From Blue Ridge Tastee Freeze and Market head east. The spring is on the left side of US 460. There is a place to pull off the road and people are there getting the water quite often.
We were really excited to find this spring so close to us (we live in Roanoke) thanks to this website. We just got water from it a couple of weeks ago. We also bought a WaterSafe well-water test kit from Amazon and tested for the 10 most common contaminants just to make sure all is okay. Thought you all might find this information helpful, so here is what we found:
– Bacteria — NONE
– Lead — 0
– Pesticides — 0
– Copper — <0.5 ppm (EPA standard is bellow 1.3 ppm)
– Iron — 0
– Total Nitrate/Nitrite — 0
– Nitrite — 0
– pH – 8.5 (EPA standard is 6.5 to 8.5)
– Total Hardness 250 ppm (EPA standard is bellow 50 ppm)
– Total Chlorine — 0
So the only one above the EPA standard is total hardness. We researched this online and also called the WaterSafe kit manufacturer and found that hard water is not a drinking health concern, only a nuisance (e.g., when you wash dishes, laundry etc.). Hard water is usually due to high mineral content, usually Calcium and Magnesium. We actually read some articles suggesting that there might be health benefits of drinking hard water…. Anyway, we concluded that this spring water is safe for drinking and, indeed, it is very tasty!
Tested this water today for ph, ppm and nitrate/nitrites. All test were done on digital meters except for nitrate/nitrate test, Ph was 8.0, ppm is 124 and the nitrite/ nitrate test was 0/0.
Thank you Dana for this invaluable information…as the copper is actually a + in our humble opinion, our bodies need copper, this is why they took away most copper plumbing….humans are more than likely deficient in many vital minerals….also am loving that the pH tests like so here too…as an alkaline state is highly preferred vs. acidic…..Alkalized bodies = healthy bodies
Thanks again for this info.
Looks like someone has gone through the trouble of testing the water quality and the results were great! I am a Homebrewer of Beer and just posted a brewers water report from a sample I sent to Ward Labs. It gives all of the essential cations and anions you would need. Happy brewing!!!!
The spring is on the same side of the road as the Blue Ridge mini market and Tastee freeze. If you leave Tastee freeze and head east, look on the left side of the road for an old house that is falling apart on the hill above the spring. The shoulder is wide there where people pull over to access the spring. There is a sign to warn people the water may not be safe. There is usually someone there collecting the water. I have drank the water and many people I know have also. The next time I go out that way I’ll measure the distance between the spring and the Tastee Freeze and try to find better landmarks near the spring. I’m sorry you have had trouble finding it from my description.
We drank a few gallons of this a month ago and it tasted superb in comparison to our Thomasville tap water. XD Inspired us to find more springs closer to home and fill up monthly. Tonight we filled up with the Mt. Vermont spring water in NC.
Currently there is a sign up that says “WATER NOT APPROVED FOR DRINKING BY AUTHORITY OF BEDFORD HEALTH DEPT”
Which I’m pretty sure just means that the health department hasn’t tested it and doesn’t intend to test it. More of CYA for the local governments if someone gets sick.
Traveled to this spring from Bedford. The spring accessible from the south bound lane but is easier to see from the north lane. Don’t worry you will be in an area where both lanes are visible without wooded median. There is a rock wall and the pipe is coming from it. The auto part store is closed (just a brick building) and it is somewhat across the street. Coming from Roanoke when you past the Burgers, Shakes and Cream it is gong to be on your left. You’ll have to u-turn back to it but you will see the rock wall. Great water!
Just came back from the Road Side Spring. A little clarification on the location. You do head east from Roanoke on Rt 221/460. The Tastee Freeze is no longer there. It is now called Burgers, Shakes and Cream and is located on the left side when you’re heading east, the same side of the road as the spring. You go by the Boxley Rock Quarry and shortly past there, across from Valley Auto Parts you’ll see the spring. We had to stop at the Burger place they were able to tell us exactly where it was. There is a pipe coming out of the side of the hill. It’s surrounded by rock and there is a grate above the pipe. The water is yummy and well worth the stop.
