How to Find Water and
How to Make Water Safe to Drink
How to Make Water Safe to Drink
Copyright
© 1998, 2010, 2012 by
Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E.
All Rights Reserved.
For Fair Use and Educational Purposes Only.
Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E.
All Rights Reserved.
For Fair Use and Educational Purposes Only.
WATER
The three basic necessities which sustain life are:
1. air,
2. water, and
3. food.
The Rule of Threes states that a person can live for:
three-minutes without air,
three-days without water, and
three-weeks without food.
1. air,
2. water, and
3. food.
The Rule of Threes states that a person can live for:
three-minutes without air,
three-days without water, and
three-weeks without food.
Without water or any other fluids, a
person will die in about three days.
Therefore, since water is one of
life's most basic necessities, it is a subject we should not take for granted.
Some
Interesting Facts About Water and The Human Body
The Human Body:
60% of our body is water.
75% of our brain is water.
83% of our blood is water and it transports nutrients and oxygen to the cells of our body.
Water is necessary to properly
digest food. (Note: If you don't have water, then do NOT eat regardless of how
hungry you become.)
Our urine is almost all water and it
is how our body flushes and rids itself of toxic wastes.
Water facilitates normal bowel
movements which helps prevent constipation.
In one day the average person loses
between 2 to 3 quarts of water through their urine, sweat, and normal
breathing. If a person doesn't replace that lost water, then dehydration begins
to occur.
At 2% dehydration, thirst is perceived.
At 5% dehydration, a person becomes hot and tired, and strength and endurance decrease.
At 10% dehydration, delirium and blurred vision become a problem.
At 20% dehydration, a person dies.
At 5% dehydration, a person becomes hot and tired, and strength and endurance decrease.
At 10% dehydration, delirium and blurred vision become a problem.
At 20% dehydration, a person dies.
Pause and reflect on that for a
moment. A person loses 2 to 3 quarts of water every day as a result of their
normal body functions. Which means if a person doesn't get any fluids for about
three days, they will die.
Most people have never thought about
the above because they have NEVER been personally confronted with a extended
shortage of fresh safe drinking water at any time in their lives.
Some
More Facts About Water
Water is VERY heavy.
One gallon of water weighs about 8.5
pounds inside a thin-walled clear plastic water jug.
You can't carry enough water with
you between locations to last for very long.
If one person consumes 2.75 quarts
of water each day, then one person will need 250 gallons of water per year. A
family of four will need 1,000 gallons of water per year. One-thousand gallons
of water weighs about 4.25 tons. (And that does NOT include water for washing
your hands or for washing dishes.)
With the passage of time, bottled
water will gradually become unfit to drink for a variety of reasons. However,
it can be reprocessed to make it fit for human consumption. Several different
options are discussed below.
If commerce were disrupted by either
a natural or manmade disaster, one of the first things a person should do is
evaluate their water situation. This involves three different but related
issues:
1. How much water is on hand right now?
2. Where can more water be obtained?
3. How can that water be made safe to drink?
2. Where can more water be obtained?
3. How can that water be made safe to drink?
Drinking Water Available Immediately
If you are at home when the
emergency occurs, then immediately check to see if the faucet water pressure is
still on. If it is then fill every possible container in the house that will
hold water and not leak. For example: pots, pans, plastic containers, drinking
glasses and drinking cups, bowls, and every sink and bathtub.
If the water is off, you still have three sources of clean
drinking water:
1. Ice cubes in the freezer, and
2. Water inside your water pipes, and
3. Water inside the hot water heater.
1. Ice cubes in the freezer, and
2. Water inside your water pipes, and
3. Water inside the hot water heater.
Even if the water pressure is off,
there is still some water inside the water pipes in your home or apartment.
That water can be drained from the water pipes (using gravity) by opening the LOWEST
cold water faucet in your home, which will usually be on the first floor, or
the basement, or an outside water faucet. However, you will also need to open
the highest cold water faucet in your home to allow air to enter the cold water
pipes so the water can flow out the lowest water faucet into your collection
container. This will drain all the water out of your cold water pipes but NOT your
hot water pipes.
Most hot water heaters contain 40
gallons of clean water. However, BEFORE you remove that water you MUST turn off
the power or turn off the gas to your hot water heater, or you could start a
fire. Then open the faucet at the bottom of the water heater to gain immediate
access to 40 gallons of reserve clean drinking water. This is enough emergency
water to last a family of four for 20 days if they ONLY drink the water and
don't wash with it. This is the BEST source of reserve drinking water for the
average family because it is constantly being used and replaced inside the hot
water heater prior to the emergency. Therefore it will be fresh and clean at
the beginning of an emergency. (Note: Some hot water heaters do NOT have an
easy access water value at their base. Prior to an emergency you should take a
look at your hot water heater and determine if you can get to the water inside
your heater. If you can't, then you might consider having a plumber install a
standard water faucet value in the water line at the bottom of the hot water
heater.)
Another source of water is canned
foods because many canned foods are packed in water. When you open a can, serve
the water in the can with the food. Never throw the canned water away if you
are low on water.
Water that isn't safe to drink is
toilet tank water and water inside the mattress of a water bed.
If you had the foresight to plan for
an unexpected emergency, then you should have a stash of clean empty 2-liter
plastic soda bottles stored somewhere out-of-sight. They are really nice for
storing water because they are free (after you drink the soda), they are made
of food grade plastic, they don't leak, they have a screw on cap to keep the
water clean, they have an extremely long shelf life, and they are a convenient
size to handle and use. The major disadvantage of the 2-liter bottles is that
they don't stack well on top of one another.
If you have empty one-gallon plastic
water jugs then you should also consider saving them for a future emergency. However,
clean empty plastic milk jugs are NOT a good option because they will
deteriorate with the passage of time and begin to leak.
After inventorying your water, the
next step is to ration your water. During normal times, one person consumes
about 3 quarts of water per day. No one I know drinks that much water each day.
However, all of us drink some water, plus a variety of other fluids (coffee,
tea, soda, juice, or whatever appeals to you). During hardship conditions, a
person can survive on two quarts of water per day (two quarts is one-half
gallon). If water is really in short supply, then one quart per day will keep a
person alive, but they will begin to slowly dehydrate.
Everyone knows better, but after an
extended period of time with little or no water, a person will drink all the
water they can when it suddenly becomes available. If you do this, you will get
sick. Force yourself to S l o w - - d o w n. Drink one cup of water every 10
minutes. Give your system a chance to absorb the water and send it where it is
needed most. Don't overload your system and kill yourself.
Where to Find More Water
You have inventoried and carefully
rationed your water, but the emergency continues longer than you anticipated
and you are running low on water. Before your water completely runs out, you
should start replenishing it. Let's examine a number of different alternatives.
Well
Water
If you live in the country, or if
you have a water well on your property, then you already know there is water in
the bottom of that well. Drilled wells can be anywhere from about 25 feet deep
up to a thousand feet deep or more. For approximately $1,000 it is possible to
purchase a heavy-duty manually-operated complete hand water pump for wells that
are 200 feet deep or less. It is not possible to hand-pump water from wells
much deeper than about 200 feet. However, there is a very CHEAP way to get
water out of almost any well, regardless of its depth.
If you know your electricity is
going to be off for an extended period of time, and you are out of drinking
water, and you have no other way to get drinking water, then you can manually
remove the water from your well.
There are many different well
configurations but a typical one is illustrated in the picture on the right.
First you MUST turn off the electrical power at the main circuit breaker box,
even if the electricity is off. Then disconnect the electrical wires at the top
of the well and protect them so they do not touch one another or any other
object. You may also need to disconnect the plastic pipe or hose connected to
the top of the well piece. Next you will need the correct size wrench to remove
the large bolts which secure the top piece to the well. After removing the
bolts, remove the top piece and you will probably find three things: a very
long flexible heavy-duty hose, a water-resistant rope, and some electrical
wiring, all of which go down into your well and are attached to the well pump
in the bottom of the well. You can gradually pull up on the rope (or the
flexible hose if absolutely necessary) and it will bring the well pump up out
of the well. Don't pull on the electrical wiring because it is not intended for
that purpose. After removing the well pump you will have exposed the entire
shaft down to where your water is.
