If it seems this editor has been writing about SHTF related topics a lot lately, he has. For reasons unknown to him, it seems that something major is imminent and he’d like you all to be as ready as you can be. Today we will take a deep-ish dive into water. (See what I did there. . . )
Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental necessity for life. However, in emergencies such as natural disasters, power outages, or contamination events, safe water supplies may be disrupted. In these situations, knowing how to obtain and purify water is crucial.
Finding Water
Obviously, surface water can be easy to find. Any body of water, be it a pond, lake, river, stream or creek can provide a water source. But there are other ways to find water and locations within your home that you can use.
Your water heater, provided you don’t have a tankless type, will have a valve at the bottom of the tank that you use to drain the tank. For most residential water heaters, a 20-50 gallon tank is typical. That source has the advantage of not needing to be treated. Swimming pools are also a good source of water. I personally would add some bleach to the water before I used it for cooking or drinking, but it shouldn’t require filtration.
If you’re bugging out, and need water while on the move look for cattails. They only grow in damp-to-wet locations and are always an indicator of water near the surface. You may need to dig a bit to expose the water but it will be there. Make sure you filter and purify any water you find this way. Depending on where you live, other plants and trees can be a locator for water. If you’re in the desert, look for cactuses. The trunks of cactus plants are filled with water. However, do not damage any cactus unless it is an actual emergency. Most of the larger cactus species in the US are federally protected and damaging one can land you in hot water.
Now that we’ve located a water source, let’s take a look at what it takes to make it safe to drink.
Filtration
Filtration is an important step in making safe water. Filtering water helps to remove particulate matter, dissolved inorganic compounds and to some extent heavy metals. If you don’t have a dedicated filtration system, like the ones I mentioned here, you can make one from some commonly available items.
Materials:
- A 2-liter plastic bottle
- A clean coffee filter or a piece of clean cloth
- Sand
- Gravel
- Activated charcoal (available at pet stores)
- A spoon
- A knife or scissors
- A clean container to collect the filtered water
Instructions:
- Cut the bottle in half.
- Create a filter funnel by placing the top half of the bottle upside down inside the bottom half.
- Layer the filter materials:
- Clean coffee filter or cloth
- Sand
- Activated charcoal
- Gravel
- Slowly pour dirty water into the filter funnel.
- Collect the filtered water in the clean container.
Once the filter is assembled, give it a test. The water should drip out slowly. If it comes out in a steady stream, you need to disassemble it and repack the filter material more tightly. I’d recommend using coffee filters over cloth or anything else. They are designed for the task, more or less, and do a decent job of removing finer particulate matter. Cotton balls in combination with cotton cloth is another effective choice.
While the materials list says activated charcoal, you can use regular charcoal, just not the compressed briquette type for your barbecue. It won’t be as effective, but will still adsorb a fair amount of the dissolved inorganic matter found in untreated water. There are several methods of making charcoal at home, the easiest is to build a bed of coals in a pit or fireplace and bury it in ash or dirt. Let it burn out and cool and dig it out. Wash the charcoal by soaking it in water for a couple of hours then you can grind it into slightly larger than sand grain sized pieces. Depending on how fine your charcoal is you may need to re-filter your first couple of containers of water. The charcoal dust floating in the water won’t hurt you, but is is unsightly and feels a bit gritty in the mouth.
I would highly recommend you give this method a try now, long before you actually need to.
Purification
Boiling: A Simple and Effective Method
Boiling is one of the simplest and most effective methods for purifying water in an emergency. It effectively kills harmful microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, rendering the water safe to drink.
Steps for Boiling Water:
- Filter cloudy water: If the water is cloudy or visibly contaminated, first filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter to remove debris and sediment.
- Bring water to a rapid boil: Transfer the filtered water to a pot or container and place it over a heat source. Bring the water to a rolling boil for at least one minute.
- Boil for longer at higher altitudes: If you are at an elevation above 6,500 feet (2,000 meters), extend the boiling time to three minutes to compensate for the reduced boiling point.
- Cool and store safely: After boiling, let the water cool naturally to room temperature. Once cooled, store the purified water in clean, airtight containers to prevent recontamination.
Make sure you do not cross-contaminate your clean water. If you’re using glass or metal containers to store your clean water, boil them for a few minutes. This ensures that the container is clean and free from contaminants.
Alternative Purification Methods
In situations where boiling is not possible, alternative methods can be used to purify water:
- Chlorine Bleach: Unscented chlorine bleach with a sodium hypochlorite concentration of 5.25% to 6% can be used to disinfect water. Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water and let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water odor does not resemble a swimming pool, add another 8 drops and wait 15 minutes.
- Iodine Tincture: Iodine tincture, a solution of iodine in alcohol, can be used to purify water. Add 5 drops of iodine tincture per gallon of water and let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water color does not turn slightly yellow, add 5 more drops and wait 15 minutes.
- Ultraviolet Filters: Portable ultraviolet filters can be used to purify water on an individual basis. These filters use ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms.
- Solar Stills: Solar stills utilize the sun’s heat to evaporate and condense water, leaving behind impurities. This method is most suitable for long-term emergencies.
- Water purification Tablets: Water purification tablets can kill most biological contaminants in water. However only certain types will protect against cryptosporidium. Look for tabs that contain chlorine dioxide as the active ingredient.
A couple of notes about the alternative methods above. It is important to let the chemically treated water stand for the recommended amount of time. This ensures all the nasty microscopic critters are dead. Some people have bad reactions to both of the chemical methods above. I’ve had iodine purified water in the past, and it gave me some gastrointestinal distress. I suspect it had something to do with the iodine affecting my gut bacteria. UV filters are probably the least desirable method of water purification during a SHTF situation as they need either line power or batteries. Cloudy or discolored water also reduces their effectiveness. Solar stills can be used as both a method of purification and as a source of water. The major drawback to the solar still is the length of time it takes to make/purify water.
Precautions and Considerations
- Avoid contaminated sources: Always avoid using water from potentially contaminated sources, such as floodwaters, stagnant ponds, or chemical spills.
- Store purified water properly: Once purified, store water in clean, airtight containers away from direct sunlight to prevent recontamination.
- Use purification methods correctly: Follow the instructions for each purification method carefully to ensure effective disinfection.
- Monitor water quality: If you have any doubts about the safety of water, refrain from using it until it has been properly purified.
Keep in mind, the methods and processes I have described here are secondary methods. I can’t stress enough the need for an actual purification system like those from Berkey and Alexapure.
Remember, access to clean drinking water is essential for survival. By understanding and using these purification methods, you can stay hydrated and healthy even in the face of emergencies.