Create A Water Filter

Water is a scarce resource. Finding water suitable for drinking is even scarcer. The human body can last for 3 days without any water. There are a number of ways to obtain safe water. If we are creating a water filter we need to understand where to find water. If we can't find water then we need to develop other methods to create water.

Contaminated drinking water affects can be severe — causing illness or, in some cases, even death. Engineers design many chemical and filter systems to make water safe for drinking

Find Water First

Ideally you can find a freshwater source such as a stream, creek pond or lake. Less obvious locations could include a spring or underground source. If you are lucky you can collect rainwater. Now that you have found water is the water safe to drink?

Is The Water Safe?

Usually not, because there are are parasites, bacteria and other pathogens found in the water.

Bacteria

Bacteria, also called germs are organisms found everywhere. Including both inside and outside your body. There are both good and bad bacteria. A small amount of species cause disease.

Vibrio Cholarae. A person can get cholera by drinking water or eating contaminated food. Large epidemics are often related to fecal contamination of water supplies.

Parasite

A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host and gets its food at the expense of the host.

Giardia (above image) is a tiny parasite (germ) that causes the diarrheal disease giardiasis. Giardia is found on surfaces or in soil, food, or water that has been contaminated with feces (poop) from infected people or animals

Pathogen

A pathogen is an organism that causes or can cause a disease. They can be found anywhere and are often confused with bacteria and viruses (such as the flu). Bacteria and viruses are kinds of pathogens but there are other pathogens. For example, bacteria could be infected with a pathogen.

E coli (above image) is a a type of bacteria that normally lives in your intestines or the gits of animals. Most of us think of E coli when we get food poisoning

How To Make The Water Safe

Rain, snow, sleet, hail, ice, and dew can be collected for water provided it did not go through trees or vegetation. Water from springs and other underground sources can also be safe in most areas. Water coming from tapped trees like maple and birch can also be safe to drink. That is about it for possible safe water sources, which is not much. So let's look at ways to make water safe.

There are various ways to make the water safe. We are looking at creating a filter but it may not be the best way to purify water. You need to decide if you are going to create a filter or some other device.

Boil Water

In order to kill parasites, bacteria, and other pathogens in water, the most reliable thing to do is boil the water. Boiling will not evaporate all forms of chemical pollution

Five minutes of a rolling boil will kill most organisms, but ten minutes is safer.

Distillation

When the only water available is dangerous the safest solution is water distillation.

Distillation requires water to be heated into steam. The steam is captured to create relatively clean water. Distillation won’t remove all possible contaminants, like some oils and certain organic compounds,

Ultraviolet Light

Ultraviolet light is used as a disinfectant to kill small organisms

They are not 100-percent effective in water with large floating particles (which pathogens can hide behind or inside)

Solar Water Disinfection

The sun's energy is often used to disinfect plastic water bottles placed in the sun for at least one day. The sun's UV light kills or damages almost all bacteria.

Disinfection Tablets

Water treated with tablets can be ready in as little to 30 minutes to over 4 hours depending on the chemical i(iodine or bleach) n the tablet. The shelf life generally ranges from 1 to 2 years.

Iodine tablets have more side effects than chlorine tablets and should be carefully considered before taking

Household Chemicals

Bleach or iodine can be used to disinfect water. If the water temperature is cold or murky add more chemical 4 drops per quart vs. 2 drops per quart. After adding chemical and screwing the lid on shake the water container and let it sit for at least 30 minutes

Can't Find Water?

Collect Morning Dew. Walk through tall grass in the morning with cloth around your ankles. Wring out the cloth for water

Filtration

Now that we have discovered several ways to make water safe let's explore one more method. Filtering water. Water filtration. What is it?

Here are additional sources to learn about purifying water

- - 8 Different Methods To Purify Water
  - Create water filtration system from a plastic bottle

Water Filters

The two main types of water filters in use today are pump-action filters (a pump to force raw water through a filter cartridge) and drip/suction filters (use a gravity drip action or hydration bladder hoses). Charcoal is commonly found in may filters but is not the best material.

Create 3D Water Filter

- - Create water filtration system (3D printer)
    - Uses a drip filter

Make It Better

This 3D water filter project could be improved or you may come up with a new idea. Here are some things to think about:

Charcoal may not be the most effective material to use.
Build more than one layer of filtration into the 3D water filter
Natural herbs like the bright inner bark from the root of the Oregon grape (Mahonia Aquifolium) reduces microorganisms

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