Some time ago we paid $$'s [can't remember how much but it was a approx. $100] for a "you beaut" dual cartridge water filter - supposed to filter out all the "nasties".
Result, muddy river water still looked the same! So since then, when I run out of town water, I have drawn the water from the creek/dam etc, let it rest overnight, then syphoned off the clean water the next morning.