The National Park Service strongly recommends that water from natural sources be purified before consumption.
Ludacris recently addressed concerns from fans about his health after he posted a video on social media where he drank fresh water from an Alaskan glacier without any purification.
The 46-year-old rapper, born Christopher Bridges, was in Alaska for a performance at the state fair on Friday, August 23, and took the opportunity to explore the area.
On August 26, he shared a video on his social media platforms, including Instagram, that showed him descending a glacier and drinking water directly from the source.
"Listen, man, half the world's glaciers are here in Alaska. I couldn't just come here for a show," began the "Fast & Furious" star. "I've never tasted fresh glacial water in my life, so here we go, my first time."
Ludacris then made his way down the glacier, collected some water in a bottle, and, after glancing at the camera, took a sip. "Oh my God," he exclaimed, before darting out of the frame.
The video's caption read: "Water 💧 So Good It Tastes Like GOD Made It. Well, Because He Did 🙏🏾 ❄️."
His decision to drink the water on-site without any purification prompted concerns from followers and friends in the comments.
"My anxiety was on so many levels 😩😂," commented Terrence J.
Another follower elaborated on the health risks of consuming untreated glacier water: "Be careful with glacier water! Even though it looks fresh and clean, it’s often full of bacteria, parasites, and viruses… Microorganisms you definitely don’t want in your system. It can make you extremely sick. Make sure to boil it first to stay safe! 🥺."
In a follow-up video shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, August 27, Ludacris appeared to respond to the concerns, though he did not directly address the dangers of drinking untreated water.
"For everyone asking me how that glacier water really tasted… when I say I'm a water snob, it was the best-tasting water I've ever had," he said. "As I drank it, I felt like every cell in my body was being hydrated and rejuvenated all at once."
He continued, "To have the greatest show in Alaska after that… Listen, man, I'm here. I feel like Superman."
He ended the video by sending love to his fans, saying, "There are different ways of life... Just trying to take y'all places, show you things, meet people."
The National Park Service (NPS) advises, "Never drink water from a natural source that you haven’t purified, even if it appears clean. Water from streams, rivers, or lakes may look clean, but it can still harbor bacteria, viruses, and parasites that could cause waterborne diseases, such as cryptosporidiosis or giardiasis. It is crucial to purify natural water."
To safely consume water from a natural source, the NPS recommends filtering it first, then treating it by boiling or using chemicals to kill any parasites, bacteria, and viruses.
The Quran - Chapter Al-Qalam : 48 - 49
So be patient with your Lord’s decree, and do not be like ˹Jonah,˺ the Man of the Whale, who cried out ˹to Allah˺, in total distress.
Had he not been shown grace by his Lord, he would have certainly been cast onto the open ˹shore˺, still blameworthy.