The Google Map pin is west of the actual spring location but if you zoom in and look east you can see a hill to the left, the spring is coming out of this hill.
did you ever get a response on your question? I used to get water from this spring more than 30 yrs. ago. Was reading on Dr. Mercolas website about the benefits of spring water. This was one of the recommended springs in the United States as clean, pure and safe. Am thinking about getting some glass jugs and go fill them up. I live more than 40 miles away from the spring now. This seems to be the nearest one in the virginia area that has public access. Have you consumed any of the water from it?
Would you please provide detailed directions to this spring? I’m looking for it in Google street view and it doesn’t appear to be at the marker. Where, and how far is it from the Blue Ridge Market? Is it off the Eastbound lane?
It is the Villamont Spring, I tried adding it here a couple eyars ago with a photo & GPS coordinates – not sure where that went to.
Search for Villamont Road in Blue Ridge VA, it is on the other side of 460. Here is a google map I created. https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=206929334461251125314.00047ecfe8a12c5d7fe4e&msa=0 I have filled up at this spring (when I am nearby) for the past 3 years, it tastes a little sweet (calcium) & the temperature is higher than others in the Roanoke area. My kombucha & water kefirs love the minerals from this spring water!
Living right down the road from this spring I’d love to take advantage of it, but will not. I do not trust the water quality being so close to the quarry. I’ve researched health hazards from being near a quarry & nothing consequential comes up, I do not believe this. Even the tap water is terrible in this area, so hard! Which this is “fine, a bonus.” Well I don’t believe that either. When I first moved here 10 yrs ago we drank tons of the water including from the spring. Now that I have been here so long Ive learned everyone in this area has kidney stones (even the young) and my whole family has some form of Cysts. Which is common with the people in this neighborhood… In my reasoning if hard water clogs appliances quickly why not our organs??
My only problem with this spring is its popularity . Long wait factor often . The Villamont area once had a large springs resort hotel . Wish THAT spring was publicly available. Must have had quite a flow. A large spring ,also at site of former resort springs hotel,is a little north of Jetersville,VA.
Coliform/E. coli tests performed by Virginia Tech:
6/22/2016 – Tested postive for Coliform Bacteria (MPN=32/100mL)
12/07/2016 – Tested positive for Coliform and E. coli bacteria (MPN of 26 and 7, respectively)
Further testing for bacteria and new tests for Metals upcoming.
The spring’s pH and alkaline levels were all right around with what was previously stated. Very excited about that. Water is very healthy and alkaline.
I tested the mercury level to be less than 50 ppb (parts per billion). Thats about as accurate as my reading goes, but I would say there really isn’t any mercury in that water. At least noticeable to my readings.
The ORP level of the water was about +120 mv, which is pretty good, but I would rather have that be a negative number just for antioxidant purposes. Water is just as safe to drink though.
After testing many springs around the VA area, I think its safe to say that this will be my go too spring from now on.
I am under the impression that the spring is contaminated with traces of mercury. If I am not miss taken there is a sign that posts a warning. I would be very Caucasus of this spring look at the surroundings that should tell you something! There are better springs at petites gap in arnolds valley and hunting creek they come straight from the mountain.
I was at the spring this past Friday (6/23/2017); there is no mercury warning sign. (But that doesn’t necessarily mean mercury is not a problem; Jameson reports a level less than 50 ppb, but the EPA standard calls for less than 2 ppb.)
When I lived in the Roanoke area, I used to use this water and this water only for homebrewing. I am an avid homebrewer to this day and this is the best water I’ve ever brewed with.
The location on this listing is slightly incorrect. It is about a quarter mile north on US 460 (or 221) from the current location shown on the map, just pass Tower road (if coming on 460 from south). If someone knows how to update this listing, please do.
