How to Make a Water Purification System

Whether it's an emergency survival solution or a lifestyle choice, you can make a homemade water filter system out of little more than a few buckets, sand, charcoal and gravel. Make sure to take your water from a running source like a stream or fast-moving river. If you take water from a still water source, you'll need to let it sit, allowing the sediment to settle, and then skim clear water off the top before introducing it into your water purification system.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 5-gallon bucket
• Plastic bowl
• Power drill
• Plumbing wire
• Ceiling hook
• Filtering tank
• Opaque holding tank with tight-fitting cover.
• Rubber tubing
• Silicone sealant
• Pantyhose
• Charcoal
• Small pebbles
• Fine sand

Setting the System Up

1. Drill numerous small holes in the bottom of the plastic bowl. Drill four larger holes spaced evenly around the rim of the bowl.

2. Twine wire loops through the holes in the rim of the bowl; then twist them together, making a loop to suspend it from the ceiling hook.

3. Drill a hole the width of your rubber tubing in one side of your filtration tank, as close to the bottom as possible.

4. Thread the rubber tubing through the hole just barely into the filtration tank and secure it in place on both the inside and outside of the tank, with silicone sealant. Press a small square of pantyhose material into the sealant on the inside of the tank so that it covers the opening of the hose. Let the sealant dry in a well-ventilated area.

5. Place the filtration tank on a sturdy, elevated surface. Install the ceiling hook above it and hang the perforated bowl from the ceiling hook.

6. Place the holding tank on the floor near the filtration tank and let the free end of the rubber tubing rest inside the holding tank.

7. Layer fine sand on the bottom of your filtration tank---the pantyhose over the rubber tubing will keep it from filtering into your drinking water. Then wash your small pebbles in strong, running water and layer them over the sand. Finally, place charcoal over the pebbles.

Using the System

1. Collect water from a running stream in your 5-gallon bucket.

2. Pour water from the bucket into the perforated bowl.

3. Let the water filter through the filtration tank into the holding tank; then remove the tubing from the holding tank and cover it tightly to store your purified water.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish