How to Filter Water
When you are in a dangerous situation and don’t have clean water, you have to filter the water yourself. Otherwise you could get sick from it, making the situation more complicated. Of course, if you have the ability to prepare in advance, you can also choose a more convenient method to filter water while camping, or even install a permanent water purifier at home.
Method 1 of 4:
Filter water while camping
Edit
1
Choose one Physical water purifier. Pump water purifiers are the cheapest physical water purifiers, but they are inefficient and time-consuming. If you are traveling long distances, it is best to choose a gravity water purification bag. Gravity water purification bags generally have two filter bags connected by a hose. One of the filter bags contains the filter. After filling this filter bag with water, hang it up and the filtered water will flow into another clean filter bag. This method is quick and convenient and eliminates the hassle of carrying a large number of disposable filters. [1]
Although these water purifiers cannot prevent viruses, they can block bacteria. Not all wilderness areas need to be prepared for the virus. Check with your local CDC or tourist information center to see if you need protection against the virus.
2
Understand chemical disinfection. Chemical disinfection generally uses disinfectant tablets. Disinfection tablets are time-consuming, but they are cheap and effective in killing most bacteria and viruses. Disinfection tablets are divided into two types: iodine tablets and chlorine dioxide tablets.
Iodine tablets need to be left in water for more than 30 minutes. Generally, iodine tablets are sold together with other pills. And these pills can mask the taste of iodine. [2] Pregnant women and people with thyroid disease should not use iodine tablets. And no one can rely on this method of supplying water for weeks on end. [3]
If you use chlorine dioxide tablets for disinfection, you have to wait at least 30 minutes. Chlorine dioxide can kill Cryptosporidium that iodine tablets cannot kill. But you have to wait 4 hours before drinking water. [4]
3
Try UV disinfection. UV light can kill bacteria and viruses. But if you want to use ultraviolet light to disinfect water, the water must be clear enough and the exposure time must be long enough. [5] Different UV lamps and UV pens have different light intensities and should be used according to the product instructions.
4
Boil water. Boil the water and continue heating it for more than one minute to eliminate pathogenic bacteria in the water. Although it is inconvenient to boil water several times a day, whether you are using it to make dinner or make coffee, there is no need to filter the water that has been boiled.
In places with high altitudes, the air is thinner and the boiling point of water will be lower, so the water needs to be boiled for at least 3 minutes. [6] Killing bacteria and viruses relies on high temperature and has nothing to do with water boiling itself.
5
Use stainless steel water bottles. The original intention of designing plastic water bottles is to bring disposable convenience. Not only are plastic bottles not durable, they can also harbor bacteria. And harmful chemicals in plastics may also leach into the water. Many aluminum bottles also have plastic film inside them. And some aluminum bottles cannot be washed in the dishwasher, so cleaning them will be more troublesome. [7]
6
Drink the spring water directly. If you are lucky enough to find a mountain spring flowing among the rocks, you can drink directly from the spring water. But you can only use water from springs, and water even half a meter away may be contaminated. [8]
Drinking spring water directly is also risky. If you are in agricultural areas, former mining areas, or at low altitudes near population centers, drinking directly from spring water can be hazardous.
Advertisement
4 Method 2:
Filtering water in emergency situations in the wild
Edit
1
Use a rapid water purifier in an emergency. Use a handkerchief, shirt, or coffee filter to filter out visible impurities from the water. Let the water sit for a few minutes until any remaining impurities in the water settle, then pour the clean water on top into another container.
If possible, it is best to boil water before drinking to kill pathogenic bacteria in the water. The following will teach you how to make a better water purifier. The entire production process takes several hours. If you have charcoal readily available, you can save a lot of time.
2
Make charcoal. Take charcoal to create an efficient water purifier. In fact, charcoal is used in many professional water purifiers. If you can make a fire, you can make your own charcoal in the wild. Start a fire with wood and allow it to burn thoroughly. The burned wood is then covered with soil and dug out after a few hours. Wait until it cools completely before breaking it into small pieces or powder. [9]The charcoal is now ready.
