Water Purification

Last Time we talked about how to properly store water, but what if you find yourself in a situation where you have run out of stored water and are resorted to find, filter and purify your own. Would you know how? One thing to keep in mind is to NEVER drink from an unknown water source without purifying it somehow. Untreated water can contain microorganisms that can cause diarrhea, dysentery and even death. There are several treatment options, so know them all so you can decide which is best for your situation.

Boiling: Bring water to a rolling boil then let it remain boiling for AT LEAST 30 minutes. Cover the pot with a lid to contain the steam and reduce the evaporation. The temperature of the boiling water will kill microorganisms and render the water safe to drink.

Water purification tablets/Chlorine drops: Commercial water treatment drops like THIS can be used to treat water. Simply follow the instructions of the container to purify water. Instructions usually require a few drops then waiting for a period of time.

Charcoal filter: You can create your own charcoal filter as demonstrated by How Stuff Works which can filter your water using the materials you find around you. At home water filters use charcoal in the filter – so why not try it for real!

Water filtration system: Having a portable water filtration system in you emergency bag will be a huge benefit to your survival if needed. The Sawyer Straw is a perfect example. This little guy can filter up to 100,000 gallons of water from the source! Check out this video about the Sawyer Straw.

Order Sawyer Straws from www.surviveanylife.thrivelife.com in single or four packs.

Whatever your choices are – make sure you understand how to properly clean, purify and filter water when you need it. Another great item to have is Coast Guard approved water packs like these.

They are EXTREMELY affordable at $0.23 each from HERE. They are light and compact enough to fit into any bag and can save you in an emergency.

So get out there. Test out these methods or others you find during your own research. Take care with water – you can’t live without it – but if it’s not potable it can kill you!

Find me at the following:

Shop           Facebook           Twitter            Pinterest 

Water Storage 101

Have you read THIS article? No! It’s pretty important and demonstrates the necessity for having a storage or water on hand. There are several ways to store water, but you MUST do it properly or the water will not be potable. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Needs: Ensure that you have AT LEAST one gallon of water per day (per person). This is a guide, you will need to determine if the needs of your family are greater. Where you live may also be a factor. For example, living in the desert with high temperatures may require more water – especially if activity is high. If you have small children, especially those that are bottle fed, they may require more water as well.

Keep in mind that you will also need water for washing, hygiene and other personal care necessities. I like to save my almost-empty laundry soap containers, fill them with tap water, label them as “WASH” and keep them tucked away as my storage. This is a cheap and easy way to prepare for the hygiene needs in emergency situations.

Containers: If you chose do bottle/store your own water ensure that you use containers that are BPA free. If you buy pre-bottled water – do not open them, ensure they are stored in a cool/dark place and rotate through them regularly. Containers that are PETE or PET are the best for storing water. You can know for sure by looking at the bottom of the bottle. Look for a triangle symbol with a 1 inside, it may also say PETE or PET under it, as such.

Avoid containers that are not PETE or PET. They are made of materials that can be toxic. If you see the same symbol with a 7, this most likely contains BPA so avoid it like the plague.

If you bottle your own ensure that you properly clean and sterilize the containers. You can use containers such as 55 gallon drums, 2 litter soda bottles or even recycle larger water bottles. DO NOT use milk jugs – they are not suitable for storing water.

After cleaning fill the container with tap water. You do not have to treat tap water with bleach if it is all ready processed, however if you have a well or bottling from a source that does not chemically treat the water, you MUST add, non-scented, chlorine bleach to the container to kill all microorganisms. You should use 1 teaspoon of bleach for 5 gallons of water to properly treat the water. If you’re filling 2 liter soda bottles a few drops should do the trick, there should be a slight smell of chlorine, add more if necessary one drop at a time. For a 55 gallon drum – use about 3 tablespoons. If you intend to use the water immediately, let the water stand for at least 30 minutes before use.

__________

Water is extremely important. All life on earth depends upon it. The human body is comprised of about 60% water and your body needs it to function properly. Having a supply on hand in case of emergencies is paramount. Keep some in your car, rotate through it of course, in case your car breaks down and leaves you stranded or forced to hoof it!  Don’t be in a situation where you don’t have water or can’t filter it. My next blog will be about how to treat water for drinking – say from a lake or stream.