Building A Water Filter

If you spend a lot of time in the wilderness your survival skills are extremely valuable in the event that you become lost or stranded. Finding water is a skill in itself but then you still need to make it safe for human consumption. Filtering water is an important skill to master. Filtering water is not the same as purifying water but nevertheless it is an important skill that could save your life.

When the best water available is muddy water, you will need a filter to clean the water. Filtering the water simply means removing all visible dirt and debris which will help make it safer for drinking. Take note that this does not kill harmful bacteria and microbes but it will often make the water taste better.

Firstly you will need some sort of container. A bottle will do the job admirably. Cut the bottom off of the bottle and use the top as a funnel. By stuffing some cloth material into the funnel you will be able to trap particles in the water. Using a can will work, too. With your knife punch a few holes into the bottom of the can which the water can run through. Catch the water in a seperate container by running it through the holes in the can.

Filtering water in the wilderness can be achieved several different ways. Without a bottle or a can you can consider this method in an emergency. Strain the water through a cloth or piece of clothing over a container. This may remove some particles.

Look and around and use what nature has supplied you. If you have rocks and sand, alternate these in layers to make a filter. The more layers you have, the better.

If you have no bottles or cans use some bark and twist it into a cone shape. Put alternating layers of rocks and sand inside the cone of bark. Put small rocks as the last layer in the bottom of the cone. This will help hold it all together when you tie the bottom of the cone with a piece of string.

Make sure you use both fine and coarse layers in the filter and alternate between each. You will need to stop the sand from pouring out of the bottom of the cone. This isn’t difficult. Use a non-poisonous grass, small pebbles or some cotton material.

When you have finished building your filter you now need to pour your collected water into it. Make sure you have your container ready to catch it when it comes out of the filter. Pass the filtered water through the filter again if it’s not clear on the first pass through. You might need to do it several times to get the water clear.

Even though you now have clear water there are still little nasties in there that need to be gotten rid of. Any water found in the wilderness will need purification. The water may contain tiny bacteria that can pass through the filter. To purify your water use a purification tablet or boil it for five minutes over a fire.

Knowing how to filter water is a vital outdoor survival skill. If you can keep yourself alive by staying hydrated you have a better chance of survival while you wait for help to arrive. Make sure you can filter water by practicing when you don’t need it. Dehydration is a killer when lost in the wilderness so this skill could easily be the difference between life and death.

This article has been written by the author, Jimmy James. Should you require any moreLaser Teeth Whiteningplease visit his Best Teeth Whitening resources!


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