Although homemade charcoal is not as effective as store-bought "activated carbon", it is sufficient for filtering water. Moreover, it is impossible to make the kind of activated carbon found in stores in the wild. [10]
3
Prepare two containers. One is on top and one is on bottom. The upper container should have a small hole for filtering at the bottom, and the lower container can just hold the filtered water. Here are a few different ways to make one:
If you have a plastic bottle, cut it in the middle and use the two halves as two containers for water. Finally, drill a small hole in the bottle cap to filter water.
Similarly, you can also use two buckets to filter water. A small hole needs to be drilled in the bottom of one of the buckets.
If you are facing a survival crisis and don’t have any tools around you, use hollow plants to filter water, such as bamboo or fallen hollow tree trunks.
4
Use a cloth to cover the water filter hole in the upper container. Spread the fabric over the bottom of the container. Fill the bottom of the container with enough cloth to prevent the charcoal from leaking out of the filter holes.
5
Spread a layer of charcoal on the cloth. Spread the charcoal powder or charcoal blocks as tightly as possible on the cloth. For a water purifier to work, every drop of water should slowly penetrate into the charcoal layer. If the water in the water purifier is too fast, you need to modify the water purifier and add more charcoal. If you use a water bottle to make a water purifier, the charcoal must cover at least half of the container. [11]
6
Place pebbles, sand and cloth on the charcoal. If you have extra fabric, lay another layer on top of the charcoal. This will avoid stirring up the charcoal at the bottom when adding water. Regardless of whether you place a layer of cloth on top of the charcoal, it is recommended that you place a layer of small pebbles and sand on top. They can not only filter out large impurities in the water, but also play a role in fixing charcoal.
Nontoxic grasses and leaves can also be used to filter water.
7
Filter water. Line a container with sieves with charcoal and pebbles, then place it on top of another container. Pour the water into the upper container, and then watch it seep into the charcoal layer little by little, and finally drip into the lower container.
8
Repeat filtering until the water is completely clean. Generally, it is necessary to repeat filtration 2 to 3 times to completely remove impurities in the water.
9
If possible, bring the water to a boil. Although charcoal can filter toxins and odors from water, it cannot remove bacteria from water. So for safety reasons, boil the water before drinking it.
10
Replace the upper filter layer frequently. The uppermost sand layer contains many microorganisms and toxic substances that are not suitable for drinking. Therefore, it is best to replace the top sand layer after using the water purifier several times.
Advertisement
4 Method 3:
Purchase and use a professional water purifier
Edit
1
Find out the contaminants in the water. Search online to find out what are the main contaminants in water sources in your area. Or contact your water company and ask them to provide you with a water quality report. Additionally, you can check with environmental groups that are concerned about water quality.
2
Choose a water purifier.
After identifying the chemicals that need to be filtered out, read the water purifier's packaging or search the water purifier instructions online to see which water purifier can filter out these chemicals. You can also search for water purifier reviews online, or narrow down your choices by relying on the following points: [12]
Charcoal or "carbon" filter water purifiers are cheap and widely available. They filter out most organic pollutants, including lead, mercury, asbestos, and more.
Reverse osmosis water purifiers can remove inorganic pollutants such as arsenic and nitrates. However, its water purification efficiency is very low, so a reverse osmosis water purifier is only recommended when carbon cannot filter out chemicals in the water.
Deionized water purifiers can remove minerals from water and turn hard water into soft water. But it cannot remove contaminants from water.
3
Choose a water purifier according to the installation method. There are many types of water purifiers on the market that can meet people's various needs. Here are some of the most common household water purifiers: [13]
Water purifiers are ideal for households with low water consumption. You can fill it with water once or twice a day, and you can also put it in the refrigerator.
Faucet water purifiers can filter all tap water, but it will slow down the water flow rate from the faucet.
Counter water purifiers or wall-mounted water purifiers require pipe modifications. But their filters are generally more durable and easier to maintain.
If the water source is seriously polluted and even the water for bathing cannot be satisfied, it is recommended to install a whole-house central water purifier.
