I didn't see a unique topic in this section devoted to this, so I thought I'd start one.
There are filters, U.V. sterilizers, distillers and chemicals for making questionable water safe. Being that there are so many techniques, this thread could be quite detailed.
Got a new product? An old trick? Some insider knowledge on the state of the water in the rivers and lakes? This is all about the necessity of life that is easy to overlook. The body requires between one and seven liters of water per day. Without water, we stop functioning after 48 hours.
The ability to gain access to potable (drinkable) water is a deciding factor in emergencies. A city without clean water quickly depopulates, sending the inhabitants into the countryside. Epidemics from tainted water happen when people are desperate. A little knowledge and preparedness can go a long way.
When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fail, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.
-Edmund Burke, 1729 - 1797
A popular method of sterilizing water in the Third World is by using a discarded plastic bottle.
http://www.wikihow.com/Sterilize-Water-With-Sunlight
Sunlight treats the contaminated water through two synergetic mechanisms: UV-A irradiation and increased water temperature. If the water temperatures rises above 50 °C (120 °F), the disinfection process is three times faster.
When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fail, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.
-Edmund Burke, 1729 - 1797
in an emergency you can make a water filter out of a can, pail, or even a plastic bag. Crush up some charcoal (or even use activated aquarium charcoal) and place at the bottom of your would be filter. Add a decent layer of sand and a top layer of stones/rocks/gravel. make a small hole at the bottom of your can, pail, or plastic bag.
Pour water into the top and clean filtered water should drip out the bottom
All of my hard work, and all of my preparedness I do for the two most important people in my life.
Charity really does begin at home.
There are 3 basic contaminants of water. Organic sediment, bacteriological and chemical. If you have a fine enough filter media you can remove the majority of the first, some of the second and virtually none of the third. Any water that you filter would best be treated with a chemical means of sterilization such as chlorine. Other methods are a Steri pen or sunlight. To remove chemical contamination you will need a charcoal layer or specialized filter elements. In the short term the most risk is from biological contamination. Chemical contamination would for the most part be a longer term concern. Always begin with the cleanest water you can find. Personal filter bottles are readily available and affordable.
JAB
For a test I watered a plant with 0ppm tds reverse osmosis filtered water and the rest of the plants with normal tap water. The reverse osmosis filter watered water died in a few days, I guess to enough minerals to keep it alive
Want to see the future, past or the unknown? Learn to be psychic. Ask me how!
A good time to invest in spf3000 if you live on the NK penninsula.
Oh November 17, how I fear thee...
There are 3 basic contaminants of water. Organic sediment, bacteriological and chemical. If you have a fine enough filter media you can remove the majority of the first, some of the second and virtually none of the third. Any water that you filter would best be treated with a chemical means of sterilization such as chlorine. Other methods are a Steri pen or sunlight. To remove chemical contamination you will need a charcoal layer or specialized filter elements. In the short term the most risk is from biological contamination. Chemical contamination would for the most part be a longer term concern. Always begin with the cleanest water you can find. Personal filter bottles are readily available and affordable.
JAB
I did a short post on the basics of water treatment, might be helpful:
http://rednecksurvivalist.com/index.php/entry/the-basics-of-water-treatment
It's better to prep for something that may never happen than not prep for something that does.
www.rednecksurvivalist.com
I just came back from a bug out trip and this is how I treated my drinking water.
1. Filled my camelback bladder with lake water
2. dropped in the AquaTab and let sit for 30 minutes
3. While waiting I prepped my filter which is one of those single cup reusable coffee filters. In the bottom I placed a few layers of cotton makeup pads. Ordinary cotton balls would work just fine, but the makeup pads are a perfect fit for the coffee strainer.
4. I then add a decent, even layer of crushed charcoal over top of the cotton. reassemble to coffee strainer and place over top of a container...in my case an empty plastic coffee can.
5. pour the water through the filter and the water coming out the bottom will be clear and tastes just like chlorinated water.
6. You can pour the filtered water from the container right back into the camelback for easy carry.
All of my hard work, and all of my preparedness I do for the two most important people in my life.
Charity really does begin at home.
There's a lot of light, portable water filter systems on the market these days. Once upon a time I'd drink straight from the lake, after swishing a bit of bleach in the canteen. It was taking a risk. These new portable filters take most of the worry out.
This one is by Grayl. Like most of the contenders in this field, it seems suited for the person who travels light and wants a quick way to filter stream and lake water. You pour the water in, squeeze it through the filter, and it's ready to drink.
The replaceable filter is recommended for about 300 uses (150 Litres), but if you're water is clean to begin with it will probably do more. Retails for around $70 in Canada. Filters run about $20.
Weighs 19.6oz (556 grams), so less than carrying a bottle of water on your back.
If you don't trust these commercial filters, you can always do a secondary purification by boiling or exposing to the UV.
http://www.thegrayl.com/#rebirth-of-water
When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fail, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.
-Edmund Burke, 1729 - 1797