WATER PURIFICATION 

During a survival situation clean, safe drinking water is very important for your survival. Without it you will fall victim to disease, sickness, dehydration then death. Everyone must store the proper purification products to survive. If this is not done, no matter how many guns and ammunition you have stored away, they will do you no good. Without clean water, you will not survive!

Selection of Water

When selecting water to purify, try to find clear non-foggy water. Remember, the clearer the water the better the results are from the water purification process. 

Sedimentation

The very first step in eliminating sediment from the water is to filter out the large dirt particles and leaves that may be in the water. To do this, the water should be poured through cheese cloth or a t-shirt. After doing this, the second step is to let the water sit for a couple of hours. This will allow the larger particles in the water to fall to the bottom of the container. The third step is to only take the top portion of water; this will be the clearest part of the water. Do this to all the water that you will purify with any system.

NOTE: Sedimentation is when particles in water settle at the bottom of a container.

Chemicals for Purification

Chemicals are great for water purification; however it will not remove anything from the water. Chemicals will only kill bacteria and then leave them floating in the water. Remember, what you kill with chemicals, you will drink! There are many different types of chemicals for water purification.

Military Water Purification tablets: These tablets are very easy to use. Just add two tablets to one quart of water. Replace cap loosely, wait 5 minutes, then shake well. Allow leakage for loose cap.Tighten cap, and wait an additional thirty minutes before using.

AQUACURE Water Purification Tablets: AQUACURE tablets kills giardia, bacteria and viruses. To use, add one tablet to one quart of water, if water is 41°F or (5°C) add two tablets to your water. Shake for 3 minutes to make sure tablets are completely dissolved. Set aside for 5 minutes and let stand. After it sits, shake for ten seconds and then pour water through a broadly woven cotton cloth (t-shirt material) letting water stand for 15 minutes more. The water is now safe to drink. If water is still murky, add an additional one-half tablet to your water and then repeat process.

NOTE: After this, do not add any more tablets.

SIERRA Water Purifier: This two part system to water purification is a new product on the market. It consists of a bottle of chlorine crystals and a bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide .30%. To use, add one teaspoon chlorine crystals to 1 gallon of water, stir water until crystals have fully dissolved. Let water stand for 20 minutes then add 6 drops of the hydrogen peroxide, stir and let stand for an additional 20 minutes. Water is now safe to drink.

NOTE: by using ¼ amount of crystals, and 2 drops of hydrogen peroxide, you can purify one quart of water.

ACCU Filter 5 (straw Filters): ACCU Filter 5 has a very good straw filter on the market. This filter eliminates infections, microorganisms, eliminates gargclian and most bacteria. ACCU Filter 5 will filter 40 gals or 160 quarts of clean safe drinking water. It is also very easy to use; just put the straw into the water source and suck as if you were drinking a soft drink.

Active Ingredients: Iodine 46%

Inert Ingredients: Resin 54%

NOTE: When straw becomes extremely difficult to draw water, discard it.

ACCU Filter (Canteen Insert): ACCU Filter's Canteen insert is very easy to use. Just fill polluted water into your canteen, place insert filter into the neck of the canteen and then drink. Canteen insert will filter 20 gallons or 80 quarts of clean safe drinking water.

NOTE: Writers insert: Cracked on the side after very little use, also to be noted that drinker will receive large amounts of charcoal into mouth while using insert.

Pump Filters

Timberline Filter: The Timberline filter is an ultra light water filter. This filter removes Giardia and all microorganisms of equal size and larger. This pump filters 1 quart of water in 1.5 minutes. Filter capacity will last up to 400 quarts of water depending on cleanliness of water. It must be noted that this filter will not filter out bacteria or farm chemicals out of the water and that is essential during any water purification process. For this reason alone, this filter is not a good choice for survival; they cost around $25.00 to $30.00 and replacement filters $10.00 to $15.00.

First Need: First Need-Micro filtration water system is a great filter for its price. This filter removes bacteria, giardia, pesticides, toxic chemicals, dirt, sediment and radioactive particles. It also removes the foul taste and odor of the water. Filter capacity is 100 gallons and the filter is easy to use and easy to maintain. The only negative aspect of this filter is that it lacks a long hose. A long hose would make it easier during the purification process; they cost around: $50.00 to $60.00 and replacement filter: $25.00 to $30.00.

PUR SCOUT Water Purifier: The PUR SCOUT is the only purifier that kills or removes all bacteria, viruses, protozoa, kills giardia and removes chemical pesticides in water. This is a 1.0 micron micro filter which is combined with a tri-rodlime resin matrix to provide pure, great tasting water. Filter capacity is around 300-500 gallons depending on cleanliness of water. PUR SCOUT is a low maintenance water filter because it is a self-cleaning filter. This filter is easy to use, maintain, and is an all around great filter; it costs around: $130.00 to $160.00 and replacement filters: $40.00 to $50.00.

MSR Waterworks: MSR Waterworks is a four part filter system. It removes Giardia, protozoa, bacteria, and many unwanted chemicals and filters to .1 microns. The negative aspect of this filter is that it has too many parts that can be lost in a survival situation. Not a good filter to purchase because it is very complicated; filter cost: $125.00 to $150.00, replacement filters: $20.00 to $30.00, replacement element: $25.00 to $30.00 and lots of other parts, too many to list.

KATADYN "water filter": The Katadyn water filter is one of many good water filters out on the market today. The filter itself can purify 50,000 liters of water. This filter can filter down to .2 microns to remove giardia, fungi, parasites, and all other contaminants of equal size or larger. The Katadyn is a mechanical ceramic micro filter that doesn't use any chemicals to filter the water. However, it must be noted that it is very fragile. If dropped, it will crack the filter element and it will have to be replaced. It will not filter any pesticides or farm chemicals out of your water and this is a must in the Midwest area where there is a lot of farming; the price is around: $240.00 to $280.00 and replacement filter: $130.00 to $140.00.

Places to get products

• The North Face, 999 Harrison St, Berkeley, CA 94710
• NI TRO-PAK, 13309 Rosecrans Ave., Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670-4940
• Brigade Quartermasters, 1025 Cobb International Blvd., Kennesaw, GA 30144-4300
• Camp Mor, Call for Catalogue 1-800-526-4784
• Katadyn Product's Ag., Wasserentkiemung, Birkenweg 4, Ch-8304, Wallisellen 01-839-2111 (telephone #)
• Accu Filter international Inc., Beaverton, OR 97005
• Coghlan's Ltd., Winnipeg, Canada R3T-4C7
• Emergency Essential's, 165 S. Mountain Way Dr., Orem, VT84058 1-800-999-1863
• U.S. Calvary 2855, Centennial Ave., Radcliff, KY 40160-9000 1-800-333-5102 9 am to 9pm est.
• Major Surplus & Survival, 435 W. Alondra, Gardena, CA (301) 324-8855 or 1-800-441-8855
• The Sportsman's Guide, 411 Farwell Ave. So., St. Paul, MN 55075-0239
• Katydyn USA Inc., 3020 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251 1-800-950-0808 or 1-602-990-3131
• First Need, General Ecomlogy Inc., 151 Sheree Bvd., Lionville, PA 19353 1-215-363-7900
• Timberline Filters Corp, P.O. Box 12007, Boulder, CO 80303 1-303-494-4104
• Cabela's, 812 13th Ave., Sidney, NE 69160

Authors Note:

This write up is not to be the last work on water purification devices; it is just a basic idea to what is on the market today. Everyone should study as much as possible on water because it is very important in everyday situations as well as in a survival situation.

-Philip Rock