The purpose of this article is to show how to make an unknown water source safe to drink. In an emergency situation, you may need to rely on such a water source for survival. But in all likelihood, there will be pathogens and pollutants in it that could potentially make you very sick. We need to filter and purify the water to try and eliminate these contaminants, and greatly reduce the chances of serious illness.
When it comes to having a safe water supply, the best offense is always a good defense. The best water supply you can have is the one you’ve set up BEFORE the emergency. Considering how cheap (basically free) water is there is no reason why every household should not have at least 3 days worth of water stored for every person. For more information on how to set this up, read this article on emergency water supply and storage.
But say you’re out in the wilderness, or your water supply has run out, and need to find another water source, whether it be a lake, stream or well. You’ll want to start with the cleanest water you can find, salt-free, and cold water that’s running is better than warm and stagnant. We’re going to run the water through a two step process- purification and filtration.
Purifying A Water Source
Options for purifying the water:
Boiling the water: a cheap and easy method of water purification. Maintaining a rolling boil for 5+ minutes should kill most pathogens. There are a few potential downsides, however. Water is lost through steam, and this can be a problem if the water supply is limited. Also, it’s impractical to boil anything more than small amounts of water. Lastly, the electricity/fuel/heat needed to boil water may not be available in an emergency situation. If this is the case, there are other options available to you.
UV lamp: Ultraviolet radiation will sterilize pathogens, making their spread impossible. A great step in the purification process, but you may not have access to a UV lamp and electricity in a situation that requires water purification.
Iodine: A cheap disinfectant that’s very effective at killing pathogens. Use 2% solution. Add 3 drops per quart of clear water, and 6 drops per quart of cloudy water. Stir and let sit for 30 minutes before using. Iodine purified water should not be used by pregnant woman, or as a long term water purification method.
Chlorine: Another effective disinfectant, but more poisonous than iodine, so extra care must be taken. Use regular household bleach with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, with no added scents or cleaners. Add 2 drops per quart of water, stir and let sit for 30 minutes. The water will have a slight bleach smell.
Filtering A Water Source
There are various substances used to filter water:
Ceramic filters: the most expensive, but most effective method of filtering. Used by the Red Cross and the World Health Organization.
Glass Fiber or Compressed surgical paper filters: the next best option, and much cheaper than ceramic.
Hard-block carbon filters: it has larger pores than the above options, so it’s less effective at filtering particles and pathogens than they are. It is, however, good at absorbing chemicals, pollutants and odors other filtering methods can’t, making it a good step in an overall filtering process.
If you run the water through a filtration step and a purification step, it will most likely be good enough to drink. You can then move forward securing a more long term water supply.
Good luck and stay prepared!
Read more from RamboMoe at preparedforthat.com.