Depending on the depth of the well,
the diameter at the bottom of the well shaft will probably be a little smaller
than the visible diameter at the top of the well shaft. Therefore,
select a container that is at least 1 or 2 inches smaller in diameter than the
well opening at its top. The container can be almost any length up to about 18
inches. The container should have a large mouth on top to allow water to enter
and air to escape. One option would be an empty two-liter plastic soda bottle
with its top cut off.
The next step is of critical
importance. Untie the wet end of the well rope from the well pump. Tie the
opposite dry end of the rope to a secure object. This will keep the rope from
falling into the well if you lose your grip. Then securely attach the wet
end of the well rope to the container. If the container somehow works itself
loose from the rope, then you will NOT be able to get the container out of your
well shaft. Also remember the container is going to be HEAVY with water when
you pull it up. One option would be to make a strong net and put your container
inside the net. Then tie the rope securely to the net.
Then put a relatively heavy clean,
sterile object in the bottom of the container so the container will sink when
it reaches the water level. Then slowly lower the container on the end of the
rope by hand until it reaches the bottom of the well. You will know you have
hit bottom when the rope has some slack in it. Wait for the container to fill
with water and then pull it up. Repeat as often as required. When finished,
carefully cover the exposed well head to prevent foreign materials from
entering and contaminating your well water.
Rain
Water
For the average person, the best
source of replacement drinking water will probably be rain water. Although this
is an excellent source of safe drinking water, it is unpredictable in regards
to timing and quantity. However, for most people, this is probably the cleanest
source of replenishment drinking water they will have access to on a regular
but intermittent basis.
Regardless of where you live in the
world, if you can catch the rain water BEFORE it comes in contact with
anything, then it is safe to drink without any special treatments. Even when
you take acid rain into consideration, this is still a true statement. However,
if there is a nuclear, chemical, or biological war at some point in the future,
then rain water may not be safe to drink for some period of time. You will have
to use your own judgment in that situation. One of the portable commercial
water filters described below would be appropriate in those types of unusual
and hazardous situations.
If the air contains smog, pollen, or
any other unpleasant stuff, then the rain will usually clean that stuff out of
the air during the first 20 to 30 minutes of a good rain shower. Therefore,
when it begins to rain you should wait about 30 minutes and then start
collecting the clean rain water in a container. (Note: If you are seriously low
on water and you are forced to collect the rain water during the first few
minutes when it starts to rain, then you should process that water through one
of the filters described below.)
Be creative. Think about what you
have available that you can put outside to catch and hold rain water, or
channel rain water through a partially open window into a big pot. Remember
that it usually rains one-inch or less each time it rains. You need a large
surface area to collect enough rain water to drink. A drinking cup or glass
will not be enough. Even a 5-gallon cook pot is too small to just put outside
by itself because it will only collect one-inch of water in the bottom of the
pot.
Something like a child's inflatable
swimming pool would be ideal, if your family already owns one. A 6-foot
diameter pool would collect about 17 gallons of water if it rained one-inch. An
8-foot diameter pool would collect about 31 gallons of water if it rained
one-inch. (Note: One gallon of water = 231 cubic inches of water.)
Or you could secure a clean 10' by
12' tarpaulin (or a clean thick sheet of plastic) in a manner where it slopes
downward into a "V" shape towards a large 5-gallon pot (or other
large container). Tarpaulins are commonly called tarps. With this size tarp you
could collect about 70 gallons of water if it rains one-inch in your area (if
you keep emptying and replacing your 5-gallon pot). However, you will need to
secure your tarp very carefully because it is frequently very windy during a
rain storm. Determine the primary direction in which the wind is blowing and
then secure your tarp facing the wind at an upwards angle so the wind will blow
a lot of the rain onto the surface of your tarp where it can collect and be
channeled down into your water storage container.
In many areas it usually rains LESS
than one-inch each time it rains, so it would probably be a good idea to use
several tarps to collect rain water when it does rain. Many different tarp
sizes are available, but for collecting rain water a tarp between 6' by 8' up
to about 10' by 12' would be ideal. Smaller tarps don't cover enough area nor
do they have very many other practical uses. Larger tarps are too heavy and
they also have a limited number of other useful applications.
If you are trying to decide between
an inflatable swimming pool or a good tarp, then the tarp would be the better
choice. It is usually less expensive, more durable, easier to transport between
locations, easier to set up and take down, requires less storage space when not
in use, and it will provide an overhead shelter if you need to do some unexpected
camping. When camping, the two most useful items are a good hunting knife and a
high quality tarp.
Another option for collecting rain
water would be to put clean bed sheets outside your windows. Let them get
drenched in the rain, and then bring them inside and ring the water out of them
by hand into a pot. Then stick them back out into the rain again. This is NOT
the best method, but it will provide some drinking water.
If you live in a tall apartment
building with a flat roof, then you might consider collecting rain water on the
roof of your building using the large tarp or heavy-duty plastic sheet
described above.
If you live in a house, you could
collect the rain water from your roof gutters at the end of the down spouts.
However, since the rain water has already been in contact with your roof, you
will need to process it using one of the methods described later. The easiest
way to collect roof rain water is to remove a few feet from the bottom of the
gutter downspout and then put a large plastic container (or water barrel)
directly beneath the shortened gutter downspout. The first few minutes of rain
will wash a lot of stuff off your roof and down your gutter, so don't position
the water collection container below the downspout until after it has rained
about twenty-minutes.
If you are camping, then you will
probably be sleeping under a weatherproof tarp, or you will have a rain fly
above your tent. By using a little creative thinking, you can frequently set
things up so the rain water runs off your shelter into a big pot or other
container. This requires a little ingenuity on your part depending on what you
have available, but I mention it because some of you will figure out a way to
make this idea work for you.
Regardless of which method you use
to collect the rain water, you will need to save the majority of your rain
water until the next time it rains. Once again, if you have anticipated the
possibility and seriousness of this type of unexpected emergency, then you
should already have a reserve supply of clean, empty two-liter soda bottles or
empty one-gallon plastic water jugs in which to store and save your rain water.
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The
Morning Dew
If it doesn't rain, then you could
go outside at dawn and collect the morning dew. How? Take a clean thin dish
cloth or thin wash cloth and wipe it gently over the damp grass and other
non-poisonous flowers and shrubs. Periodically ring the water out of the cloth
into a bowl. Repeat. This is very hard work that yields very small quantities
of water. However, if you are low on water, this may be your only way to stay
alive.
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Snow
or Ice
Bring the snow or ice inside your
house and melt it down into water. You will be surprised at the small quantity
of water you get from a big bucket of snow. If you are in the woods, put the
pot of snow near the campfire and wait for it to melt.
If you have a black plastic trash
bag, then put some snow inside the bag and place it in the direct sunlight to
melt the snow.
If necessary, you can put the snow
inside a small or medium size container. Then put the capped container inside
your clothing (but not next to your skin) and your body heat will gradually
melt the snow into water.
If you are concerned about the
cleanliness of the snow, then you can boil the resulting water for 1 or 2
minutes before you drink it.
Never melt snow or ice inside your
mouth. It will NOT relieve your thirst and you will dehydrate more quickly.
Always melt the snow or ice first and then drink the resulting water.
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Ground
Water (or Surface Water)
Ground water is almost always
contaminated. If you live in the country, then ground water is lake, pond,
creek, stream, or river water. In the city, it is water flowing beside the
sidewalks during a heavy rain. If no other source of water is available, then
you may be forced to collect the only water you can find. But don't drink it
until you purify it.
Even if the water looks crystal
clear in a glass, it can still contain tiny organisms that will make you sick.
You don't need a severe case of diarrhea or a high fever during difficult
times. Like the old saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry.
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Wilderness
Areas
All sorts of animals, bugs, and
birds live in the woods. When they get the urge to use the bathroom, they let
it go wherever they happen to be at the time (as long as it isn't inside their
nests). Later, when it rains, that waste material washes down into the nearest
pond, lake, stream, creek, or river. Think about that if you are tempted to
drink ground water without purifying it first. The chances are pretty high you
will get sick even though there is no industrial pollution anywhere in the
vicinity.
You MUST purify ground water using
one of the methods which will be described later.
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Moving
Water or Stationary Water
Water that is flowing swiftly over
rocks is normally much cleaner than water in stagnant pools. If you have a
choice, collect your water from a fast moving stream and then purify the water
using one of the techniques described later.
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When
to Collect Ground Water
Immediately after a rain the water
in most streams and creeks will be muddy for a short period of time. At the
very beginning of a rain shower you should check your water containers and fill
them up if necessary before your normal water source (creek) gets really muddy.
