3 fast ways to purify your drinking water
Editor’s note: check out Water4Patriots for our top choice of personal water filtration.
_______________________
We’ve covered some easy water purification techniques here, including using the sun, but I’ve got even more for you.
The first order of business, however, is to try to find the cleanest water to begin with. Here are some rules of thumb:
- Avoid water with a strange hue or film on it, and avoid water that is not clear
- Try to find moving water as opposed to still water
- Avoid water where there is active growth in it such as algae or scum
- Avoid water near roadways or pavement as it likely has oil and pollutants in it
- Stay upstream of industrial facilities, mines and construction
- Avoid water from farmland, as it might have large amounts of fertilizer and pesticides in it
Now onto some easy tips for making sure you have clean water anywhere, any time.
Boiling
This seems obvious but is really the surest way to make sure your water is clean. Water should be boiled at least 5 minutes straight to kill the bacteria existing in most water. Every “bug out bag” should include a way to heat and boil enough water for everyone in your family. Don’t skimp on your pot or your stove, as these could be your lifeline if there is no clean water available.
Filtering
There are many commercial filters available. Stick to brands you trust and make sure they are made in the USA. There are plenty of crappy filters out there that are made in China that could leave you literally high and dry.
For a more primitive method, try the Birch cone method. Cut a 1ft by 1ft square of birch, aspen, or other paper like bark from a tree. Roll it into a cone. Place some small stones in the bottom to keep your material from falling out of the bottom. Tie a couple pieces of string around the outside to keep it in the cone shape. Now alternate putting layers of charcoal, grass, and sand. The sand and grass will filter the suspended solids in the water, and charcoal can filter bacteria. Run your water through the filter at least 3 times and keep changing the materials inside it for best results.
You can also use the earth to filter your water. Dig a hole next to a stream and let water filter through the sand and silt into your hole. This water will be reasonably clean, but may not be free of all bacteria.
Distilling with the Sun
Once again our old friend the sun has a great solution for us. Mother Earth news has a great article about how to build a solar still from scratch.
The still works by causing the water to first evaporate, then condense on a surface where you can collect it. Since 99% of solids and bacteria won’t evaporate with the water, the condensed water will be pure.
Let me know in the comments what your favorite water filtration methods are.
Recommended Today
The Ultimate In Water Purification? Scientists have discovered a weird 2 oz. device that purifies the nastiest, filthiest, bacteria-riddled and parasite infested water without chemicals or even moving parts. Video >>
I think reverse osmosis is one of the most effective to purify water. Now, more and more RO systems have many stages of filtration, which can remove many contaminants in our water.
Water is essential for health, hygiene and the productivity of our community. water treatment process may vary on the water condition that you have in your area. its better to invest on a good water treatment. it will benefit you by providing safety to you and your family.
great tips! i really appreciate this great post. looking forward to your next blog
Yes Frank, hopefully my mother was right about this. She claimed by putting just a few drops of purex in a Gal of water would take care of all the bacteria and you could drink the water? True Frank??
You actually want about a 1/4 tsp per gallon, but yes, bleach is a fine disinfectant. I like to shake it up and leave it open overnight so the chlorine can dissipate a bit.
I collect rain water in a cheap kiddie pool and use a coffee filter to filter out dirt before storage in 2-leter cleaned out juice bottles. I put an old bleached white sock over the filter to keep it from tearing. The water in the bottles is crystal clear. Our city water is too hard and so loaded with chemicals that the bathroom stinks when I fill up the bathtub. Right now, I rotate the stored water to water the garden and decrease water bills.
We currently filter all the water we drink or cook with. In a SHTF situation, we’ll use the sun method to kill bacteria if we are are hunkering down at home If we have to bug-out, I’ve got several portable water filter devices I found on web for a couple of dollars each.
a rain barrel is really inexpensive to make ( I made each of mine for less than $20 each) and uses the whole area of your roof to collect water.
Please send me the directions again for purifying water in a bottle by sun exposure.
The article with full CDC instruction links is here: http://www.patriotheadquarters.com/1-weird-water-purification-trick/comment-page-2/
If you use bleach to purify water, how much bleach do you use per gallon of water, and also how long is it good or contaminate? Thanks for an answer!!
Eloise Wright
I have used a two litre bottle & stuffed a tampon in the neck, & then suspend upside down, & catch the dripping water & then boil well. No problems from this
nice tip.
As we know that today we are facing pure water problems in this way your post is really helpful for us. I think we should follow your tips for purify our drinking water.
I studied water filtering for a long time. I don’t trust Berkey or Adya Clarity anymore. Send me an e-mail if you want my SCIENTIFIC PROOF.
R.O water system is really the best as it can remove contaminants such as arsenic, nitrates, sodium, copper and lead, some organic chemicals, and the municipal additive fluoride.
thanks for sharing us your knowledge. we really need a good water purification system to prevent us from having water related diseases
What about black mica extract or Adya Clarity
Adya Clarity is a big fat waste of money. Liars, chaters and thiefs.
haven’t tried any of those.
best water purifier i’ve tried and i’m sticking to is berkey water filter. Instantly purifies water from any source including stagnant water.
I don’t trust Berkey anymore. They put out a piece of *&^% filter that should have been recalled and didn’t bother warning anybody.
What about blench?
Silver coins have been used for water purifacation for hundreds of years, better yet silver bullion. Silver is the money of the people for good reason. All top of the line water filters made in the USA have silver additive inside of them. Add a few silver bars or coins to a water container if you ever run out of bleach, god bless you brothers and sisters in the near future! Love you all ;)
Distilling with the sun is a great way purify large amount of safe drinking water for storage. It is a little slow for small amounts when you are on the move. Aback up is always a good ideah. Thanks for your web site and the info you provide.