How To Filter And Purify An Unknown Water Source
Nothing is more important than water. When it comes to water, the best thing to do is have an emergency water supply already prepared. For information on how to do that, read this article on emergency water supply and storage. But let’s say you are caught unprepared, or your initial supply has run out. What then?
The answer, my friend, is to find a natural water source to filter and purify. We do that by going out, and trying to find a well, stream, river, lake, whatever. Start with the cleanest salt-free water available, and go with cold and running over warm and stagnant if possible.
But wait- you don’t want to drink it just yet! It is likely that that water is contaminated with things that could make you very sick, and we need to get rid of such contaminants if we’re planning on drinking it.
Possible Contaminants
There are 2 types of possible contaminants we need to worry about: pathogens, and pollutants.
The largest type of pathogen is protozoa (the largest of microorganisms) which range from 1-16 microns (a micron is 1/1000 millimeters). Some of the protozoa we need to worry about are parasites such as Giaridia Lamblia and cryptosporidium.
Bacteria are medium-sized pathogens, which range from 0.2-10 microns. Some of the bacteria we need to worry about are E coli, cholera, and salmonella.
Viruses are the smallest pathogens, ranging from 0.02-0.1 micros. Some of the viruses we need to worry about are Hepatitis A, Norwalk, and Polio.
Pollution is pretty straight forward- any man made substance that is harmful to the human body. Chemicals, fuels and sewage all fall into this category.
Drinking contaminated water can lead to fever, fatigue, cramps, dehydration, nausea, diarrhea, and can even prove fatal to those with weakened immune systems. Not something you want to have to deal with in an already stressful survival situation.
To make sure we eliminate these contaminants, we need to engage in a 2 step process- We’ll want to filter the water, and then purify it.
Filtering Methods
This step is about filtering impurities from a source of water. The larger the particles are, the easier it is to filter, and the smaller they are the harder to filter. Filtering methods will remove free floating particles and some microorganisms, but won’t remove some chemicals, odours or pollutants.
For larger particles and debris, strain with a paper towel, clean cloth or coffee filter. That’s the easy part. For the smaller contaminants, we need to get more creative.
Some common substances used for filters:
Ceramic: the best, but most expensive filtering method. It has the smallest pore size (0.1-0.5 microns). Used by the Red Cross and World Health Organization.
Glass fibre or compressed surgical paper: next best (.2-1.0 micron pore size), much cheaper.
Hard-block carbon: larger pores (0.4-2 microns), not as good at filtering particles or microorganisms, but has the added benefit of absorbing some chemicals, odours and pollutants. Not effective on its own, but great as a 2nd or 3rd stage filter.
After filtering, we’ll want to purify the water to get rid of the really tiny contaminants.
Purification Methods
These methods will kill most, if not all microorganisms. They generally won’t remove pollutants and odours.
Boiling: boiling water for 10+ minutes will kill all pathogens, and it’s cheap and easy. There are downsides to it, though- it requires fuel and electricity that may be unavailable, some of the water will be lost as steam, it requires a long cool down time and it’s impractical for purifying anything other than small amounts of water.
Iodine: A disinfectant, very good at killing most pathogens, and inexpensive. Dosages will vary, and pregnant women should avoid water purified with iodine. Also it’s not recommended for long term use. Use the common 2% iodine solution; use 3 drops per quart of clear water and 6 drops per quart of cloudy water. Stir and allow to sit for 30 minutes before using/filtering again.
Chlorine: Another disinfectant option. Chlorine is very poisonous, so make sure to use correct amounts should you choose to use it. Use regular household bleach with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. Avoid anything scented or with added cleaners. Add 8 drops of bleach for every gallon of water, stir and let sit for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight bleach odour. The water will clear, and dirt and particles will settle on the bottom.
Ultraviolet: There are UV lamps available that can kill pathogens pretty effectively. The UV sterilizes the microorganisms, and if they can’t reproduce they can’t make you sick. It won’t eliminate debris, chemicals or pollutants, so it makes a great 2nd or 3rd stage of purification but isn’t effective on its own. And it requires electricity to run, which may not be available in an emergency situation.
Solar Still: the idea is to wrap a clear, plastic sheet or some kind over a source (sea water, plants, the ground). Solar energy passes through the sheet, and warms the source. Water evaporates and collects on the sheet, and runs down the plastic into a container for storage. Solar stills are cheap to make, and are very effective at distilling pure water. The process is very slow though, and only small amounts of water can be collected per day.
Good luck and stay prepared!
This guide was written by RamboMoe of preparedforthat.com