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Spring
Water (doesn't refer to the time of year)
When it rains, the water does two
things. Some of it travels along the top surface of the ground and ends up in
creeks and streams. But a lot of it soaks into the earth and some of it makes
its way down to the natural water table in the area. The earth is an excellent
water filter. If the water table is 100 feet or more beneath the surface, then
the water there is usually safe for human consumption without any treatment.
That's why people in the country drill deep wells - they want clean water that
doesn't need treatment.
The next question is, how does a
person get to that deep water out in the middle of the woods?
Do NOT waste your time trying to dig
for it. It isn't worth the effort.
The best way is to find where a
spring heads out. Let me explain. Because of gravity, water seeks the lowest
possible level. You can usually find a stream or creek at the bottom of most
hills or mountains. When you find one, begin walking upstream. Every now and
then you will find a tiny feeder stream flowing into the main stream. The main
stream will continue along the foot of the hill. Follow the tiny feeder stream
up the side of the hill. Sooner or later you will eventually come to its
source. It will just emerge from the ground. This is called the "head of
the spring." The underground water table in this area is very close to the
surface of the earth at this one spot and this particular exit point just
happened as a result of nature. The water at the head of the spring hasn't had
a chance to become polluted with lots of animal waste so it is the purest water
you will find in the woods.
The head of a spring is normally a
reasonable distance up the side of a hill or mountain. If there is any level
ground near the spring head, this is usually an excellent place to set up camp.
You avoid both the peak and bottom of the hill (high winds and flooding
waters), and you are near a really clean reliable source of good water.
Usually (not always) this spring
water it so clean it doesn't need to be boiled. I only know of one way to
determine if the spring water contains harmful micro-organisms (called
pathogens). Take a small water sample to your local water authority (county
water service) and have it tested. They will tell you if it is fit for human
consumption without being treated.
There is one more important
consideration. After a really good rain shower, there are usually many, many
feeder springs running into the main stream at the bottom of the hill. The
water table rises and it leaks out all the holes near the surface of the earth.
After a short period of time, most of these holes run dry because the water
table falls back to its normal level. Therefore, the best time to look for the
head of a spring isn't after a good rain. At that time they are easy to find
but most will be undependable for the long haul. Wait until you have had a few
good sunny days and then look for a spring head that is still running strong.
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Water
Caught in Rock Depressions
Most rain water will flow into a
stream or soak into the earth. However, some of it will be caught in large
natural depressions in boulders and other large rocks. Depending on the size of
the depression (and other factors such as how long the water is in the shade
each day, and how much of the rock is above ground to absorb the sun's rays,
etc.) the rain water may not evaporate for many days after a rain. If you are
trying to become familiar with a particular area of the woods, then you should
mentally note these large depressions in a rock when you see them (even if they
aren't filled with rain water at the time).
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Dry
Spring Bed Water
After a long dry spell, many springs
and steams will run dry. If you are really desperate for water, then try
digging in the lowest part of a dry spring or stream bed. Sometimes you will
hit the water table two or three feet below the surface.
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Wildlife
Watering Holes
All of God's creatures need water to
live. If you follow a heavily worn animal path downhill in the woods, it will
probably lead to water. If you hear frogs in the distance, they are probably
real close to some water. If you hear geese or ducks in the distance, they are
probably real close to some water. Follow the animals and you will have a
pretty good chance of finding where they get their drinking water. (Note: Bees
also need water and they will build their hive in close proximity to a water
source. If you see a bee, observe where it goes when it leaves the flower. It
will either be heading to another flower, or to its hive. When returning to its
hive, bees always fly in a straight line, or the proverbial bee line. Remember,
the bee's hive is near some water.)
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Condensation
From Green Leaf Vegetation
Put a large plastic bag around the
leaves of a non-poisonous bush or shrub in the early morning and secure the
open end of the bag to the wood branch with a string. During the heat of the
day the green vegetation inside the plastic bag will release water vapor which
will collect on the inside of your plastic bag and gradually drain down to the
lowest edge of the plastic bag. When you check your bag at the end of the day
you will discover about one-ounce of water (or less) in the lowest corner of
the bag. Therefore, for this method to be of any practical value, you would
need to have a lot of these bags attached to a lot of different plants every
day.
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Solar
Still
I have read about solar stills but I
have never personally experimented with one. However, I am passing this
information on to you so you will know everything I know about water.
You will need a large plastic sheet
or tarp to make a solar still. Dig a conical hole about four-feet wide at the
top and coming to a point about two-feet deep. The bottom of the hole should be
in the very center (equal distance from all sides). The slope of the sides
isn't critical. Put a medium size pot at the very bottom of the hole. Then lay
your plastic sheet over the top of the hole and put a medium size rock (about
one-pound) in the center of the sheet just above the pot which will be directly
underneath the sheet. Put heavy rocks on top of your plastic sheet all around
the outside of the hole to keep the sheet from touching the inner sloping sides
of the hole. The center of the sheet should be about 18 inches below the
surface of the ground but about 6 inches above the pot. Wait 24 hours. Water
vapor will form on the underside of your tarp and drain down to its lowest
point (beneath your one-pound rock) and then drip into your pot in the bottom
of the hole. On hot days and cold nights you can collect about one-pint of
water per 24-hour period. I read somewhere that you can put moist green
non-poisonous vegetation (leaves) near the bottom of the hole (but not in the
pot) and this will increase the water yield from your still.
Solar still water is naturally
distilled and it might be safe to drink without any treatments (such as
boiling or chlorine). However, to avoid the possibility of getting sick it is a
good idea to process the still water using one of the methods detailed below.
You will have to move your solar
still every two or three days because you will have pulled all the available
water from that hole until the next time it rains.
If you want to buy a plastic sheet
to take with you when you go camping, then you can find them in the house paint
section of most stores, including WalMart and most hardware stores. They are
used by painters as drop-cloths to keep paint off the floor. They come in a
variety of sizes and thicknesses. For durability, the 2-mil thickness is
probably best. I have never built a solar water still but I have used these
plastic sheets before. The 3-mil stuff will last longer but it is heavier and
therefore you will burn more calories carrying it around in your backpack. The
1-mil stuff is lighter but it is very easily damaged (torn).
Note: I occasionally receive an
email telling me that I omitted the long thin plastic tube that most survival
manuals normally show extending from inside the water pot up along the side of
the hole and out from under the plastic tarp. The purpose of the long thin
plastic tube is to allow you to drink the water from the pot without disturbing
your solar still setup. I intentionally omitted that tube or "long
straw" for safety considerations. If I were using the above solar still to
generate my drinking water then I would want to visually examine that water
before I put it into my mouth and swallowed it. Therefore I did not include the
"long straw" in the above drawing or in my description of how to
build a solar still.
What Makes Water Unsafe to Drink?
For
educational purposes only.
This is NOT intended to be used as medical advice.
This is NOT intended to be used as medical advice.
There are three different types of
waterborne pathogens that make water unsafe to drink: protozoa, bacteria, and
viruses.
Protozoa: They live in insects, or in cysts when on the outside of
an animal. Examples of common waterborne protozoa are amoeba, giardia, and
crypto(sporidium). Protozoa range in size from 1 to 100 microns, with the
average being around 16 microns. They are easily removed from water by boiling.
Because of their large size most of them are also easily removed by
commercially available water filters (with the exception of the very small
crypto). Some are relatively resistant to both chlorine and iodine chemical
treatment methods. It has been estimated that 90% of the surface water in the
United States is contaminated with protozoa.
Bacteria: A one-celled organism that can exist in the air and in
water. The average size of bacteria is between 0.2 to 1.5 microns with some as
large as 10 microns. They are easily removed by boiling, by chemical
treatments, or by most good water filters. Fortunately, not all bacteria are
life threatening. However, the most common life-threatening waterborne bacteria
are dysentery (diarrhea), typhoid, (vibrio)cholera, campylobacter, E. coli, and
salmonella.
Viruses: The most common waterborne viruses are hepatitis, yellow
fever, polio(myelitis), rotavirus, and norwalk. Viruses are much smaller than
bacteria. The average size of a virus is from 0.004 to 0.100 microns. They are
easily removed by boiling or by chemical treatments. However, because of their
extremely small size, they can pass through most water filters. However, some
viruses will cling to other larger particles in the water which can be filtered
out.
