Avoid Contact’ signs. I worry about it contaminating the local ground water. Go to the end of Furman Lane on Google maps and you’ll see where I’m talking about. It is downstream but no guarantee when it comes to the flow of the underground aquifer.
Did anybody tested the water for lead or asbestos? I read that not far from the bridge over 210 acres were shut down for asbestos. I hope we are doing the right thing to drink this water. It’s been 6 weeks that I’m using it. I like the taste of it but I hope it’s safe.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Wondering if anyone has been to this spring lately? Last post was Feb 24, 2011. Wanted to head up there but before I do I just wanted to make sure you can still use it.
7/17/2011 – I tested the pH of the water on the 17th and it was 6+ with strips. I filled a case of glass liter bottles and have been using it all week. Terrific water and it stays “fresh”.Â
I noticed in the description above that there was a concern about the PVC pipe distribution. Because pipe is a “rigid” plastic, it doesn’t have any plasticizers in it. Basically it is inert, so you don’t have any migration from the pipe to the spring water. It is actually safer than cast iron, because it doesn’t corrode.
First ttime Inwent there, today, and the water is great, very refreshing and will continue going every week. I will test it soon as well and will post the results. Biggggg different in taste!
2/24/2011 – I tested this water today and the PH was 6.8. I know someone else read it at 5 and that’s not good and very unusual for spring water. I feel better now. We get the water and put it through a Brita filter before drinking. It’s probably not necessary, but makes me feel better. On Sunday, we had to wait in line to get water! A lot of people have been drinking this water for years, and no contamination reported. My daughter tested our city water here for this area, and it was off the chart for chlorine. Now that’s poisonous. I’ll drink spring water over city water any day.
I would love to know if anyone has tested this water. I used to use it a lot. My sister and brother in law have a farm very close by, and don’t use the water. They have walked up to find the actual spring, and say that the water flows open through the woods for several hundred feet until going into the pipes that bring it to the street side. There are many deer and other wildlife that roam the forest, and too many possibilities for contamination to be a secure. I was disappointed to hear this.
I haven’t tested it, but it sure did taste great after a long ride on the motorcycle. Â It has to be better than the 80 year old rusty pipes that bring water to most houses where I live!
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.
I went to the Spring this morning at 6 degrees yes that is right like 26 degrees below freezing and the water was still flowing and was as good as ever! I love this spring. Truly is a blessing from God.
There is a true and distinct taste and feel difference between this and tap water.
Even at this cold I had to wait my time in line for my water. That is awesome.
Was there about 1m ago, great taste, my 1y old son always drinking raw spring water, and absolutely no problems.
Has anybody done recent test for pesticides of water for this spring? Will appreciate sharing results.
I bought the “First Alert WT1 Drinking Water Test Kit” from Amazon. About 3 weeks ago my girlfriend used the bacteria test and it failed. I can only assume she didn’t contaminate the test somehow. Also, the water was also collected in a glass jug with a metal container (not sure on the material) and stored in the fridge for about 2 weeks before the test. So the water may have been contaminated after collection. Just to note, the container fell over and spilled a fair bit in the car and the lid came into contact with my car floor.
I have not, but it is on my list. I will post next month at the beginning of Dec.
We tried it out this past Friday filled up four gallon jugs of it before I could run it through the process of boiling and filtering my son drank it and he ended up in the emergency care with 102.7 fever so drink at caution and always boil your natural water!!!!
I drank out of this spring for 5 years straight without incident, never boiling or filtering the water. The one thing you DO need to check is the source, to make sure no animals have piddled in there. If it’s murky/weird, may have to stir and let it clear before collecting.
Hello All,
Does anyone have any updates on this spring? Has anyone tested it recently? Thanks in advance for the info.
Alkaline is 6.8 or higher
Acidic is wayyyy less then that.
I went to this spring yesterday and all looked nice. My TDS meter read 65ppm. I did not test anything else. water tasted great and had good flow.
