How To Purify Water In The Wild
When it comes to survival in the wild, water is arguably the most important element.
There are several different ways to purify water.
There are many situations in the field where you will be unable to access a source of clean water.
Whether it’s due to lack of time or tools, you may find yourself in a situation where you have to purify water using only what you carry with you.
In this case, here are some simple steps you can take to purify water when you are in the wild
Why Purify Water in The Wild
One of the major problems with water in the wild is that it contains many harmful microorganisms that cause all sorts of health problems when we drink it.
The presence of these microorganisms can cause diarrhea, vomiting, skin rashes, fever, and even death.
Obviously, when you’re out in the wilderness, there is no convenient water filtration system (like there is back at your desk) to protect you from getting sick.
Finding Water Source
First thing first and the obvious first step is to find a water source in the wild.
You should start by looking for a natural water source like a lake, river or even a pond.
The next thing you should do is look for an area with recent rainfall.
This will give you a good indication as to where there might be fresh water.
You should also look for an area that has vegetation.
Vegetation will usually indicate that there is some type of water source close-by.
Filtering Before Purify
If you want to purify it, you need to filter it out dirt and small rock first, then purify it by boiling or using chemical treatment.
Ways & Tools to Filter Water
Water bottle with filters
You can carry a water bottle with you conveniently, you can easily filter the water you drink. There are several brands of affordable, reliable water bottles with built-in filters on the market today.
DIY Filter with a water bottle
Another option is to use a water bottle and make your own DIY filter.
First, cut off the bottom of your water bottle. flip it down make the cap face on bottom, in the bottom layer fill in cloth or moss, then fill fine sand, charcoal, and in the top fill with pebbles, or gravel and coarse sand. (like the image below)
Image Source: Mike In The Woods
life straw
This is the ultimate survival tool. It protects you against bacteria, parasites, micro-plastics, dirt, sand and cloudy vision. It’s easy to use and requires low maintenance.
Millbank bags
A portable water filtration device made of tightly woven canvas used for outdoor purposes.
It’s made for easy use and it’s compact, so you can easily carry it in your gear bag or backpack.
It’s great for removing sediment and organic matter from water, but you may need to further treat the water before you drink it.
Purify the Water
After getting the water filtered, now move on to purify water to get rip of bacteria, virus and other impurities.
Boiling
When you boil water, you kill all the microorganisms in the water. At the same time, you evaporate all the water molecules, leaving behind only those that are solid.
The result is “drinking quality” water. In other words, boiling water is the best way to purify water in the wild. It’s cheap, easy to do, and effective.
Water Purification Tablets
These little small tiny thing are cheap and easy to use, unlike boiling
Simply dissolve one in a quart of water, wait 15 minutes or more, and then pour the solution through a strainer or filter.
Water purification tablets are not 100% effective but they are very good at killing the bacteria and viruses that make us sick.
UV light or UV Exposure (Sunlight)
It is extremely efficient at destroying bacteria and other microorganisms. In fact, it is so efficient that it can be used as an alternative to boiling water.
All you need is sunlight and some sort of filter to trap the ultraviolet rays.
The problem with this method is that it requires direct & strong sunlight.
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In conclusion, water is an important element in human survival. It is used for cleansing, flushing out toxins, and regulating body temperature. However, water contains a lot of impurities such as sediment, dirt, rust, chemicals, and bacteria in the wild.
So it is best to have a filtration system that will purify this water for you.
Hope this guide can help you survive in the wild.
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