The incubation period prior to
becoming extremely sick as a result of ingesting one of the above pathogens
varies from a few hours to a few weeks, depending on the pathogen itself and
the concentration ingested. Common symptoms include fatigue, fever, cramps,
diarrhea, dehydration, and nausea. If not properly treated by a medical
professional, these pathogens can eventually result in a person's death.
If you are in a remote area or if
you can't get to a doctor quickly, then stay warm, drink plenty of safe fluids,
and rest. You can help control the diarrhea with over-the-counter antidiarrheal
medicines, and you can take over-the-counter pain relievers to help reduce the
fever and minimize other associated discomforts. However, you should plan to
get to a medical doctor as soon as possible.
How to Make Water Safe to Drink
Pure clean water should be used:
1. to drink,
2. to make a beverage,
3. to cook with,
4. to brush your teeth,
5. to wash your hands and face, and
6. to wash your eating dishes and cook pots.
1. to drink,
2. to make a beverage,
3. to cook with,
4. to brush your teeth,
5. to wash your hands and face, and
6. to wash your eating dishes and cook pots.
After you have purified your water
using one of the following techniques, do NOT recontaminate your water by
allowing it to touch a pot, or spoon, or anything else that has been in contact
with the unpurified water.
If your source of water is
relatively cloudy or muddy (high turbidity) then allow it to stand in a large
pot for twelve-hours to give the foreign particles an opportunity to settle to
the bottom of the pot. Then slowly and carefully scoop the water out of the top
of the pot without disturbing the sediment on the bottom of the pot.
Regardless of which of the following
methods you use to purify your water, the first step is always the same. Begin
by pouring your water through a standard paper coffee filter, or through a
clean pillow case, or through a piece of denim cloth material. This will trap
and remove any large impurities in the water. The same coffee filter can be
used over and over again for several days (unless the water is muddy or dirty).
After you have pre-filtered your
water, then you may use one of the following options to purify your water. The
following alternatives are presented in order from the cheapest to the most
expensive method.
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Boiling
Kills Protozoa, Bacteria, and Viruses.
Does Not Neutralize Harmful Chemicals or Radioactive Particles.
Kills Protozoa, Bacteria, and Viruses.
Does Not Neutralize Harmful Chemicals or Radioactive Particles.
Boiling is the BEST method for killing ALL the pathogens in the water. Even the
most expensive commercially available water filter can't make that claim.
Therefore, let's examine this method very carefully.
Water boils at approximately 212°F
at sea level at a barometric pressure of approximately 30.3 inches of mercury.
The boiling point of water decreases as the barometric pressure decreases.
Therefore, the changing barometric pressure in your area has as much impact on
the boiling point of water as the altitude at which you live. The following
table illustrates this relationship:
The
Boiling Point of Water at Different Altitudes at Different Barometric Pressures
Altitude
|
30" Mercury
|
29" Mercury
|
28" Mercury
|
27" Mercury
|
Sea Level
|
211.5 °F
|
209.8 °F
|
208.0 °F
|
206.2 °F
|
2,000 Feet
|
208.0 °F
|
206.2 °F
|
204.4 °F
|
202.5 °F
|
4,000 Feet
|
204.4 °F
|
202.5 °F
|
200.5 °F
|
198.4 °F
|
6,000 Feet
|
200.5 °F
|
198.4 °F
|
196.3 °F
|
194.1 °F
|
8,000 Feet
|
196.3 °F
|
194.1 °F
|
191.8 °F
|
189.4 °F
|
10,000 Feet
|
191.8 °F
|
189.4 °F
|
186.9 °F
|
184.3 °F
|
All pathogens die rapidly at 185°F.
Some pathogens die at lower temperatures. By the time the water has reached its
boiling point (even at low barometric pressures), all the pathogens in the
water are already neutralized.
Therefore, bring your water to a boil
and let it hard boil for 1 minute. Or hard boil for 2 minutes on top of an
extremely high mountain at very low barometric pressures. Boiling for more time
doesn't help, and it results in more water being lost as steam, and it makes
the water taste flatter. All pathogens are already dead by the time the water
reaches its boiling point. There is no benefit to a pathogen being
"more" dead.
Wait patiently for the water to
gradually cool to a comfortable drinking temperature.
How to Improve the Taste of Boiled Water:
1. Stir the water to add oxygen back into the water.
2. Or pour the water from one clean sterile container into another sterile container several times.
3. Or add a little salt to the water.
4. Or add 50 mg of Vitamin C to a quart of water.
5. Or add Kool-Aid (10% Vitamin C) or Tang (100% Vitamin C) to the water.
1. Stir the water to add oxygen back into the water.
2. Or pour the water from one clean sterile container into another sterile container several times.
3. Or add a little salt to the water.
4. Or add 50 mg of Vitamin C to a quart of water.
5. Or add Kool-Aid (10% Vitamin C) or Tang (100% Vitamin C) to the water.
Now let's look at some other ways to
improve the quality of your drinking water. But don't forget, Boiling is
Best, if you intend to actually drink the water in the next 24 hours or so.
However, if you plan to store the water for an extended period of time, then
one of the following methods should be considered.
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Liquid
Chlorine Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite) - Either 5.25% or 6% Strength
Kills Bacteria and Viruses.
Not effective against all Protozoa.
Does Not Neutralize Harmful Chemicals or Radioactive Particles.
Kills Bacteria and Viruses.
Not effective against all Protozoa.
Does Not Neutralize Harmful Chemicals or Radioactive Particles.
Relatively Clear Water - Use 2 drops of bleach per quart of water or 8 drops per gallon (or 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons).
Cloudy Water - Use 4 drops of bleach per quart of water or 16 drops per gallon (or 2 teaspoons per 10 gallons).
The water should not be too cool. The
water temperature should be 70°F or higher. If necessary, put the water in
direct sunlight to raise the water temperature. The effectiveness of chlorine
at killing pathogens diminishes rapidly at lower temperatures.
Add the required number of drops of chlorine
liquid bleach (Clorox or store brand, unscented) to the water and wait one hour
for the bleach to kill all the tiny organisms. If you can detect a faint
chlorine smell in the water at the end of one hour, then it is safe to drink.
If you can't smell the chlorine, then add the same amount of bleach a second
time and wait another hour. If you can detect a faint chlorine smell, then the
water is safe to drink. If you still can't detect the smell of chlorine, then
discard the water because it contains too many germs. (Note: Always start with
the minimum recommended amount of bleach and add a little more if necessary.
Too much chlorine is harmful to your body.)
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Dry
68% Calcium Hypochlorite Granules
This is the shock treatment chemical used in swimming pools.
Kills Bacteria and Viruses.
Not effective against all Protozoa.
Does Not Neutralize Harmful Chemicals or Radioactive Particles.
This is the shock treatment chemical used in swimming pools.
Kills Bacteria and Viruses.
Not effective against all Protozoa.
Does Not Neutralize Harmful Chemicals or Radioactive Particles.
The water should not be too cool.
The water temperature should be 70°F or higher. If necessary, put the water in
direct sunlight to raise the water temperature. The effectiveness of chlorine
at killing pathogens diminishes rapidly at lower temperatures.
Put 1/96 of an ounce (a pinch
between thumb and finger) of 68% Calcium Hypochlorite granules into one gallon
of water. Wait one-hour. If you can detect a faint chlorine smell in the water,
then it is safe to drink. If you can't smell the chlorine, then add another
“pinch” and wait another hour. If you can detect a faint chlorine smell, then
the water is safe to drink. If you still can't detect the smell of chlorine,
then discard the water because it contains too many germs. (Note: Always start
with a small amount of Calcium Hypochlorite and add a little more if necessary.
Too much chlorine is harmful to your body.)
The shelf life of liquid bleach
(sodium hypochlorite) is much shorter than the dry 68% Calcium Hypochlorite
granules. Therefore, if you wish to store hypochlorite for emergency purposes,
the best choice is the dry granules.
Liquid Bleach: If you have dry 68% Calcium Hypochlorite granules, and for
some reason you need liquid bleach, then you may dissolve one-ounce of 68%
granules in one-pint of water and you will have a 5.25% liquid bleach solution.
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Liquid
2% Tincture of Iodine
Kills Bacteria and Viruses.
Not effective against all Protozoa
Does Not Neutralize Harmful Chemicals or Radioactive Particles.
Kills Bacteria and Viruses.
Not effective against all Protozoa
Does Not Neutralize Harmful Chemicals or Radioactive Particles.
