Quick Ways to Purify Water on the Go
Wondering how you will survive if you don’t have clean water to keep you hydrated? Well, there are some quick ways to purify water that you can opt for. These techniques are proven and tested so that you don’t have to worry about contaminants and pathogens in the water and enjoy your adventurous journey far from home. Read more to learn how you can survive in challenging situations.
What Type of Water Needs Purification?
Well, the simplest answer is that all water requires purification. Rainwater is the purest source of drinking water because it undergoes the natural purification process like evaporation. If you collect this water from a clean surface or gather it directly in a container, then you can drink it directly without running it through any purification process. Unfortunately, collecting rainwater is not possible for everyone in an emergency situation.
Tap water is the purest and safest way to get water. But of course, you will not have tap water when you’re stuck somewhere far from home. Learning ways to purify water will help you clean water quickly when needed and keep yourself hydrated to survive in challenging situations. These methods are also helpful when camping or hiking.
Ways to Purify Water
Here are some quick ways to purify water that can protect you from getting sick.
Boiling
The safest and easiest quick ways to purify water is to boil it. This is a classic, as this option is easily available to everyone with a pot-like material to boil. For survival, you’ll have to burn wood and branches for a fire. If you don’t want to get sick, you need to kill all bacteria in the water. For this, make sure to keep boiling the water for at least five minutes. Also, you need to increase the boiling time by one minute for every 1000 feet above sea level. In the boiling process, the chemicals in the water are eliminated as water vapor.
While boiling water is the proven way to clean water, some materials like solids, minerals, and metals will remain in the water. For this, you need to allow the water to settle before drinking. You can drink the purified water at the top and dispose of the water at the bottom of the pot.
The Sun
If you are out in the forest, this is the best surviving technique. Sunlight is an ideal way to clean water if it does not have lots of sediment. Relying on the greatest source of energy, i.e., the sun doesn’t require that you carry lots of equipment and gadgets to clean out the water. You only need a container to fill water- clear glass containers are the best as you can easily see the water inside them. If you want, you can also go opt for PET bottles that make the process easier for you. But make sure to avoid PVC bottles for this process, as PVC itself is harmful to human health.
So, fill the container and leave it under the sun for at least six hours. During this time, the scorching heat and solar radiation will kill pathogens like bacteria and viruses that can lead to water-borne illnesses. Well, you guessed right, it’s a kind of boiling process. The only difference is that, when boiling, you provide the heat source from under the container, but in this method, you rely on a natural heat source that heats up the water from above.
Distillation
You can also opt for the distillation process. Salt, lead, heavy metals, radiation, and other contaminants can reduce water quality after a natural disaster. Therefore, you can drink water from wells and other natural sources for survival. When there is no other option but to drink unfiltered water, the simplest method to safely drink water is to distill it. Keep in mind that distillation doesn’t clean all sorts of contaminants, such as certain organic compounds and volatile oils. However, you can get rid of many heavy metals.
If you want to remove all pathogens and metals from your water, you can make your own steam distiller. For this, you will need a pressure canner and copper tubing. You can use sunlight as the heat source. Place a square of plastic over a few feet in a deep hole, and place a container in the bottom. Collect the dirt around the edge of your plastic material at the rim of the hole. This way, the plastic will not move during the process. Now, put a rock right in the center of the plastic- this will make a cone-like shape. Wait for a few hours, and you will notice that water starts collecting in your container. A pro tip: create this distillation setup in the dampest sand and dirt and in a sunny location. This way, you will collect more water in little time, and it will be clean enough to drink as well.
Survival Straws
If you love to go on adventures like hiking along a trail or simply going into the forest to discover new animals or plants, survival straws are the best option. You should carry this gadget every time you go far from home. It’s one of the lightest and smallest water disinfecting tools that are available on the market as an alternative to filters.
With time, these straw filters are upgrading and becoming easier to use. You can connect new models of the drinking straw with the drain valve attached to the water heater. This will help you clean up the water after a disaster contaminates your home’s water supply.
Generally, these straw water filters contain a carbon filter. This not only helps you get rid of pathogens and bacteria but also provides you with water free from odor and flavors. So, if there is any risk of contaminants in the water you drink during an emergency, you can use the straw.
Household Chemicals
This is also a quick ways to purify water. If you have iodine or bleach, you can successfully disinfect your water. Note that the number of chemicals you will use varies by temperature and water quality. Murky or cold water requires more disinfectant solutions than clear or warm water. Generally speaking, you can use four drops per quart for cold water and two drops per quart for warm water. Once you add the chemical, close the lid on the water bottle and shake it for a few minutes. Now, unscrew the lid, but only turn it one or two times, then turn the water container upside down.
You will notice that water will start to flow out of your container. This will clean the container’s cap and threads. Screw your bottle back tightly and spread the water on the exterior of the bottle to cover the surface with chlorine. Once done, keep the bottle in a dark place or under the shade for 30 minutes if the water is at room temperature and clear.
When you open the bottle, you will notice the smell of chlorine. But if not, add a drop or two of chlorine to the water again, and place it in the dark for another 30 minutes. It’s important to follow all the steps and avoid taking shortcuts if you want to avoid infections.
Drops or Tablets
Again, if you have a hobby of roaming around in places far from houses, then always keep drops and tablets with you. Using drops and tablets is a common quick ways to purify water when you’re in a survival situation. You can find several disinfecting or purification tablets and drops in the market. Choose a credible and reliable one with good reviews from users.
Some common chemicals are available as drops or tablets:
- iodine
- chlorine dioxide
- sodium dichloride isocyanate
- tetraglycine hydroperiodide
Each product has different usage instructions. To use them, check the steps on the packaging and follow them carefully.
Bottom Line
So, if you ever find yourself in a situation where getting clean water is a challenge, you can opt for any of the above-mentioned ways. Looking for more survival tips? Check Survival Hacks to learn easy and effective ways to get food and water when you are away from home, how to communicate with your family in an emergency, and several other things.
This post is sponsored by Medical Gear Outfitters
Sources
https://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/purify-water-naturally/
https://www.outdoorlife.com/survival-skills-ways-to-purify-water/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-filter-water
https://airportparkingreservations.com/blog/purify-water-on-the-go
https://urbansurvivalsite.com/fastest-ways-to-purify-water/
