Just curious about the lakes around Ontario and how safe the water is for drinking? I have a gravity water filter that is highly recommended for backpacking. If I filtered lake water with this filter (0.3 micron) should i still treat with a purification tablet or boil as well? If a SHTF situation happened and our water was compromised would a filtration system be ok or would boiling be required as well?
Here is the Government of Canada link for drinking water.
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/water-eau/disinfect-desinfection-eng.php
It is wise to treat all water as contaminated. The closer to the shoreline the worse it will be. Bacterial, viral and parasitc organisms would be the major concerns. Industrial pollution is less so in most areas. To be 100% certain use a gross filter for large particulates... a coffee filter... then your water filter.. then chlorine. Same as what you get now from the tap.. probably better.
Filter every drop of water in this province. The things our government thinks is ok to toss into our lakes and streams would make you cringe.
It looks clean, it looks beautiful, it looks refreshing but, you will regret it if you do not filter it.
I recommend boiling as well if at all possible.