Relatively Clear Water - Use 4 drops of iodine per quart of water or 16 drops per gallon.
Cloudy Water - Use 8 drops of iodine per quart of water or 32 drops per gallon.
The water should not be too cool.
The water temperature should be 70°F or higher. If necessary, put the water in
direct sunlight to raise the water temperature. The effectiveness of iodine at
killing pathogens diminishes rapidly at lower temperatures.
Add the required number of drops of
iodine to the water and wait one hour.
Iodine has a printed expiration date
on the bottle. When that date has expired, the iodine will have lost some or
most of its original strength. Therefore, iodine is generally not the chemical
of choice for long-term survival situations.
Caution: Iodine water treatment methods can NOT be used by pregnant
women, or nursing mothers, or individuals with thyroid conditions. In addition,
long-term exposure to iodine can contribute to liver damage.
Although iodine is one way to purify
water, it is NOT a preferred method. Any of the above methods is superior to
the use of iodine.
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Commercial
Water Purification Tablets
Most commercially available water
purification tablets are based on the use of either chlorine or iodine as their
primary active ingredient. Both chlorine and iodine have a relatively short
shelf life before they begin to lose their full strength and effectiveness. If
you happen to have some of these tablets and they have passed their expiration
date, then you should replace them.
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Commercial
Portable Water Filters
Removes Protozoa, Bacteria, Most Viruses, Many Harmful Chemicals and Radioactive Particles.
To remove ALL Viruses, you must Boil the Water or Add Chlorine or Iodine.
Removes Protozoa, Bacteria, Most Viruses, Many Harmful Chemicals and Radioactive Particles.
To remove ALL Viruses, you must Boil the Water or Add Chlorine or Iodine.
The best overall method for
improving the quality of water, but also the most expensive, is to use a
commercial water filter, but not one that permanently connects to your home
water system because it requires water pressure to function properly.
The one potential
disadvantage of commercial water filters (not purifiers) is that they cannot
remove 100% of ALL virus pathogens. Fortunately, waterborne virus pathogens are
NOT a common problem in most areas. Therefore, unless there has been an
outbreak of viral diseases in your area, then waterborne viruses will probably
not be a problem with your water supply. However, if there has been a recent
outbreak of viral diseases, then add the appropriate quantity of chlorine to
the water, wait one-hour, and then put that treated water through one of the
following filters.
Two Quick Definitions:
Portable: Easy to move from place to place.
Potable: Okay to drink.
Commercial water filters are normally purchased for one of three reasons:
1. To improve the taste and quality of the normal home water supply.
2. To provide drinking water during a short-term emergency.
3. To provide drinking water for long-term survival.
Portable: Easy to move from place to place.
Potable: Okay to drink.
Commercial water filters are normally purchased for one of three reasons:
1. To improve the taste and quality of the normal home water supply.
2. To provide drinking water during a short-term emergency.
3. To provide drinking water for long-term survival.
Many people add a variety of water
softeners, water filters, and water purifiers to the plumbing in their homes to
improve the quality of the water normally available at their place of
residence. These filters depend on water pressure and/or electricity to
function properly. Neither water pressure nor electricity can be depended on
during either short-term or long-term survival scenarios so these types of
water filters will not be discussed here.
Short-term emergencies, such as hurricanes or tornados, are extremely serious but
life gradually returns to normal after the danger has passed. Unless your area
was completely demolished, most services are restored in days, or weeks, or
sometimes a little longer.
Long-term survival, such as a World War being fought within your nation's
borders, is a more challenging situation because you may not have any outside
help or assistance for an extended period of time. Your survival will depend
completely on the resources you had available before the situation developed.
Some water filters perform very well
during short-term emergencies, but they are not designed for long-term survival
situations. Other water filters are specifically engineered for long-term
survival scenarios. Fortunately, those same filters will also function
exceedingly well during short-term emergencies. Consequently, the following
recommendations are for long-term survival water filters, which will also serve
in a short-term emergency if required.
In a long-term survival situation,
the primary source of life-threatening pathogens entering the water supply is
through human waste (fecal matter). Since the normal sewage system is not
functioning the way it was designed to, human waste is NOT disposed of
properly. It is frequently thrown into the streets to get it out of people's
homes. The next rain washes significant amounts of that human waste into the
nearest water collection area. Disease, sickness, and death soon follow. Even
if you are in or near a crowded camping area during a long-term survival
scenario, the same tragic drama unfolds. To survive in a situation such as this,
you need to filter all your drinking water and then boil it. (Note: The proper
way to deal with human waste while camping is to bury it.)
Three different water filters will
be discussed below. None of them require water pressure or electricity.
The first model is a Swiss
Katadyn Pocket Water Filter. Its advantages are that is more affordable,
lighter weight, and extremely portable. It comes with one 0.2 micron filter
element that will yield one-quart of drinking water per minute and the filter
has a maximum rated life of 13,000 gallons of water under good conditions. Its
disadvantages are that it must be hand pumped, and if its one filter is damaged
in any way then it makes the unit of questionable value. However, if you
perceive a survival scenario where you will be frequently moving between
locations by walking or by bicycle, then it is probably your best choice
because it is both small and light weight. (Note: There are several other
cheaper Katadyn water filters available, such as the Hiker and the Guide, but
they are NOT designed for long-term survival scenarios.)
The second model is a British
Berkefeld Big Berkey. Its advantages are that it uses gravity to filter the
water, and it comes with four 0.9 micron nine-inch filters. Each filter has a
maximum rated life of 12,000 gallons of water under good conditions (or 48,000
gallons of water from all four filters). It weighs about 9 pounds and it has
exterior dimensions of about 8.5" diameter and 20.5" tall. It may be
used with one, two, three, or all four filters installed. In a survival
situation, one filter will provide about six-gallons of drinking water per day.
That would leave three unused filters in reserve as replacements when the first
filter wears out, or if anything should happen to the first filter. The
stainless steel gravity Berkefeld water containers are extremely nice units.
However, the quality of the current Berkefeld water filters that are used
inside those stainless steel containers may not be as good as they were in the
past. Therefore, beginning in October of 2012, I cannot recommend the purchase
of the Berkefeld water filters.
The third model is an American
AquaRain Model 400 Water Filter. It advantages are that it uses gravity to
filter the water, and it comes with four 0.3 micron filters. Each filter has a
maximum rated life of 10,000 gallons of water under good conditions. It weighs
about 10 pounds and it has exterior dimensions of 10.5" diameter and
22" tall. It can be used with one, two, three, or all four filters installed.
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Swiss
Katadyn Pocket Water Filter
No water pressure required.
1.
No electricity required.
2.
Output: 1 quart per minute via hand-pumping.
3.
Weight: 24 oz. inside its carrying case with all its attachments.
4.
Size: 3" x 10.5" inside its carrying case with all its
attachments.
5.
Expected
Life: Up to 13,000 gallons of water from
ONE filter depending on the quality of the incoming water source.
The maximum filter life can be achieved if the incoming water is pre-filtered through a clean cloth before putting it through the Katadyn filter.
The maximum filter life can be achieved if the incoming water is pre-filtered through a clean cloth before putting it through the Katadyn filter.
6.
Life-time
warranty.
7.
Filter
Element: One 0.2 micron porosity ceramic
filter.
Self-disinfecting due to fine silver embedded throughout the Katadyn filter which prevents the growth of bacteria.
Will remove ALL bacteria and ALL Protozoa, including:
Self-disinfecting due to fine silver embedded throughout the Katadyn filter which prevents the growth of bacteria.
Will remove ALL bacteria and ALL Protozoa, including:
1.
100% Giardia Protozoa.
2.
100% Cryptosporidium Protozoa.
8.
Removes asbestos fibers, nuclear
explosion debris, invisible dust particles, and pollen.
9.
Does NOT remove 99.9% of all
viruses.
10.Does
NOT remove dissolved minerals or chemicals.
Therefore it can not be used to desalinate sea water.
Therefore it can not be used to desalinate sea water.
11.No
Carbon is included inside the filter.
If you wish, you can purchase separately a Universal Carbon Cartridge Filter Unit for use with any water filter at a cost of about $11.95 on the internet.
If you wish, you can purchase separately a Universal Carbon Cartridge Filter Unit for use with any water filter at a cost of about $11.95 on the internet.
12.The
filter may be cleaned with one of the two cleaning pads which are included.
