 They also collect water samples in plastic bottles. They'll take those back to the lab to analyze the metal content. Manning says beyond ecosystem damage, if levels continue to rise, that could mean problems for drinking water. A lot of our mountain communities get their water resources from these streams. And if you begin to increase the metals enough, high up, and you can't dilute it very well anymore, now they may have to start treating that water or taking it out in a different place.