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METHOD TWO:
PURIFICATION TABLETS
Using purification
tablets or drops is
the easiest water
purification
methods.
You can purchase
these drops or
tablets at sporting
goods and adventure
stores. Keep in mind
that this is not the
best tasting method,
but protection from
bacteria is worth a
bitter taste in your
mouth.
Iodine
tablets are the
most commonly
sold purifying
tablets, but you
can also use
chlorine tablets
with the same
result. These
tablets are most
effective when
the water you
are purifying is
68 degrees F (21
degrees C) or
higher. These
chemical tablets
will kill
bacteria living
in your water.
These tablets
are most often
used by campers
in the
wilderness.
Pregnant
women, women
over 50, and
people with
thyroid problems
or taking
Lithium should
consult with a
doctor before
using iodine
tablets.
Strain the water if
it has large
particles floating
around in it.
You can do this by
pouring the water
through a cloth and
into the bottle or
container that you
will be purifying
your water in. The
cloth acts as a
strainer that
removes the
particles floating
in the water.
Place the tablets in the water. If
your tablets or drops came with instructions, follow
these now. In general, you will want to use one tablet
for each quart or liter of water you wish to purify. Be
aware that these tablets generally have an expiration
date. If you use them after this date, they are much
less likely to be effective. Always check the bottle
before using these tablets.
Mix the tablets into
the water until they
dissolve. They
must be completely
dissolved so that
they can mix most
effectively with the
water you are
purifying.
Wait 30
minutes before
drinking the water,
as the tablets need
that time to
effectively kill any
bacteria in the water. You should
also be aware
that tablets are
generally less
effective in
water that is
very cold. If
the water is 40
degrees F (4
degrees C), you
should wait at
least an hour
after the
tablets have
dissolved before
drinking the
water. You can
place the water
in the sun to
warm it up
before using the
tablets if you
have the time to
do so.
To lessen
the strange
taste the
tablets give the
water, add
flavoring to the
water (if it is
available to
you.) Powdered
lemonade mixes
or a pinch of
salt will mask
the tablet
flavor.
METHOD THREE: USING A WATER PURIFIER
Use a pump purifier.
You can use these
types of purifiers
in conjunction with
a canteen or water
bottle when out in
the wilderness.
These pumps are
generally hand held
and made out of a
synthetic or ceramic
cartridge. Most
filters have two
separate hoses, one
for clean water, the
other for dirty
water. On the hose
that pumps the dirty
creek or lake water,
you may find a foam
flotation device
that keeps the hose
from sinking to the
bottom and sucking
up the silty bottom
water. The pump will
have a plunger or
lever that can be
pulled and pushed so
that water is sucked
up, run through a
series of filters
within the plunge,
and then pumped out
and into your water
bottle.
Buy a water bottle
with a built in purifier. You can now buy water
bottles that have their own filters already built in.
These work much like the pumps in that they run the
water through a filter before dispensing the water into
the bottle. Try out a gravity
fed purifier.
These are filters
like the ones used
by Brita and PUR. As
the name suggests,
these filters use
gravity to pull the
dirty water through
a filter and into
the reservoir that
contains clean
water. To use this
purifier, all you
have to do is pour
unpurified water
into the dirty water
section, and wait
until all of the
water has run
through the filter.
Often, these filters
will have two
sections--one for
dirty water, and the
other for clean. These
filters are best
used at home or
at a campsite as
they are
generally pretty
large and would
be a pain to
tote around in
the wilderness.
METHOD FOUR:
BLEACH/WATER PURIFICATION METHOD
If using
Chlorine/Clorox, get and use a non scented and non soapy
version. Use five drops per gallon (or two drops per
liter/quart*). Mix and let set for at least five
minutes. The five drops per gallon ratio is the best and
proper mixing ratio. However, two drops in a liter or
quart sized bottle is overkill but much safer than
adding just one drop. When able, work with gallon or
larger volumes of water (try to avoid working with just
quart or liter volume sizes of water such as canteens or
refilled soda bottles) - Best to refill from a treated
gallon, or larger container.
METHOD FIVE:
CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE, POOL SHOCK
The use of
Calcium Hypochlorite, or Pool Shock, as alternative
to liquid bleach will be discussed in more detail in
another post.
There are two additional methods which require survival
and bushcraft skills. They will be dealt with in more
detail in other posts.
METHOD SIX:
SURVIVAL
WATER PURIFICATION
METHOD SEVEN:
MAKING A SOLAR STILL
Drink Up Preppers!
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