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British
Berkefeld "Big Berkey" Gravity Water Filter
with Four 9-inch Super Sterasyl Candles
Note: As of October 2012 I no longer recommend the purchase of the Berkefeld water filters.
I am leaving the following information on my web site so you will know that I did consider them acceptable prior to October of 2012.
with Four 9-inch Super Sterasyl Candles
Note: As of October 2012 I no longer recommend the purchase of the Berkefeld water filters.
I am leaving the following information on my web site so you will know that I did consider them acceptable prior to October of 2012.
1.
Used by missionaries around the
world.
2.
No water pressure required.
3.
No electricity required.
4.
Stainless Steel Construction.
5.
Output: 6 gallons per day from ONE filter, or 24 gallons per day
using all four filters at the same time.
Water is filtered automatically by the use of gravity.
Lower Tank Holding Capacity: 2.4 gallons.
Water is filtered automatically by the use of gravity.
Lower Tank Holding Capacity: 2.4 gallons.
6.
Weight: About 9 pounds without water.
7.
Size
Unassembled in Box: 9" x 9" x 13½"
Size Assembled: 8.5" Diameter by 20.5" Tall.
Size Assembled: 8.5" Diameter by 20.5" Tall.
8.
Expected
Life: Between 2,000 to 12,000 gallons PER
FILTER of pure water depending on the quality of the incoming water.
The maximum filter life can be achieved if the incoming water is pre-filtered through a clean cloth before putting it through the Berkefeld filter.
The maximum filter life can be achieved if the incoming water is pre-filtered through a clean cloth before putting it through the Berkefeld filter.
9.
Six month
warranty on the water filters.
10.Filter
Elements: Four 0.9 micron Nine-Inch Super
Sterasyl Candle Filters
Self-disinfecting due to fine particles of silver evenly distributed throughout the Sterasyl filter which prevents the growth of bacteria.
Sterasyl Candles form a barrier to all particles 0.9 microns or larger in size.
Super Sterasyl Candles have an activated carbon filling which removes chemical and organic compounds from the water, reduces herbicides and pesticides, eliminates unpleasant odors, and improves the taste.
This unit may be priced and sold with either 7" or 9" Sterasyl Candles. Verify you are getting 9" filters before you buy.
This unit may be priced and sold with either Regular Sterasyl Candles or Super Sterasyl Candles. Verify you are getting four 9" Super Sterasyl Candle filters before you buy.
This unit may be priced with the black filters. The black filters are better but they do not have the life expectancy of the Super Sterasyl Candle filters.
All Sterasyl filters will remove:
Self-disinfecting due to fine particles of silver evenly distributed throughout the Sterasyl filter which prevents the growth of bacteria.
Sterasyl Candles form a barrier to all particles 0.9 microns or larger in size.
Super Sterasyl Candles have an activated carbon filling which removes chemical and organic compounds from the water, reduces herbicides and pesticides, eliminates unpleasant odors, and improves the taste.
This unit may be priced and sold with either 7" or 9" Sterasyl Candles. Verify you are getting 9" filters before you buy.
This unit may be priced and sold with either Regular Sterasyl Candles or Super Sterasyl Candles. Verify you are getting four 9" Super Sterasyl Candle filters before you buy.
This unit may be priced with the black filters. The black filters are better but they do not have the life expectancy of the Super Sterasyl Candle filters.
All Sterasyl filters will remove:
1.
More than 99.99% E. Coli Bacteria
2.
More than 99.99% Cholera Bacteria
3.
More than 99.99% Fecal Coliform
Bacteria
4.
More than 99.99% Shigetta Bacteria
5.
More than 99.99% Salmonella Bacteria
6.
More than 99.99% Typhoid Bacteria
7.
100% Giardia Protozoa
8.
100% Cryptosporidium Protozoa
9.
Reduces turbidity more than 99.7%
11.Does
NOT remove 99.9% of all viruses.
12.Does
NOT remove dissolved minerals or chemicals.
Therefore it can not be used to desalinate sea water.
Therefore it can not be used to desalinate sea water.
13.The
durable filters element may be cleaned many times with a Scotch Brite pad,
purchased separately.
14.Shipped
with two rubber hole plugs to permit the use of two filters. To use more than
two filters at the same time, remove the rubber hole plugs. To use only one
filter, an additional cork or hole plug will need to be purchased separately.
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AquaRain
Model 400 Gravity Water Filter
with Four Ceramic Filters
with Four Ceramic Filters
No water pressure required.
1.
No electricity required.
2.
Seamless Heavy-Duty 18 Gauge
Stainless Steel One-Piece Construction.
3.
Output: 6 gallons per day from ONE filter, or 24 gallons per day
using all four filters at the same time.
Water is filtered automatically by the use of gravity.
Lower Tank Holding Capacity: 3 gallons.
Water is filtered automatically by the use of gravity.
Lower Tank Holding Capacity: 3 gallons.
4.
Weight: About 10 pounds without water.
5.
Size
Unassembled in Box:10.75" x10.75" x
11.75"
Size Assembled: 10" Diameter by 22" Tall.
Size Assembled: 10" Diameter by 22" Tall.
6.
Expected
Life: Between 2,500 to 10,000 gallons PER
FILTER of pure water depending on the quality of the incoming water.
The maximum filter life can be achieved if the incoming water is pre-filtered through a clean cloth before putting it through the AquaRain filter.
The maximum filter life can be achieved if the incoming water is pre-filtered through a clean cloth before putting it through the AquaRain filter.
7.
Filter
Elements: Four 0.3 micron ceramic Filters
Each filters has a silvered carbon core filling which removes chemical and organic compounds from the water, reduces MTBE, herbicides and pesticides, eliminates unpleasant odors, and improves the taste.
Will remove ALL bacteria and ALL Protozoa, including:
Each filters has a silvered carbon core filling which removes chemical and organic compounds from the water, reduces MTBE, herbicides and pesticides, eliminates unpleasant odors, and improves the taste.
Will remove ALL bacteria and ALL Protozoa, including:
1.
100% Giardia Protozoa
2.
100% Cryptosporidium Protozoa
8.
Does NOT remove 99.9% of all
viruses.
9.
Does NOT remove dissolved minerals
or chemicals.
Therefore it can not be used to desalinate sea water.
Therefore it can not be used to desalinate sea water.
10.The
durable filters element may be cleaned up to 200 times with the included
cleaning pad.
11.Shipped
with two silicone hole plugs to permit the use of two filters. To use more than
two filters at the same time, remove the silicone hole plugs. To use only one
filter, an additional cork or hole plug will need to be purchased separately.
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Silver
At the current time all three of the
above water filters are saturated with fine particles of silver to prevent and
retard the growth of pathogens. Early American pioneers frequently put a silver
dollar into their water barrels and they left it there because they had learned
from experience that it helped to reduce the number of health related problems
within their families.
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Selecting
a Water Filter
The following is just my opinion about the potential advantages and shortcomings of the above water filters. It is nothing more than my opinion.
I no longer recommend the purchase of the Berkefeld water filters because their quality does not appear to be as good as it was in the past. However, their stainless steel water containers are extremely nice. Therefore if you have one of their stainless steel containers then I recommend that you consider purchasing some AquaRain replacement water filters for that unit when your current supply of Berkefeld water filters have been used up.
Each company that sells a water filter will tell you why their particular water filter is better than their competitors. But each company will usually only be comparing the specific features of their filter that are better while not mentioning the features where their filter is weaker.
The AquaRain filter does have the advantage of a carbon core. The inner carbon core filter does help to improve the taste of filtered water.
However, if you wish you may add an external carbon filter to the Katadyn filter. In other words, if your water has taste problems, then after putting it through the Katadyn filter you could then pour that water through a separate carbon filter.
There is no simple one best answer about which water filter company makes the best filter.
At this time I cannot recommend the Katadyn filter or the AquaRain filter as being the best one on the market. Each filter has advantages and disadvantages. However, if you only talk to a sales representative they will focus their sales pitch on the advantages and downplay the disadvantages.
In a life-threatening emergency I would first hard boil my water for one minute and then I would let it gradually cool down to room temperature. Boiling would kill the pathogens in the water. Then I would use either a Katadyn or an AquaRain water filter to further enhance the quality of the water. Then I would feel safer about drinking the water.
How to Build an Affordable High Efficiency Homemade Water
Filter for about $50
You will need to purchase the following two items:
1.