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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Road Side Spring, Blue Ridge, VA
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We were really excited to find this spring so close to us (we live in Roanoke) thanks to this website. We just got water from it a couple of weeks ago. We also bought a WaterSafe well-water test kit from Amazon and tested for the 10 most common contaminants just to make sure all is okay. Thought you all might find this information helpful, so here is what we found:
– Bacteria — NONE
– Lead — 0
– Pesticides — 0
– Copper — <0.5 ppm (EPA standard is bellow 1.3 ppm)
– Iron — 0
– Total Nitrate/Nitrite — 0
– Nitrite — 0
– pH – 8.5 (EPA standard is 6.5 to 8.5)
– Total Hardness 250 ppm (EPA standard is bellow 50 ppm)
– Total Chlorine — 0
So the only one above the EPA standard is total hardness. We researched this online and also called the WaterSafe kit manufacturer and found that hard water is not a drinking health concern, only a nuisance (e.g., when you wash dishes, laundry etc.). Hard water is usually due to high mineral content, usually Calcium and Magnesium. We actually read some articles suggesting that there might be health benefits of drinking hard water…. Anyway, we concluded that this spring water is safe for drinking and, indeed, it is very tasty!
Tested this water today for ph, ppm and nitrate/nitrites. All test were done on digital meters except for nitrate/nitrate test, Ph was 8.0, ppm is 124 and the nitrite/ nitrate test was 0/0.
Thank you Dana for this invaluable information…as the copper is actually a + in our humble opinion, our bodies need copper, this is why they took away most copper plumbing….humans are more than likely deficient in many vital minerals….also am loving that the pH tests like so here too…as an alkaline state is highly preferred vs. acidic…..Alkalized bodies = healthy bodies
Thanks again for this info.
Looks like someone has gone through the trouble of testing the water quality and the results were great! I am a Homebrewer of Beer and just posted a brewers water report from a sample I sent to Ward Labs. It gives all of the essential cations and anions you would need. Happy brewing!!!!
The spring is on the same side of the road as the Blue Ridge mini market and Tastee freeze. If you leave Tastee freeze and head east, look on the left side of the road for an old house that is falling apart on the hill above the spring. The shoulder is wide there where people pull over to access the spring. There is a sign to warn people the water may not be safe. There is usually someone there collecting the water. I have drank the water and many people I know have also. The next time I go out that way I’ll measure the distance between the spring and the Tastee Freeze and try to find better landmarks near the spring. I’m sorry you have had trouble finding it from my description.
We drank a few gallons of this a month ago and it tasted superb in comparison to our Thomasville tap water. XD Inspired us to find more springs closer to home and fill up monthly. Tonight we filled up with the Mt. Vermont spring water in NC.
Currently there is a sign up that says “WATER NOT APPROVED FOR DRINKING BY AUTHORITY OF BEDFORD HEALTH DEPT”
Which I’m pretty sure just means that the health department hasn’t tested it and doesn’t intend to test it. More of CYA for the local governments if someone gets sick.
has anyone had this water tested before? my friend was concerned about the new subdivision that was built near by regarding sewage drainage
Traveled to this spring from Bedford. The spring accessible from the south bound lane but is easier to see from the north lane. Don’t worry you will be in an area where both lanes are visible without wooded median. There is a rock wall and the pipe is coming from it. The auto part store is closed (just a brick building) and it is somewhat across the street. Coming from Roanoke when you past the Burgers, Shakes and Cream it is gong to be on your left. You’ll have to u-turn back to it but you will see the rock wall. Great water!
Thanks Pam
It’s just 15-20 ms.
Hey thanks for posting this, what is the driving time from Roanoke?
Just came back from the Road Side Spring. A little clarification on the location. You do head east from Roanoke on Rt 221/460. The Tastee Freeze is no longer there. It is now called Burgers, Shakes and Cream and is located on the left side when you’re heading east, the same side of the road as the spring. You go by the Boxley Rock Quarry and shortly past there, across from Valley Auto Parts you’ll see the spring. We had to stop at the Burger place they were able to tell us exactly where it was. There is a pipe coming out of the side of the hill. It’s surrounded by rock and there is a grate above the pipe. The water is yummy and well worth the stop.
The Google Map pin is west of the actual spring location but if you zoom in and look east you can see a hill to the left, the spring is coming out of this hill.
