Water is very important for life. This water filtration technique is very useful when you are surviving in the wild. Humans can survive for a week without eating, but only three days without drinking. Clean water is hard to find in the wild or during an emergency. If you find a supply of water, all impurities in the water should be removed so that you don't get sick after drinking it. This article will guide you to make a filter to clean water.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Making a Water Filter
Step 1. Gather the ingredients
The water filter will consist of several layers that clean dirty water. After filtering, this water still needs to be boiled before it can be drunk. Here are the materials needed:
- Plastic bottle with a lid
- Cutter knife
- Hammer and nails (optional)
- Coffee filter
- Large cup (optional)
- Activated charcoal
- Sand
- Gravel
- Containers for holding water (jars, glasses, cups, etc.)
Step 2. Use a cutter knife to cut the plastic bottle 2.54 cm from the bottom
Insert the knife into the plastic and do a back and forth motion like sawing slowly until all sides of the plastic bottle are broken.
- For children, ask an adult for help with this step.
- Add a handle so you can hang the bottle while filtering the water. Make two holes near the bottle cutout. The two holes must be opposite each other. Thread the thread or string through the two holes. Tie both ends of the string or string tightly.
Step 3. Use a hammer and nail to make a hole in the center of the bottle cap
This hole will help the water flow more slowly so that the filtering becomes more effective. If you don't have a hammer and nails, use a knife and make an X hole in the bottle cap.
Step 4. Place the coffee filter over the mouth of the bottle and attach the cap
The coffee filter will keep the charcoal out of the bottle. The bottle cap will hold the filter in place.
Step 5. Place the bottle, with the cap down, on the glass or cup
This way the bottle will hold firmly while it is filled with water. If you don't have a cup or glass, just place the bottle on the table and hold the plastic bottle tightly.
Step 6. Fill the bottom third of the bottle with activated charcoal
If the pieces are large, break them into small pieces. Put the large charcoal on top of the cloth and wrap. Then, beat with a hard object until the charcoal becomes small pieces. Charcoal pieces should not be bigger than peas.
Use gloves so that your hands are not dirty with charcoal
Step 7. Fill the center of the bottle with sand
Any type of sand can be used but don't use colored sand for crafts. The dye in the sand will dissolve with your water. Fill in the sand as thick as a layer of charcoal. The bottle should now be two-thirds full.
Two types of sand are good for use: fine-grained sand and coarse-grained sand. Put the fine sand first over the charcoal, then continue with the coarse sand. Thus the filtering layer is increased and the water will be cleaner
Step 8. Fill the rest of the bottle with gravel
Leave about 2.54 centimeters between the pebble and the rim of the bottle so that it remains empty. Thus the water will not spill if it is not absorbed quickly enough.
Two types of gravel are good to use: fine-grained gravel and thick gravel. Put the fine gravel first on top of the sand, followed by the thick gravel
Part 2 of 3: Using the Water Filter
Step 1. Provide a container to hold the filtered water
Make sure the container is clean and large enough to hold the filtered water.
Step 2. Holding the strainer over the container, the bottle cap should be pointing down
If your container has a wide surface, try positioning the filter so you don't have to hold it. If you're making a handle on a strainer bottle, hang it up and place a holding container under it.
Step 3. Pour the water into the filter bottle
Pour the water slowly so it doesn't spill. When the water reaches the rim of the bottle, stop pouring and allow the water to absorb first. When the gravel is not covered with water, please pour water again.
Step 4. Wait until the water flows into the reservoir
Usually the filtering process lasts for 7-10 minutes. The water will be cleaner as more layers are passed.
Step 5. Pour the water in the reservoir back into the filter bottle if it is not clean enough
Once the water has stopped dripping from the filter, remove the container from under it. Place the new container under the filter and pour the filtered water back into the filter. This process may need to be repeated two or three times until the water is completely clean.
Step 6. Boil the water for at least one minute before drinking
Filtered water may still contain bacteria, chemicals and microorganisms. All of these things can be removed by boiling the water for at least a minute.
If the area where you live is more than 1,000 meters above sea level, then the water needs to be boiled for at least 3 minutes
Step 7. Cool the water before drinking or storing in a clean, airtight container
Do not leave the water open for too long because new bacteria will enter it.
Part 3 of 3: Making Other Types of Filters
Step 1. Clean the cloudy water with a coffee filter
Take a round coffee filter and turn it over so that it can be placed on top of a container like a glass lid. Tie with a rubber band so that the filter does not move. Slowly pour the cloudy water over the coffee filter. After that, boil the filtered water before it can be drunk.
If you don't have a coffee filter, use paper towels or pieces of cotton cloth. Make sure the cloth or paper is large enough to fit in the mouth of the container. Use a colorless cloth or paper, as the dye will dissolve in water
Step 2. Make a sieve out of banana peels
The skin of the fruit can absorb bacteria. Peel off a banana and grind it in a blender. When it's ground, put it on a coffee filter and hold the filter over the glass, then pour the water over the banana peel grinder. The banana peel will kill bacteria and the coffee filter will clear up cloudy water.
Step 3. Make a xylem filter from a water bottle and pine sticks
Gum wood, such as pine, has xylem that is able to absorb and filter dirt and bacteria. Xylem is able to remove 99.9% of bacteria from water, but cannot filter viruses such as hepatitis and rotavirus. The water still has to be boiled before it can be drunk. Here's how to make a xylem filter:
- Cut the pine sticks about 10 centimeters long.
- Peel the skin, and adjust the size to the mouth of the bottle. If it's still too big, shrink it with sandpaper or a penknife.
- Insert a 2-inch (2.54 cm) rod into the neck of the bottle and let the rest remain outside.
- Cut the bottom of the bottle and then turn it over.
- Fill the bottle with water, and allow the water to be absorbed by the tree trunk.
- Do not let the tree trunk dry. If they are dry, the stems will not filter effectively.
Tips
- Purchase a water filter from a camping supplies or equipment store. This filter filters better than a homemade filter.
- If the boiled water tastes bland, add a pinch of salt. You can pour water back and forth between the two clean holding containers a few times at a time.
- It is better to have a sieve consisting of many layers of charcoal, sand and thin gravel than several thick layers.
- If you don't have a coffee filter, use a cotton cloth or stuffed pillow/doll.
Warning
- Filtered water is not safe to drink. Always boil water before use.
- Always boil filtered water before using it for brushing your teeth, cooking, drinking, and washing dishes.