A food grade 5 or 6 gallon plastic
bucket or a plastic food storage container that is at least 12 inches tall
(approximately $5.00).
2.
A replacement water filter cartridge
with an O-ring and a wing nut such as the ones made by AquaRain
(approximately $45.00).
A good quality water filter will process about 10,000 to
12,000 gallons of water before it wears out if you pre-filter the water through
a clean cloth before putting it through your water filter.
One good water filter will provide about 7 or 8 gallons of drinking water each day.
When you order your water filter please be sure to specifically request that they ship the filter with a new "O" ring and a new "wing nut" for the bottom of the filter. With a new water filter, and an "O" ring seal, and a "wing nut" you can install your filter on anything that will hold at least one-gallon of water, and is also at least as tall as the filter itself. For example, you could install a water filter in a food grade 5 or 6 gallon plastic bucket, or a plastic tote container, or an empty one-gallon plastic water bottle (after you cut the top off the bottle). The container must have a flat bottom surface at the position where you will install the water filter. Simply drill a one-half inch diameter hole in the bottom center of the container and then put the "O" ring tight against the filter on the inside of the container and then screw the "wing nut" to the filter on the outside of the container. Then put the modified water filter container over another clean container that will catch the filtered water and fill the water filter container with water. Then relax and wait for gravity to move the water through your water filter into the lower container.
If you are filtering out radioactive particles then position your water filter system far enough away from your living quarters so the tiny radioactive particles that will get trapped inside the water filter cannot slowly poison your family members. Radiation only kills living organisms. It does not kill non-living things such as water or canned food. However, if you ingest water or food that contains radioactive particles then you will get sick and eventually die. However, if you remove the radioactive particles from the water then the water will be safe to drink.
One good water filter will provide about 7 or 8 gallons of drinking water each day.
When you order your water filter please be sure to specifically request that they ship the filter with a new "O" ring and a new "wing nut" for the bottom of the filter. With a new water filter, and an "O" ring seal, and a "wing nut" you can install your filter on anything that will hold at least one-gallon of water, and is also at least as tall as the filter itself. For example, you could install a water filter in a food grade 5 or 6 gallon plastic bucket, or a plastic tote container, or an empty one-gallon plastic water bottle (after you cut the top off the bottle). The container must have a flat bottom surface at the position where you will install the water filter. Simply drill a one-half inch diameter hole in the bottom center of the container and then put the "O" ring tight against the filter on the inside of the container and then screw the "wing nut" to the filter on the outside of the container. Then put the modified water filter container over another clean container that will catch the filtered water and fill the water filter container with water. Then relax and wait for gravity to move the water through your water filter into the lower container.
If you are filtering out radioactive particles then position your water filter system far enough away from your living quarters so the tiny radioactive particles that will get trapped inside the water filter cannot slowly poison your family members. Radiation only kills living organisms. It does not kill non-living things such as water or canned food. However, if you ingest water or food that contains radioactive particles then you will get sick and eventually die. However, if you remove the radioactive particles from the water then the water will be safe to drink.
How to Distill Water
Equipment Needed:
1.
Pressure Cooker (any size).
2.
Copper Tubing (12 to 15 feet).
3.
Cooling Bucket (2 to 5 gallons).
4.
Clean Cook Pot or Clean Water
Bucket.
The copper tubing should have an inside
diameter that matches the outside diameter of the steam exhaust port on
your pressure cooker. Leave about four-feet at both ends of the copper tubing
relatively straight. Wrap the center of the copper tubing into a coil around
any cylindrical object that is a few inches smaller in diameter than the inside
of the cooling bucket (item 3 above). Remove and aside the cylindrical object
after you have successfully coiled the middle of the copper tubing.
Instructions for Distilling Water:
1.
Follow all the standard safety
instructions for a pressure cooker.
2.
Pour some water through a clean
cloth to pre-filter the water and remove any large impurities.
3.
Fill the pressure cooker between 1/2
to 3/4 full of pre-filtered water.
4.
Put the pressure cooker on the stove
top but do NOT turn on the heat yet.
5.
Put a cooling bucket on a chair near
the stove. Fill the cooling bucket with cool water.
6.
Place an empty clean cook pot or
clean water bucket on the floor.
7.
Attach one end of the copper tubing
to the steam exhaust port on top of the pressure cooker. Place the center coil
of the cooper tubing inside the cool water in the cooling bucket. Place the
other end of the copper tubing in the clean cook pot on the floor.
8.
Turn on the heat to the pressure
cooker. The water inside the pressure cooker will gradually turn into steam and
travel up through the steam exhaust port into the copper tubing. The steam will
enter the cooling coil and cool down and become water again. It will then flow
into the cook pot on the floor.
9.
You may reduce the heat to the
pressure cooker after water starts flowing into the cook pot on the floor. Do
NOT touch the pressure cooker or the copper tubing while either one is HOT.
The above procedure will make
distilled water but it uses a lot of energy.
Other Methods of Making Water Safe to Drink
There are a variety of other methods
for making water safe to drink, such as reverse osmosis and ultraviolet.
However, those methods are better suited to normal situations that don't
involve long-term survival and the possible absence of electricity.
A Practical and Inexpensive Method for
Replenishing Water while Hiking
Replenishing Water while Hiking
If you have enough Katadyn Pocket
Water Filters for everyone in your group, then you may skip over this section.
However, if some of the people in your party don't have their own Pocket Water
Filter, then the following information may be of use to you.
To begin with, it is not practical
to attach items to the belt which holds your pants up. If you do, those items
will pull your pants down as you walk and rub blisters on your hips. Not only
is it painful, but it is also very annoying. Therefore, let your normal belt
(or suspenders) hold your pants up. Then use another belt for your knife,
pistol, first aid kit, and canteen, but don't put that belt through the belt
loops on your pants. A belt canteen is usually preferred to a shoulder strap
canteen because the shoulder strap wears a blister on your shoulder in a very
short time, even when you keep changing shoulders.
Most canteens are made of
light-weight plastic. You can find them at most Army-Navy Surplus Stores. They
also usually carry the canteen pouch and the equipment (canteen) belt.
Sometimes you can also find a collapsible metal cup that will fit on the bottom
of the plastic canteen and fit inside the cloth canteen pouch. The handle of
the metal cup is on a hinge and it will fold down and under the cup out-of-the-way.
(Note: If you decide to visit an Army-Navy Surplus Store, then ask for
an "Alice" type belt with shoulder harness suspender straps. It will
cost a little more money but if you do ANY hiking you will probably never
regret spending that money. If you purchase the Alice belt, then you should
also check out the different types of small equipment bags they sell which
attach to that belt. Each small bag can be used to store something different,
such as first aid supplies, dehydrated or freeze-dried food, personal care
items, or small miscellaneous survival gear such as snare wires and fishing
tackle.)
When full of water, the canteen
weighs about 2.5 pounds. However, as you walk you will periodically drink some
of your water. And if the unexpected occurs, then you may not be able to return
to your primary area of safety before nightfall. Therefore, you should also
carry the means to replace your drinking water if necessary.
If you add a clean cloth (folded
inside a heavy-duty freezer bag) to the inside of your canteen pouch with your
canteen, then you will have a method to pre-filter your water. The heavy-duty
freezer bag can be used to collect the water, even from a very shallow area.
The water can then be poured from the freezer bag through the cloth into your
metal cup. This pre-filters the water and removes any large impurities.
You then have two options.
If you have water purification
tablets, then you could put the appropriate number inside the water in your cup
and wait the specified time. Then you can pour the water into your canteen.
Or you could start a fire IF you
have a small butane lighter. Of course you would also need to find some
combustible material but in most areas that is not too difficult. Then you can
heat the water in your metal cup over the coals from the fire until the water
boils. Let it boil for 1 minute (or 2 minutes if you are at the top of an
extremely high mountain). Then wait patiently for the water to cool to a safe
temperature. Then pour the safe water into your canteen.
You would either boil your water OR
you would use your water purification tablets, but you would NOT do both at the
same time because they both accomplish the same basic objective. Of the two
methods, boiling is best because it positively kills every pathogen in
your water source whereas the purification tablets will not be successful
against all viruses.
The cloth canteen pouches sold at
most Army-Navy Surplus Stores have a small pocket attached to the outside of
the canteen pouch. This exterior pocket can be used to store your bottle of
water purification tablets which should be placed inside a plastic sandwich
bag. And it can also be used to store a miniature butane lighter in a separate
plastic sandwich bag. The purpose of the sandwich bags is to protect those
items from the condensation moisture from your canteen which will saturate your
canteen pouch, or from the rain if it should start to rain unexpectedly while
you are hiking.
