How to Filter Water to Be Safe to Drink
While it may be tempting to drink water from a river, lake or stream, it is not a wise idea, until you take some measures to filter it, as well as disinfect it. Even though you might think water from lakes, creeks or streams is safe to drink, it can harbor all kinds of bacteria and disease-causing microorganisms that can make you ill. Filtering water is a simple procedure that can be completed in a short amount of time. After filtering the water to clear it, you will also want to disinfect the water, in order to make it completely safe to drink. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Clean large jar-like with covers or lids
- Coffee filters, cheesecloth or cloth or paper towels
- Large rubber bands
- Ladle or measuring cup
- Heat source
- Pot
- Household chlorine bleach, 2% iodine or iodine or chlorine tablets
- Set of teaspoons or eyedropper
Instructions
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Filtering Water
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1
Remove the water from its source, and place it in a container.
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2
Attach paper towels, cheese cloth or a coffee filter to the opening of a large jar with a rubber band. This will be your homemade water filter.
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3
Pour the water through the homemade filter. The large particles and debris will not pass through the filter.
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4
Prepare the water to drink by disinfecting it.
Disinfecting Water for Drinking
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5
Boil the water for one minute to kill all bacteria, viruses and disease-causing microorganisms. Store the water in a clean container with a lid.
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6
If you can't boil water, add 1/8 tsp. or eight drops of non-scented, household chlorine bleach to each gallon of water. Stir the water well, and allow to stand for at least 30 minutes before drinking.
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Alternately, a two percent tincture of iodine may also be used to disinfect water. Use five drops for each quart or liter of clear water. For cloudy water, use 10 drops, and allow the water to stand for approximately 30 minutes before use.
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Commercially prepared chlorine or iodine tablets can also be used for water disinfection. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for usage.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't have the supplies to make a homemade water filter, you can pour the water into a clean container and allow it to settle. Then, use a ladle or a measuring cup to draw off the clear water.
To improve the taste of boiled water, you can aerate the water by pouring it back and forth between two containers. Do this several times and then allow the water to stand for a few hours in a clean, closed container. Alternatively, you can add a pinch of salt to each quart or liter of boiled water.
Never drink water from a lake, river, stream or any other non-treated source without disinfecting it first.
