Description:
Roadside spring, victorian / early 20th century style, easy access and place to park.
Nearest Address
Cole Hill, (on the essex way trail), Great and Little Leighs, Essex, UK.
Directions from Nearest Address
Near what is I believe Little Leighs church.
Vital Information
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Hours Spring is Open:
24/7/365
GPS: N/A
Map Link: Great and Little Leighs Spring Map
Submitted by: Adam
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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.
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.
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Bob
Lovely water with easy access, just beside the road with parking for one vehicle immediately beside it, (by sign for Essex Way). The church mentioned above is St. Mary The Virgin, Little Leighs. Postcode could be CM3 1 PN. Due to pandemic travel restrictions I have not been able to visit for a while. Beside the spring is a sign from the local parish council saying not to drink the water. They are covering their own backs, because they cannot afford to test the water regularly. This has been my main source of drinking water for about 6 years and never suffered any known health failings due to the water. Although on one occasion after very heavy rain, the water tasted slightly metallic – so I dumped that particular water harvest down the sink. I come up from London every few months to fill up 120x 1 litre glass bottles. At current fuel prices, that works out at approximately 15p/litre of water and whilst carrying 120kg of water when I get home is quite laborious, I am so grateful for months afterwards.
I have been there today, it is flowing energeticly, cristal clear and beautiful nature around.
Ph 6,4
TDS level 368
In our country we have lots of these springs, they are not tested regulary, but people drink from them for many years and it is signifantly better then tap water.
I too have been drinking from this spring for about 2 years – no ill effects so far, in fact I feel very well!! I also saw the sign on my last visit a few weeks ago and have been drinking the water since – all good. However, it would be nice to know officially that it is ‘safe, sound and wholesome’! I don’t know how much the tests cost but would imagine that there is enough interest to club together to have the tests done. I would certainly be prepared to contribute something towards it. Perhaps we could ask the Parish Council to ear mark a fund to test this spring for us?
Any ideas?
Richard Doyle
Hi i would be willing to help towards paying for a test aswell James.
Ok James, I’ll give the council a call during the week and see what the damage is likely to be and see what they can offer us in terms of a “joint venture”!
Richard
I wondered how this is going, the water testing? I’ve just found this website and would love to get some spring water on a regular basis. This is nearest to me, but on the map I see it’s in the heart of much farm land, and my first question was the quality of the water? Not just bacteria, but also if it could be polluted with farming chemicals? I wonder how this too could be tested. I’d like to hear what you find,
Wendy
Hello Wendy
I have today telephoned the chelmsford council and been directed to Mr Tim Savage as the gentleman who may be able to help with our query. Unfortunately he is out of the office today and will call me back tomorrow (with a bit of luck). I’ll post the outcome of the conversation.
Richard
Hi
Update – spoke to Tim Savage during the week. They have done a risk analysis and determined that the water is probably unsafe and therefore not worth testing further. The risk factors include the fact that the spring is near agricultural land and therefore may well be comtaminated with agricultural products (e.g. Pesticides and fertilisers). He also sites the fact that the concrete head and drainage arrangement is prone to contamination and cannot be easily treated e.g. with ultraviolet or other decontamination procedures in that location. He said that there may well be seasonal variation in the degree of contaiminnation – e.g worse during the winter. As a result he feels that it is likely that this water is safe and his department are not prepared to take the matter any further. He did say that if we wanted to have the water tested anyway, he was aware of a water testing lab in Braintree on the Springfield estate (?)
Any thoughts??
Kind regards, Richard
Hi Richard,
thanks for the update… hmmm, shame we use such chemicals on our precious land… this was a concern for me. I would still like to get the tests done, i am now intrigued, and even if the water is ‘unsafe’, it would be good to know more. Just out of interest for now, perhaps you or i could contact this lab and find out the costs? I’ll also have a look on the web and see if there are any more. However, the seasonal variation you spoke of is on my mind also, if we did get it tested, then it makes sense to test again at a different time of year. This could be costly. You’ve been drinking it for a while now though, as have others, would be good to know don’t you think?
Wendy
Hi Wendy
Would be good to know (if risk assessment stacks up to a real concern and if so what the nature of the risk is?) So I agree that ideally it would be good to have the tests done and multiple times during the year if possible. If you have the time and inclination then please feel free to run with this. My windows of opportunity are limited so I can contribute albeit in an ad hoc way! I would certainly be prepared to contribute to the costs of tests.
Richard
If its been raining heavily don’t drink from this fountain. I had a bit of a problem after drinking it, let’s just say it left me with my own fountain…hmm not good. However, when the weather was fine I had no ill effects and the water tasted great. I’m interested to hear test results when the well area isn’t flooded.
Hi Richard, my family and I have been drinking this water for a month or so with great enjoyment. However today my parents visited the spring and reported back that the water was yellow and sludgey, have you never experienced this before?
Richi
Went to this stream yesterday…. Bumped into a guy there filling up his water bottles which was great to see, had a decent chat with him. Filled up 130 litres and I’ll definitely be going back because the waters beautiful. There was also a field there with a few horses grazing, they were drinking from a bath tub filled with the same water. It would be interesting the average life expectancy of horses and how long these horse actually live. The spring was very powerful and it took me hardly any time at all to fill up my demijohns. Would highly recommend for anyone thinking about it, I used this postcode CM3 1 PN for the location and its pretty easy to find and even easier to park up. Just look for the horses in the field. Ironically there was a sign there saying not drinking water which is actually laughable!!!
We found this lovely little spring and collected some water and it’s lovely. It’s still flowing strong and easily accessible.
I took exact coordinates of 51.8134437, 0.5215522 but if that doesn’t help in maps, it is shortly after St Marys church (if passing on the right), over the River Ter, and then there’s a gated layby on the right for you to pull over and fill up!
Okay I have long wanted to use spring water for my home brewing and have taken away a few gallons from the spring to see how it does. Using aWatersafe test kit I have obtained the following results:
Lead – negative
Pesticides-negative
Nitrate-10ppm
Nitrite-0.3ppm
pH-8.0
Total hardness-435ppm
Total hardness 2.0ppm
Bacteria-negative
Assuming these test results are accurate, this water is good to use as is.
Will start a brew with it tomorrow.
I have been drinking this water for nearly a year now – I love it!
I live in London and it is a 106 mile round trip. Even with the high price of fuel, 90 one litre bottles work out at less than 20p/litre, and keeps me going for about 3 months.
It is a beautiful experience to drive out into the countryside and feel totally in touch with nature.
Great to be able to park right next to the spring, whilst filling up.
Hi peter,
that’s great to know. Can you tell me how you store your water for three months, in order to avoid algae growth and other organisms from multiplying ? Cheers
Hi John,
It just lives in the bottles, I have never had any problems. Possibly because the water at dispersal is quite fast flowing
Could we please have an update on the water quality, the site and peoples experience of drinking the water? We’re the tests done and when?
This water is fine, I have tested it with a Watersafe kit and it is negative for anything nasty including pesticides.
I use for mking beer and it is excellent.
Hi thanks for shareing this cycled tsmehere today, very nice water thanks again James Chelmsford.
I found the spring and took a few photos, it was not easy to find as it is very easy to drive past. I had to knock on the closest door and ask the locals. They advised that travelers always come and fill up from the spring. I have not had the water tested but it looks very clear and tastes great. I drank plenty of it and was ok, even filled up 3 demijohns. I will get the water tested if I can find a comprehensive test that does not cost a fortune.
The spring is on Cole Hill and marked with a post written “Essex Way”. You can see it in the photo but it does not show in the Google image picture.
Cut and past the following into a web browser to see it in Google maps:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=51.813696,0.521454&num=1&sll=51.815817,0.522679&sspn=0.007138,0.006295&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=51.813692,0.521511&spn=0,0.001739&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=51.81356,0.52142&panoid=fPXLGcNFoizdU3NcuvGxoA&cbp=12,142.18,,0,12.28
I have visited this spring today. The water was yellow coloured I think maybe due to the rainfall.. I didn’t take any as it tested at between 400-1000 PPM
The church is Great Leighs: St Mary the Virgin : BOREHAM ROAD, Great Leighs, Essex, CM3 1PP and the spring can be found three hundred yards downhill from the church
Is there any more news on this spring please. I haven’t used it in a while and wondered if other people are still benefiting from it?
Wendy
Been going here for over a year, went today and a “do not drink” sign has been put up on the tree above it. Can anyone shed any info?
Still filled up and been drinking it for over a week and feeling fine so im assuming its by someone who doesnt know any better – urgh, water from the ground, must be dirty!!!
I visited this beautiful spring about a week after you and, also saw
this sign. i decided to fill up and, then, do my internet research when
I got home. I received this reply from the Parish Council:
“Thank you for your visit. The sign was placed due to health
& safety because the water has not been tested or passed for human
consumption. Due to limited funds this parish council has not been in a
position to pursue the testing. We do however have plans to tidy up the
spring area.
Thank you again, Jessica
Great & Little Leighs Parish Council”
TDS = 401
PH= 7.1
Hi Gurmit
What does the TDS value refer to?
Brian
Hi it means total dissolved solids here’s a link for more info hope that helps.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_dissolved_solids
Does anyone know if this water is safe to drink?
been drinking it for 2 or 3 weeks. tastes good. I am thinking of getting it tested to be sure.
Is anyone drinking this water. Any good?
I’ve been drinking it for 2 or 3 weeks. tastes good.
I was wondering if this is a spring or a well??
its a spring…..contant flowing water. tastes good.
I cant see when I look at google maps, would does it look like ?
Or could you upload a picture.
picture and location uploaded.
did my first trip on friday before reading these comments.. anybody still drinking this? ? ?
This spring water is fine for drinking. I have tested it with a Watersafe kit and there is nothing nasty in it. Currently using it to make beer, and very good it is too.
Hi, Just visited this spring for the first time. Was really impressed by it and thought it looked beautifully clean. We have a couple of bottles. Has anyone drunk from this spring recently as I notice its quite some time since the last post?