Water Conservation Recommendations
for Personal Hygiene Activities
for Personal Hygiene Activities
Bathing
If you are low on water then don't
waste it bathing. I know cleanliness is important but most of us overdo it in
the United States. Just wash your hands, face, and feet periodically. Use the
two-pot method for bathing. Fill one pot with water and use it as the first
rinse after washing your hands with soap, or after bathing with a sponge or
wash cloth. Fill another pot with water and use it as the second rinse. Don't
discard the wash water in the first pot until it is too dirty to be safely
used, and then pour it into the back of your toilet tank so you can use
it to flush your toilet, if your sewer system is still working. Then use the
second pot as your first rinse and start a new pot of clean water as your
second rinse. (Note: The average person probably won't appreciate the true
value of their feet until they are confronted with a difficult situation. Then
they will suddenly realize that their long-term survival depends on the
condition of their feet.)
If you have water pressure and you
prefer to take showers, then take a military shower. Close the bath tub drain
or put a flat round flexible plastic drain cover over the shower drain. Turn
the water on, quickly get soaking wet all over, and then turn the water off.
Use some soap to wash your body, and use some shampoo on your hair while the
water is off. When you have finished washing and shampooing, turn the
water on and quickly rinse the shampoo out of your hair and the soap off
your body. Then turn the water off. If you practice this method you will
discover you can take a good shower with only three or four gallons of water,
and you can then use the shower water that is in the bottom of the tub or
shower to flush your toilet, if your sewer system is still working.
Teeth
Brushing
Always brush your teeth at least
once per day. It doesn't take much water, just a little in a small cup. If you
still have water pressure, then do not let the water run while you are
brushing your teeth. (Note: Also do not let the water run while you are
shaving.) Instead turn the faucet on and put about 2 or 3 ounces of water into
a small cup. Then turn the faucet off. Only use a little toothpaste each time
and not the amount you normally use. Your toothpaste will last four to six
times longer this way with no compromise in dental hygiene. If your sewer
system is still working then spit the used mouthful of toothpaste into the
toilet bowl. If your sewer system is not working, the spit the toothpaste into
the trash can. Rinse your mouth thoroughly after brushing with a small amount
of water and spit it into the sink. (Note: If you have a limited amount of
water then you do not want to run the risk of having your toothpaste slowly
accumulate inside your sink drain and gradually dry out and form a soap block
that prevents your drain from working properly. That is the reason you should consider
spitting the toothpaste into the toilet stool or trash can.)
Washing
Dishes
Use the three-pot method to wash
your eating dishes. Wash your dishes in the first pot of water with dish soap.
Rinse the dishes in a second pot. Rinse the dishes again in a third pot. When
the dish water in the first pot gets really nasty, pour it down the front
of your toilet stool to flush it, if your sewer system is still working. (Note:
Dish water usually contains too much food residue and grease to put it in the
back of the toilet tank but it can be poured into the front toilet bowl to help
flush the stool.) Then put dish soap in the second pot and use it as the
initial wash pot. Use the third pot as your first rinse. Add a new pot with
clean water as the final rinse.
Hot water, or even warm water, makes
it easier to wash your dishes by hand. However, the effort and energy required
to heat the water may sometimes exceed the extra manual effort required to
simply scrub the dishes a little harder by hand in cold water. That trade-off
decision will need to be made by each person based on their own personal
circumstances. (Note: Warm water doesn't kill germs. Boiling water kills germs.
However, warm water does make grease removal from the dishes much easier. Or
you could use enamel coated camping dishes which clean up nicely even in cold
water. However, long-term exposure to citric acid will stain the enamel coating
on enamel dishes.)
Washing
Clothes
If you are using a standard electric
washing machine then do not discard your washing machine water directly
into the drain. Move the drain hose to a position above a large empty water
container to catch the used wash water. After the first wash cycle, allow the
wash water to drain into your water storage container. This soapy wash water
can be used in the back of your toilet stool to flush your toilets, if your
sewer system is still working. After the washing machine rinse cycle, allow the
rinse water to drain into another water storage container. After the washing
machine spin cycle is complete, remove your clean clothes, and then transfer
the rinse water back into your washing machine. This water is relatively
clean and it only contains a little soap residue which will be of use during
the next wash cycle. If you will follow this method you will not be wasting any
water to wash your clothes, because all of the water will eventually be used to
flush your toilets.
The
Common Household Toilet Stool
If your sewer system is not working
then you may use the two pot method for human waste collection and disposal.
You will need two large five-gallon containers with lids. When you need to use
the toilet, then do so inside one of the two containers. Liquid waste should go
into one container and solid waste in the other container. Then immediately
replace the lid so most of the odor remains inside the containers. Your local
public health authorities will tell you where and how to periodically dispose
of this human waste to prevent the spread of a multitude of life threatening
diseases.
If your sewer system is working then
you may use your toilet. Most new toilet stools are very water efficient
and they only require the absolute minimum amount of water per flush. If you
have an older toilet stool then it probably uses between four to six
gallons of water per flush, which is excessive. However, you can easily reduce
the amount of water required per flush. Fill a clean empty 16 to 24 ounce
plastic bottle (soft drink or water) with small rocks or pebbles as full as you
can, and then finish filling the plastic bottle with water. Replace the bottle
cap tightly. Carefully remove the top piece off the rear of your toilet tank
and place the full weighted plastic bottle inside the tank. If necessary,
secure it with some wire or string inside the toilet tank so that it does not
interfere with the normal flushing operation of the toilet. Then flush the
toilet to make sure it flushes properly. If you still have some space, then you
may add a second and a third filled plastic bottle inside the toilet tank. Just
be careful that you do not interfere with the normal flushing operation of the
toilet. (Note: Or you could put a brick inside a plastic freezer bag and put it
inside the toilet tank instead of using a plastic bottle. Or you could simply replace
your old toilet with a new water efficient toilet that uses about 1.6 gallons
per flush.)
Only flush human waste and used
toilet tissue down your toilet stool. Do not put makeup removal tissues or any
other type of used paper in your toilet stool. Instead dispose of these other
types of used paper products in an ordinary trash can.
Flushing the toilet each time you
use it is NOT a good idea under hardship conditions. In the country when people
occasionally find themselves short on water they follow a very simple rule:
If
it is yellow, let it mellow.
If it is brown, flush it down.
If it is brown, flush it down.
Conclusion
Our bodies are mostly water. Most of
the earth's surface is covered with water. Unfortunately, most of it isn't fit
to drink. But without water we will all be dead in about three days. Therefore,
any information you can acquire about how and where to get drinking water takes
you one step closer to being an independent, resourceful human being in God's
natural order of things.
Revision
History:
Revised October 11, 2012 - Discontinued the recommendation of the Berkefeld Water Filters.
Revised June 11, 2010 - Added section on How to Build an Affordable Homemade Water Filter.
Revised October 21, 2009 - Added section on Selecting a Water Filter.
Revised August 29, 2009 - Updated the AquaRain filter information.
Revised February 13, 2009 - Updated prices for water filters using February 2009 prices on the internet.
Revised October 11, 2007 - Modified and Added More Water Conservation Recommendations Near End of Article.
Revised October 2003 - Rearranged the Original File Material into the Current Page Format and Added Pictures.
1998 - Created this Web Page File.
Click on www.grandpappy.info/indexhar.htm for more Hard Times Survival Tips.
Click on www.grandpappy.info for Robert's Home Page.
Revised October 11, 2012 - Discontinued the recommendation of the Berkefeld Water Filters.
Revised June 11, 2010 - Added section on How to Build an Affordable Homemade Water Filter.
Revised October 21, 2009 - Added section on Selecting a Water Filter.
Revised August 29, 2009 - Updated the AquaRain filter information.
Revised February 13, 2009 - Updated prices for water filters using February 2009 prices on the internet.
Revised October 11, 2007 - Modified and Added More Water Conservation Recommendations Near End of Article.
Revised October 2003 - Rearranged the Original File Material into the Current Page Format and Added Pictures.
1998 - Created this Web Page File.
Click on www.grandpappy.info/indexhar.htm for more Hard Times Survival Tips.
Click on www.grandpappy.info for Robert's Home Page.
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