4
Install the water purifier according to the product instructions. Any water purifier should be equipped with instructions. Install the water purifier according to the instructions to ensure its normal operation. The installation method of most water purifiers is simple. If you can't install the water purifier yourself, call the manufacturer for help.
5
Put water into the water purifier. Fill the water purifier with cold water. In most cases, water is injected from the top of the water purifier and then enters the filter layer. Impurities will remain in the filter layer, and the filtered water will flow into the water bottle or kettle at the bottom. If you are using a faucet water purifier, the filtered water will flow out from the bottom of the faucet.
When filling the water purifier, do not immerse the water purifier in water. Water poured into the water purifier may not be filtered cleanly.
Hot water may damage the water purifier. So read the product instructions before filtering hot water.
6
Replace the filter element according to the manufacturer's recommendations. After several months of continuous use, the carbon filter element may become clogged, affecting the water purification effect. Purchase the same brand of filter element and replace the old filter element in the water purifier promptly.
Some water purifiers are more durable. Read the product instructions or consult the manufacturer to determine the lifespan of your water purifier.
Advertisement
4 Method 4:
Make a ceramic water purifier for household water
Edit
1
Collect crafting materials. Homemade ceramic water purifiers mainly use porous ceramics to filter water. The pores on porous ceramics not only allow water molecules to pass through, but also filter out impurities in the water. To make a ceramic water purifier, you need the following materials:
A ceramic filter element. You can also use a candle filter or cartridge filter instead of the ceramic filter element. These filters can be purchased online or at hardware stores. You must purchase a filter that meets or exceeds national safety standards to ensure that the filtered water meets drinking water standards. [14]
Two food-grade buckets. One bucket holds unfiltered water and the other bucket holds filtered water. Food-grade buckets can be purchased at catering stores. You might also be able to buy used buckets from local restaurants.
A faucet. The faucet is used to receive clean water, so it needs to be installed near the bottom of the bucket.
2
Drill holes for the bucket. You will always need to drill three holes.
One is drilled into the bottom of the upper bucket, one is drilled into the lid of the lower bucket, and the other is drilled into the side of the lower bucket, where the faucet is installed.
First drill a small hole of about 1cm in the bottom of the upper bucket.
Then drill a small hole of about 1cm in the middle of the lid of the lower bucket. This hole should be directly opposite the water filter hole of the upper bucket. The water filtered by the filter element will drip from the upper bucket into the lower bucket.
Drill a small hole about 2cm in the side of the lower bucket. The faucet should be installed in this small hole. Therefore, this small hole should be about 2.5cm to 5cm away from the bottom of the bucket.
3
Install the faucet. Install the faucet according to the instructions. Insert the back end of the faucet into the small hole on the side of the bucket and secure it securely from the inside of the bucket.
4
Install the filter element. First install the filter element in the water filter hole of the upper bucket. Insert the raised part of the filter element into the small hole at the bottom of the bucket. Then overlap the upper and lower buckets and insert the exposed filter element into the small hole in the bucket cover. In this way, the filter element is installed. [15]
5
Filtered water. Pour the water to be filtered into the upper bucket. It will flow through the filter element into the bucket at the lower end. The entire filtration process can take several hours. The exact time depends on the amount of water being filtered. When the bucket at the bottom collects a certain amount of water, use the faucet to collect the water into the cup. The water at this time has been filtered and is ready for drinking.
6
Clean the water purifier. Impurities in the water will collect at the bottom of the upper bucket, so you will need to clean them out from time to time. Disassemble the water purifier every few months and use bleach or vinegar to thoroughly clean out any precipitated impurities. If you use the water purifier frequently, you should clean the impurities in the water purifier more often.
Advertisement
Tips
Edit
After using the water purifier purchased from the store for a period of time, it filters out Black impurities may appear in the water. This should be the charcoal in the water purifier. Although it is non-toxic and harmless, it is a symptom of the aging of the filter element. This also means that you need to replace the water purifier.
Warning
Edit
Water filtered with a homemade water purifier may still not meet drinking standards. If you experience any discomfort after drinking water, seek medical attention immediately.
Although experts are studying how to filter seawater into drinking water, there is currently no solution to this problem.