Water Filters

[Kevin L]

Good and very cheap way to purify water when camping and/or hiking is to line a plastic funnel with a coffee filter, add granulated activated charcoal, pour untreated water through this funnel into a small metal teakettle, and then boil the water with a backpacking stove.
P.S. (added later after further thought): It's a myth that water needs to boil for 15 minutes before it's safe. As long as it's brought to rolling boil--however briefly--it's microbially safe. People say to add time with altitude, but there's controversy about this. Above 170° F supposedly kills almost everything. The activated charcoal is to remove chemical contaminants like nitrates, nitrites, pesticides, ammonia, urea, benzene, phosphates, and so forth.

Just note that boiling doesn't purify saltwater.

 

[Ranger72VH]

The sawyer mini I have was fairly inexpensive. Less than $20.00

 

[Brent S]

You can’t beat the berkey filters. Expensive but considering water is the single most important thing in life, well worth it.

 

[Kevin L]

I have a collection of different water filters and spare parts, and I take water issues very seriously.

Waterbourne disease kills millions and millions of people every year. Cholera, dysentary, hepatitis, giardia lamblia, and a whole laundry list of other protozoa, viruses, and bacteria can kill you . . . especially if your immune system is weakened because you're under stress and are not eating and sleeping regularly, which seem likely post SHTF.

I always love how many preppers stock up on tons of guns and ammo, yet put away only one or two water filters.

I've also stashed pool shock, which is a kind of concentrated chlorine powder that's great for disinfecting water. A pound might disinfect maybe as much as 2,000 gallons of water (depending upon the quality of the water you started out with), and a pound may be about $15.00 at Walmart.

 

[Gracieboo]

Thank you, I’ve researched how people used to purify water. I’ve got a folder with it written so I’m not dependant on my phone or computer. The chlorine ( I’ve put bleach would be useful short term if you’re desperate) People used activated charcoal (well most people 200 years ago drank beer and wine because the water was so foul) to make lye for soap, it’s a bit of a pain to make, so worth having some on hand, good for poison too. We have Given some to our dog when she ate half a chocolate cake. Read about how to get the salt out of water using solar and a filter in a book called ‘The Hoffman plague’ takes a lot of time though.

Can’t quote but refers to Berkeley filter. They’ve got great reviews, will look again at big filters when I’m ready to buy.

 

[Kevin L]

Thank you, I’ve researched how people used to purify water. I’ve got a folder with it written so I’m not dependant on my phone or computer. The chlorine ( I’ve put bleach would be useful short term if you’re desperate) People used activated charcoal (well most people 200 years ago drank beer and wine because the water was so foul) to make lye for soap, it’s a bit of a pain to make, so worth having some on hand, good for poison too. We have Given some to our dog when she ate half a chocolate cake. Read about how to get the salt out of water using solar and a filter in a book called ‘The Hoffman plague’ takes a lot of time though.

Can’t quote but refers to Berkeley filter. They’ve got great reviews, will look again at big filters when I’m ready to buy.

To make activated charcoal, burn bread until it's black ashes, and the black ash is activated charcoal. Just make sure that you grind it into a fine powder.

 

[Gracieboo]

I didn’t know that, great tip.

 

[Maudite]

Activated charcoal can be purchased at pet stores as it's used to filter aquarium tanks. It's the type of carbon we use to make period correct gun powder. As for filtering water we store in all cotton white socks doubled up as the carbon is quite fine...

 

[Morgan101]

Yeah you get quite a few refills with the mini. The only thing putting me off was a few people have said the bag breaks when they were out and about. Majority of reviews are good though.

It was my understanding that the filter would fit a standard size bottle with the same threads, so you wouldn't have to use the bag if you didn't want to. I would hate for you to buy one and find out I am wrong, but the cap from the bottle was interchangeable with other standard beverage bottles I have, and the caps from those beverage bottles fit the bag.

Are they available in a retail store where you can check?

 

[Petoski]

Yeah the sawyer mini fits a standard soda bottle thread. I don't carry the bag that comes with the sawyer because it looks like it will split easily and it doesn't pack nicely in my bug out bag. I just carry an extra soda bottle of water and use that to collect water while out and drink direct from the filter. The important thing to remember with the sawyer is to backwash it after it has processed dirty water clean it out and also if the water is very dirty you should remove sediment prior to filtering. Something like a bandana would remove the large particles. One other thing to remember is that the dirty water will most likely touch the outside of the bottle or bag when filling and you should be careful that it does't run down the side of the bottle and in to your mouth. There are plenty of videos on youtube that show it in use.

 

[Gracieboo]

I ordered the mini sawyer, most of the reviews are really good. There’s quite a few things on here I’ve liked the look of but can’t get over here or the shipping costs are extortionate. No worries on the sawyer as you say I can get different bags if need be.

 

[Brent S]

To make activated charcoal, burn bread until it's black ashes, and the black ash is activated charcoal. Just make sure that you grind it into a fine powder.

I think any charcoal has some benefits to filtering but I’ve read that true activated charcoal has to be treated with high heat and steam. I got a large bag on amazon for cheap. Mine was mainly for absorbing a possible poison or contaminated food that was ingested.

 

[Brent S]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...ted-charcoal&usg=AOvVaw3cRbS7QLWtR7HMyn06__m5Here is some good info on activated charcoal and its uses.

 

[Brent S]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...ted-charcoal&usg=AOvVaw1vMDMuP8IjGz__Ms6UhUZCAn even better article on activated charcoal and it’s medical uses. I’m sorry to say but burnt toast isn’t a good alternative.

 

[Gracieboo]

Darn it! Had burnt bread squared away for emergency activated charcoal.

 

[DrHenley]

Charcoal can be activated with calcium chloride, zinc chloride, lemon juice or citric acid.
Take 1 liter of water, dissolve 250 g calcium chloride or zinc chloride, or two teaspoons of citric acid, or 1/2 cup of pulp free lemon juice.

Add powdered charcoal until it is a slurry with a little excess liquid. Or if you have a smaller fixed amount of charcoal you want to activate, add the solution to the charcoal until it is a slurry with some excess liquid.

Let it sit overnight in a covered container.

Drain off excess liquid using a large basket coffee filter in a large strainer.

Rinse well with distilled water and drain three times.

Then you can either air dry or dry it in an oven.

 

[Kitkat1]

I’m looking for a water filter to take camping for under £50. We usually take water or there is water on site. I have life straws for emergency but don’t want to use them. We’re not going to a site this time but have a stream nearby. I want to have some idea of what using stream water, campfire cooking would be like with bare essentials. I’ve looked at some ceramic filters but they’re too expensive. Others don’t filter metals. Just wondered if anyone had tried and tested ideas?

Look at the Grayl I have two and they are amazing plus you can fill up multiple containers with filtered water as apposed to only one

 

[SawyerProducts]

Sawyer mini is my go to filter and is very good price
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sawyer-Mini-water-filter-system/dp/B00UJHLMJW

should be available for less in other stores in the UK

Thanks guys for supporting our brand. Just wanted to let you know that we are here to answer any technical questions you might have.

 

[Amish Heart]

We use the Big Berkey in our home for our drinking water.

 

[Oddcaliber]

I know a travel Berkey and a Katadyn. Can't be to careful.

 

[SawyerProducts]

Hard to beat a Sawyer.

Thanks guys for supporting our brand. Just wanted to let you know that we are here to answer any technical questions you might have.

 

[Dani]

Berkey actually makes one of the best water filters.

https://www.norredlaw.com/blog/2023...ed that,country, and preventing their export.