Is this water clean safe and good??
did you ever get a response on your question? I used to get water from this spring more than 30 yrs. ago. Was reading on Dr. Mercolas website about the benefits of spring water. This was one of the recommended springs in the United States as clean, pure and safe. Am thinking about getting some glass jugs and go fill them up. I live more than 40 miles away from the spring now. This seems to be the nearest one in the virginia area that has public access. Have you consumed any of the water from it?
Would you please provide detailed directions to this spring? I’m looking for it in Google street view and it doesn’t appear to be at the marker. Where, and how far is it from the Blue Ridge Market? Is it off the Eastbound lane?
I think I found it next to Blue Ridge Spring Road off the Eastbound lane of 460.
It is the Villamont Spring, I tried adding it here a couple eyars ago with a photo & GPS coordinates – not sure where that went to.
Search for Villamont Road in Blue Ridge VA, it is on the other side of 460. Here is a google map I created. https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=206929334461251125314.00047ecfe8a12c5d7fe4e&msa=0 I have filled up at this spring (when I am nearby) for the past 3 years, it tastes a little sweet (calcium) & the temperature is higher than others in the Roanoke area. My kombucha & water kefirs love the minerals from this spring water!
Need to change the location to VA, not PA.
Collected from here today! No wait, no signs, water tastes great! I ordered a water test kit and will update with results.
Living right down the road from this spring I’d love to take advantage of it, but will not. I do not trust the water quality being so close to the quarry. I’ve researched health hazards from being near a quarry & nothing consequential comes up, I do not believe this. Even the tap water is terrible in this area, so hard! Which this is “fine, a bonus.” Well I don’t believe that either. When I first moved here 10 yrs ago we drank tons of the water including from the spring. Now that I have been here so long Ive learned everyone in this area has kidney stones (even the young) and my whole family has some form of Cysts. Which is common with the people in this neighborhood… In my reasoning if hard water clogs appliances quickly why not our organs??
My only problem with this spring is its popularity . Long wait factor often . The Villamont area once had a large springs resort hotel . Wish THAT spring was publicly available. Must have had quite a flow. A large spring ,also at site of former resort springs hotel,is a little north of Jetersville,VA.
Is this spring still there? Tried to find it yesterday, no luck.
Coliform/E. coli tests performed by Virginia Tech:
6/22/2016 – Tested postive for Coliform Bacteria (MPN=32/100mL)
12/07/2016 – Tested positive for Coliform and E. coli bacteria (MPN of 26 and 7, respectively)
Further testing for bacteria and new tests for Metals upcoming.
Hi A_W, did you ever do the other testing on this spring?
I visited the spring and marked the direct coordinates:
https://goo.gl/maps/6optWc5MY9t
The spring’s pH and alkaline levels were all right around with what was previously stated. Very excited about that. Water is very healthy and alkaline.
I tested the mercury level to be less than 50 ppb (parts per billion). Thats about as accurate as my reading goes, but I would say there really isn’t any mercury in that water. At least noticeable to my readings.
The ORP level of the water was about +120 mv, which is pretty good, but I would rather have that be a negative number just for antioxidant purposes. Water is just as safe to drink though.
After testing many springs around the VA area, I think its safe to say that this will be my go too spring from now on.
I am under the impression that the spring is contaminated with traces of mercury. If I am not miss taken there is a sign that posts a warning. I would be very Caucasus of this spring look at the surroundings that should tell you something! There are better springs at petites gap in arnolds valley and hunting creek they come straight from the mountain.
Are the locations for the other springs you mentioned on findapspring.com?
Thanks!
I was at the spring this past Friday (6/23/2017); there is no mercury warning sign. (But that doesn’t necessarily mean mercury is not a problem; Jameson reports a level less than 50 ppb, but the EPA standard calls for less than 2 ppb.)
When I lived in the Roanoke area, I used to use this water and this water only for homebrewing. I am an avid homebrewer to this day and this is the best water I’ve ever brewed with.
The location on this listing is slightly incorrect. It is about a quarter mile north on US 460 (or 221) from the current location shown on the map, just pass Tower road (if coming on 460 from south). If someone knows how to update this listing, please do.