Methods of water filtration - with a few tricks to drinkable water

The amount of water in a person can vary due to the aging process, but it can be said that an adult person is made up of about 70-80% water. This statistic not only makes you feel like a sponge or jellyfish soaked in water, it also reminds you that water is an essential part of our lives that is far too rarely appreciated in our part of the world.

The outdoor world has many facets. From short walks through the neighboring park to survival tours in the middle of deserted and isolated areas. The variety can hardly be put into words, but there is one thing that all leisure activities and creative possibilities have in common - we need water to survive ! Not every water source is of good quality, even if it seems harmless at first. WOLFGANGS shows you how you can effectively filter the cool and vital liquid in every situation.

Boiling the water

Boiling water that has been taken from an unknown and untrustworthy source is probably the simplest and oldest of the known methods. It is not without reason that this method is one of the better known, as there is enormous effectiveness in this approach. The heat generated means you can be sure that germs and harmful pathogens are also successfully killed.

Despite the fact that this method is very well known, newbies to outdoor activities in particular make many mistakes that should be avoided at all costs. Since the germs only die when the heat reaches around 100 degrees, it is important to take your time when boiling . In higher regions in particular, the water begins to boil much more quickly, so that you think that the 100-degree mark has already been reached. The fact that this impression was wrong usually manifests itself in stomach problems and upset stomachs.

Despite how easy it is to use, boiling water is not ideal. Since heavy metals and salts cannot be killed and therefore remain in the water, this method is not recommended in the long term. The boiling process also does not improve the smell and taste of poor-quality water sources . In an emergency, however, boiling guarantees you an important and beneficial bridging time. Just as emergency plant-based food can ensure your survival in an emergency, this approach can also make a major contribution to this.

DIY water filter

If you can fall back on a plastic bottle in an emergency situation, you have already taken an important step towards building a water filter . Just because a water source looks clear and fresh does not mean that it is of excellent quality. A homemade water filter can provide effective relief here. A large proportion of the dirt, as well as numerous pathogens, are kept away by using such a filter.

After removing the bottom of the bottle, it is best to drill two holes in the middle of the bottle so that it can be attached to a branch with the help of a string. Now the bottle is filled with the components that are responsible for the actual water filtering. Charcoal is very promising as a first layer, as harmful pathogens are sucked in quickly and efficiently. This should be followed by a layer of sand and gravel. This has proven to be extremely effective and can also be found everywhere in nature. All layers should be separated from one another with leaves so that they do not mix with one another. The filling ratio of the layers should also be equal.

If you now drill a hole in the screwed-on bottle cap, the water can flow into a collecting container of your choice after penetrating the various layers. If possible, you can then combine this extracted and filtered water with the boiling method for additional safety.

Water filtration through the power of the sun

Very few people think about the fact that the power of the sun's rays can also be a first-class water purification aid . Sunlight and thus the power of UV rays are able to make water in a plastic bottle cleaner over a longer period of time. Cleaner means that the water quality will not be as good as that of a bottle bought in the supermarket, but numerous bacteria will be successfully killed and it will be better to drink.

When implementing this method, you should never fill the bottle completely with the dirty water you have found. Around three quarters of the bottle is enough. One quarter should only contain air so that it can mix with the water later on. The bottle should now be exposed to sunlight and UV radiation for at least 6 hours to ensure a sufficient cleaning process . The oxygen plays into this process's hands and creates reacting radicals.

This approach can successfully eliminate cholera, diphtheria and typhoid pathogens. In an emergency, this type of filtering not only saves you from dying of thirst, but also keeps diseases at bay. It should also be noted that this type of filtering is only recommended in the short term. Long exposure to sunlight can cause chemicals to be released from the plastic bottles , which can also be detrimental to your health. In a survival scenario, however, this is of secondary importance.