Why Filter Water
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. You will still need a method of killing harmful bacteria and microbes but filtering 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.
This is not the only means to filter water in the wilderness. Without a bottle or a can you can consider this method in an emergency. You can place an item of clothing or cloth material directly over the container as a filter. You should be able to get rid of some particles with this method.
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. Layer the rocks and sand inside the cone. To hold it all together use a piece of string at the bottom of the cone. By thinking ahead and putting small rocks at the bottom you will be able to stop it from all falling apart.
Fine and coarse layers need to be alternated inside the filter. At the bottom of the cone, you will need to stop the sand from pouring through. This is pretty easy. 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. The water still needs to be purified. The filtered water will still probably contain bacteria that could make you sick. Purifying water is simple. Boil it over a fire for five minutes or use a water purification tablet.
Learning how to filter water in the wilderness is an essential outdoor survival skill. Keep yourself alive by making sure water is safe for consumption and staying hydrated until you can get the help you need. If you practice filtering water you will know that you can do it when you actually need it. It could really save your life.
This article has been written by the author, Jimmy. Should you require any moreLaser Teeth Whiteningplease visit his Best Teeth Whitening resources!
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