6 Water Purification Methods You Can Use At Home
Water is life therefore without it; you will soon dehydrate yourself to death. Sometimes accessing pure water can be challenging but that doesn’t mean you have to stay thirsty. With the numerous water sources, you can never lack water regardless of how dirty it is. Your only solution is disinfecting the dirty water through water purification to make it safe for drinking. Among the methods you can use include:
1. Boiling
Boiling kills bacteria, germs and other harmful parasites in the water. Although it does not evaporate all chemical compounds polluting the water, it is the cheapest and safest method of water purification systems. 5 minutes of thorough boiling can destroy most pathogens but to add to safety, boil for at least 10 minutes.
2. Distillation
Getting rid of heavy metals can be difficult, and filtering is not enough. Distilling water involves heating it till it steams, then capturing the steam into a container where it cools to clean water. Distilling does not eliminate some contaminants such as volatile oils, but it gets rid of most heavy particles. You can make your distiller at home using a small diameter copper tube and a pressure canner.
3. Filters
Main types of filters available are suction filters and pump-action filters. Pump action filters use a pump to force dirty water through a cartridge. Suction filters are cartridges which utilize a gravity drip-action or a hydration bladder such that you suck water through the filter when you need it. Pump-action filters usually pump around a quart of water per minute. Drip action, on the other hand, is much slower.
4. Disinfecting Tablets
The most popular disinfecting tablets are Potable Aqua iodine tablets and Katadyn’s Micropur tablets. Though they are both useful, you may want to consider their lifespan depending on your circumstances. While Potable Aqua tablets last for one year, Katadyn’s Micropor tablets have a lifespan of two years at least. Iodine tablets have a flavor that does not hold well with pregnant women, picky children, those allergic to shellfish or suffer from thyroid problems. However, they are cheaper and work faster compared to Katadyn Micropur tablets.
5. Household Chemicals
Using iodine or bleach can disinfect water effectively although the quantity you use will depend on the quality and temperature of water. Dirty or cold water needs more disinfectant (four drops for every quart) than clear or warm or water (Two drops per quart). Add the required amount in the water and shake for a minute. Turn the container upside down to clean the lid then wipe the exterior to ensure it has chlorine on all surfaces. Place the container in a dark place for 30 minutes, and it should smell like chlorine when opened. If not, add two drops at most and allow it to sit for another half hour.
6. SODIS
SODIS uses solar to disinfect water. All you do is expose your plastic bottles filled with dirty water to the sun for at least a day. SODIS is cheap since the sun’s rays are free, and it does not expose you to dangerous chemicals. However; you can only use if the sun is shining otherwise cloudy days will be ineffective.
