Water is the essential basis for life. People can live up to a week or more without food, but they can only live 2 or 3 days without water. Drinking water can be difficult to find if you run aground on a deserted beach or if there is an emergency. If you need to stock up on water, you need to be able to filter out any impurities that can make you sick. This article will tell you how to make a water filter.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Create a Multilevel Filter
Step 1. Get at least 2 water containers
One should be used for holding unfiltered water and the other for filtered water ONLY. If you have more than two containers, one can be converted to a filter.
Step 2. Pierce the bottom of the container which acts as a filter
The holes should pass the filtered water, but not the materials to be filtered.
Step 3. Find filter materials
These can vary in a survival situation, but good materials for the purpose include small rocks or gravel, coal, sand, grass, or cotton clothing.
It may also be helpful to put coffee filters or cotton balls in this contraption
Step 4. Crush the pieces of charcoal on your bonfire with a tool or stone until it is reduced to very small pieces
Step 5. Layer your materials to sift through different particles
You need to arrange the layers to filter out the larger pieces first, then the smaller ones.
An example of a properly layered filter involves gravel or stones first, followed by layers of sand and charcoal, and finally cotton or coffee filters to capture the smallest particles
Step 6. Pour the unfiltered water into the makeshift filter and drain the water into the other container
It is advisable to pour the water into the filter container more than once.
Method 2 of 3: One Layer Filter
Step 1. Get several containers or bottles
One will act as a filter and the other as a collector.
Step 2. Make a hole in the bottle cap that acts as a filter
If there is no cap, make several holes in the bottom of the container.
Step 3. Place a piece of cotton or a coffee filter over these holes to hold the filter material
Step 4. Put sand or crushed charcoal into the filter until it is half full
Put another piece of cotton or a coffee filter on top of this layer so that it remains stable and is not moved by the water.
Step 5. Slowly pour the water into the bottle that acts as a filter holding it over the container that acts as a collector
Slowly drain the water and repeat if necessary.
Method 3 of 3: The Last Resource Filter
Step 1. Hang a piece of clothing or a bandana by tying it to sticks
If there are no sticks, simply hold the material with your hands.
Step 2. Place a container under the material and pour water through it
If absolutely necessary, you can drain the water directly into your mouth.
Advice
- There are commercially available water filters available at many stores for campers. These filters can usually filter out more bacteria and microorganisms than a makeshift filter.
- Boil the water 2 or 3 times before drinking to kill bacteria and parasites.
