How To Filter Water In The Wilderness
Article Source: HealthSnare.com
Survival skills are vitally important if you spend a lot of time in the wilderness and risk becoming lost or stranded. Finding water is a valuable skill but so too is knowing how to make that water safe for you to drink. 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.
If all you can find is muddy water you will need to create a filter which will clean it of all the sediment and debris. To filter water means that all visible debris and particles are removed making it safer to drink. Take note that this does not kill harmful bacteria and microbes but it will often make the water taste better.
To begin filtering water you will need to have container to keep it in. Any decent survival kit will have a bottle in it so use that. By cutting the bottom of the bottle off you will be able to use the top as a makeshift funnel. To trap small debris and particles put some cloth material into the funnel. A can is not as effective as a bottle but it will do the job. For the water to be able to run through you will need to punch a few holes into the bottom of the can with your pocket knife. Then it's just a matter of letting the water fall through the holes trapping anything else inside the can.
There are several methods to filter water in the wilderness. If you don't have a bottle or a can here is another option for you to consider during an emergency. Strain the water through a cloth or piece of clothing over a container. This should remove the majority of the 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. Using more layers will create a better filter.
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. 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 your filter is finished start pouring your collected water into it. As the water starts coming out of the filter collect it in your container. Pass the filtered water through the filter again if it's not clear on the first pass through. Keep doing this until you have some clear water.
Even though you now have clear water there are still little nastiest 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. Purifying water is simple. Boil it over a fire for five minutes or use a water purification tablet.
Knowing how to filter water is a vital 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. 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.
About the Author
Article Submitted By:
Eric James
Html View
Total views: 7
Word Count: 636
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2010 Time: 2:50 AM
Publish/Share this article
To use this article on your site click here to get the HTML code |Remember: The article body, title, author bio and links may not be changed or removed. By publishing this article, you agree to all the terms in our Terms of Service.
Rating: Not yet rated
