How To Make Questionable Water Drinkable

[AZ Prepper]

How To Make Questionable Water Drinkable
http://tslrf.blogspot.com/2010/04/ho...ble-water.html


There are several ways to make questionable water drinkable. Below are just a few well known methods. I am NOT an expert on this topic. Entire books and websites could be devoted to this one topic. The purpose of this article is simply to give people a very quick overview of what options are available to make questionable water drinkable. I encourage people to click on the links I have provided to read more in depth about this topic because it is incredibly crucial. Now is the time to educate yourself, your family and your loved ones on this vitally important topic.

1.) SteriPEN

The SteriPEN uses ultraviolet light to destroy viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. The SteriPEN can purify 16 oz. of questionable water in 48 seconds. According to their website, "SteriPEN utilizes C wavelengths UV (ultraviolet light). UV-C light is a short wave light, between x-rays and visible light wave lengths, which destroy the DNA of microbes in seconds".

Advantages to SteriPEN:

a.) lightweight
b.) compact
c.) you can use a container made of glass, ceramic, metal and nearly any plastic with a SteriPEN

Disadvantages to SteriPEN:

a.) requires batteries
b.) does not filter out debris
c.) depending on your budget this can be expensive - the price range seems to be between $60 - $100 or so
d.) will not decontaminate threads in your screw top water bottle
e.) you can only use clear water with a SteriPEN because cloudy water inhibits its effectiveness

2.) Boiling Water www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/emerg.html

Boiling water kills most types of disease causing organisms. Boil water for one minute, let cool, and then drink. At altitudes above 1 mile, boil water for 3 minutes. Some websites suggest boiling water for up to 10 minutes. Again, now is the time to start doing research on this topic so you can decide for yourself how long you think it is necessary to boil water to make it safe.

Advantages to boiling water:

a.) no special equipment or skills needed
b.) currently relatively inexpensive (so long as fuel is inexpensive and plentiful)

Disadvantages to boiling water:

a.) water must be filtered first if filled with debris
b.) water may have flat taste after boiling (if it's a TEOTWAWKI scenario then who cares)
c.) requires fuel (wood, propane, electricity, etc.)
d.) boiling water may give away your location especially if you are doing it outside with a wood fire
e.) you may lose precious water during boiling process because of evaporation
f.) may be time consuming (especially if you need to build a fire)

3.) Potable Aqua Iodine Tablets

Iodine tablets kill bacteria, viruses, and giardia. Iodine tablets work by "penetrating the cell wall of the microorganism, therefore rendering it inactive".

Advantages to iodine tablets:

a.) relatively cheap (approximately $6.50 for 50 tablets). Two tablets treat 1 quart of water.
b.) lightweight
c.) portable
d.) can be used to treat cloudy water, low temperature water, and water with extreme PH

Disadvantages to iodine tablets:

a.) must wait at least 30 minutes before drinking
b.) not effective against Cryptosporidium or chemical contaminants
c.) should not be used on a long term basis (6 weeks is the limit)
d.) opened bottles of tablets go bad after one year
e.) tablets may add strange taste to water
f.) must filter water to remove debris
e.) women who are pregnant or people who have thyroid problems should consult a doctor before using iodine tablets (this may be impossible in a TEOTWAWKI situation)

4.) Chlorine www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/emerg.html

Use non-scented household chlorine bleach to treat water. Chlorine kills microorganisms. (I was unable to find out exactly what chlorine does/does not kill and it how kills it. If anybody knows, please post.) Click on above EPA link to view the chart regarding how much chlorine to use to treat water. Mix water treated with chlorine, cover, and let stand for 30 minutes before drinking.

Advantages to using chlorine:

a.) relatively cheap
b.) fairly easy

Disadvantages to using chlorine:

a.) water may taste strange
b.) must filter out debris

5.) When there is nothing to treat water, but water is still available then try to gather fast moving water rather than stagnant water. Stay away from water that has floating debris, an odor, or a dark color.
WARNING: Do this only in a TEOTWAWKI situation. Even clear water with no debris can be contaminated with nasty stuff.

Like I previously stated, I am NOT an expert on this topic. If anyone has anything to add to this post (i.e. corrections, clarifications, personal experiences, etc.) then post away! Today is the day to talk about this topic

[prepgirl]

Don't forget SODIS. This is easy and when done correctly very effective. It is being used in third world countries by the World Health Organization and others. Check it out at: http://blog.totallyready.com/more-ta...r-sodis/08/05/ this is even a method you can safely have the kids help with.

[mrw]

http://www.berkeyfilters.com/ These berkey filters are very nice and filter everything. Start by filtering out the large stuff with another method. This saves your filters. Then run your water through your berkey. You can even clean the filters to prolong the life of the filter. Each filter will purify about 3,000 gallons according to the seller of this product. They are priced reasonably for what you're getting. They filter many gallons per day depending on how many filters you are running at a time. My unit can hold four filters and filter quite a bit of water per hour, several gallons. The berkey even gets the smallest viruses. The other methods mentioned already are great and will work but I'd rather not have to use them unless I need to as a last resort. There are other systems like aqua rain that are good as well and are close to the same price as the berkey. I hope this helps.