Melina, I was there Dec. 1st and it seemed good to go. I didn’t run any tests on it though. It’s possible some leaves are decomposing near were the spring exits the hill causing the taste you mentioned. Hopefully that is all it was.
Does anyone know how this spring is doing? Water tasted a little moldy today?
Just a thought but does it make sense that water tested in cold months could give better results than the same water tested in summer? If it’s true that “the water flows open through the woods for several hundred feet until going into the pipes” that is a serious red flag. Of course some folks are more sensitive to bacteria than others.
I found an article from the Sun dating to 2001 that warns of elevated levels of bacteria (coliform) at 75 ppm.
https://articles.baltimoresun.com/2001-11-26/news/0111260130_1_coliform-bacteria-drinking-water-bacteria-per-100
I have been drinking this water on and off since this summer. During the past few months I’ve noticed that for me drinking this water is associated with bouts of diarrhea. Has anyone else experienced diarrhea in association with this water? I have not had it tested. Does anyone know if it has been conclusively tested for safety?
Keep in mind that right on the other side of McKeldin park (about 2 miles downstream) there is an old landfill with a permanent water filtration facility that feeds into a stream with ‘Contaminated Water Avoid Contact’ signs. I worry about it contaminating the local ground water. Go to the end of Furman Lane on Google maps and you’ll see where I’m talking about. It is downstream but no guarantee when it comes to the flow of the underground aquifer.
Did anybody tested the water for lead or asbestos? I read that not far from the bridge over 210 acres were shut down for asbestos. I hope we are doing the right thing to drink this water. It’s been 6 weeks that I’m using it. I like the taste of it but I hope it’s safe.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Wondering if anyone has been to this spring lately? Last post was Feb 24, 2011. Wanted to head up there but before I do I just wanted to make sure you can still use it.
Been drinking this water 2.5 years, cook with it, brew beer with it, its wonderful. Never boiled, never filtered before drinking.Â
It’s right next to the old abandoned Henryton Sanatorium. Â I explored the place after I collected water. Â A very strange place indeed.
Did you get all the way down across the train tracks to the swimming hole with rope swing? awesome place.
7/17/2011 – I tested the pH of the water on the 17th and it was 6+ with strips. I filled a case of glass liter bottles and have been using it all week. Terrific water and it stays “fresh”.Â
I noticed in the description above that there was a concern about the PVC pipe distribution. Because pipe is a “rigid” plastic, it doesn’t have any plasticizers in it. Basically it is inert, so you don’t have any migration from the pipe to the spring water. It is actually safer than cast iron, because it doesn’t corrode.
First ttime Inwent there, today, and the water is great, very refreshing and will continue going every week. I will test it soon as well and will post the results. Biggggg different in taste!
2/24/2011 – I tested this water today and the PH was 6.8. I know someone else read it at 5 and that’s not good and very unusual for spring water. I feel better now. We get the water and put it through a Brita filter before drinking. It’s probably not necessary, but makes me feel better. On Sunday, we had to wait in line to get water! A lot of people have been drinking this water for years, and no contamination reported. My daughter tested our city water here for this area, and it was off the chart for chlorine. Now that’s poisonous. I’ll drink spring water over city water any day.
I tested the PH of this water with some PH strips when we first filled up here. The PH was 5 but that is better PH than our tap water in MD.
I would love to know if anyone has tested this water. I used to use it a lot. My sister and brother in law have a farm very close by, and don’t use the water. They have walked up to find the actual spring, and say that the water flows open through the woods for several hundred feet until going into the pipes that bring it to the street side. There are many deer and other wildlife that roam the forest, and too many possibilities for contamination to be a secure. I was disappointed to hear this.
Has anyone tested the water for impurities? What are the “possibilities for contamination”?
I haven’t tested it, but it sure did taste great after a long ride on the motorcycle. Â It has to be better than the 80 year old rusty pipes that bring water to most houses where I live!