Try This Weirdly Wonderful Water Purification Trick
When Samuel L. Jackson asks, “What’s in your wallet?” I usually think to myself, “Not enough.”
I’d like to be able to ask Mr. Jackson a slightly different question: “What’s in your water?” Actually, I could ask a bunch of people that question, including myself.
Up until a few years ago, very few people were asking the water question. Yeah, we all knew that water got contaminated sometimes, usually in connection with some kind of crisis. But most of us felt pretty safe drinking our tap water.
And then it started.
- News from Michigan and Ohio that lead in their water was going to give kids serious problems as they aged.
- News from the West and Midwest that high levels of uranium were being found in drinking water.
- News from Colorado that the EPA had dumped iron, zinc and copper into the Animas River in Colorado.
- News from the East Coast that perfluorooctanoic acid was being discovered in drinking water.
The list goes on. Then it dawned on us. If all these places across the country are having contamination issues with their water, we probably are too. We just don’t know it yet.
If you are a serious DIY guy or gal, take a look at this trick for purifying water. If not, make sure to check out the final paragraph of this blog post for a much easier and dependable way to purify water.
You know the sun can power your home and electrical devices, but did you know it can purify water? Here’s how:
- Use clean, clear, plastic PET bottles or soda pop bottles no larger than 2 liters each. PET bottles are usually marked with the recycling symbol and a number “1”. Remove all wrapping and packaging.
- Fill them with water and close the caps tightly.
- Lay them out for maximum sun exposure. A rack tilted at the sun is best, but if not, use a flat surface that gets good sunshine but won’t allow the bottles to roll away.
- Expose the bottles for at least six sunny hours, preferably more, or two full cloudy days.
- Do not overuse bottles because over time you will start ingesting plastic material. Keep your bottles fresh.
- Do not treat too much water at once. The depth of the water is key as the UV rays from the sun kill bacteria. Do not use buckets, and keep the water depth that is perpendicular to the sun a maximum of four inches.
If you’re like me, you’re probably storing bottled water anyway. Now you can reuse the bottles when that water runs out and purify untreated water as you need it. The best practice is to refill bottles as soon as they’re empty and let them bake in the sun for as long as possible.
The longer you “cook” water in sunlight, the less bacteria there will be. Water does not have to be boiled in order to kill 99-plus percent of the microorganisms. Heating water to 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit will have the same effect.
OK… commercial time. While the above method is effective for some contaminants, it is a bit time consuming. If you want to check out a water purification system that is easy and reliable – and which kills 99.99 percent of contaminants including heavy metals, arsenic, pharmaceuticals, E. coli and polio – then click here.
The Ultimate In Water Purification? Scientists have discovered a new device that purifies the nastiest, filthiest, bacteria-riddled and parasite infested water without chemicals or even moving parts. Video >>
Thanks for sharing this informative and useful information. I am so glad I stopped by.
I have worked in construction for over 30 years. There is no telling how much green algea I have consumed from water cooler. It has never made me sick. That would be the least of my concerns.
If you only have muddy or cloudy water available, you can ‘filter’ it without special tools. You will still have to boil it or do something to kill the germs afterwards.
You put the dirty water in one container.
You have an empty container.
Place the dirty one higher than the empty one.
Take some cloth (muslin is good, or and old t-shirt).
Cut into strips.
Twist the strips.
Place one end in the dirty water.
Place the other end in the empty container.
The water will wick from the dirty to the empty and be filtered by the cloth. Takes a while. But, in an emergency, it will do a good job.
There are so many ways to filter water, in an emergency.
Around here, I drive people nuts, as I try to educate them, about being prepared and knowledgeable.
Maybe I am doing something wrong, but whenever I have left bottles of water out in the sun, I have ended up with green-tinted water, due to a healthy growth of algae. I don’t know about the bacteria count other than I have never gotten sick from drinking it.
Thanks for your details and explanations..I want more information from your side..I Am working in Bluestar Water Dispenser In Chennai.
To make your water safe, add around 1/8 teaspoon of the bleach to a gallon of water and let the bleach do its thing for no less than 30 minutes. Similarly, mix 5-10 drops of iodine (specifically 2% tincture of iodine) for every liter of water and wait for a minimum of 30 minutes. For more info, visit https://ringhotwater.com.au/
What about adding a drop of therapeutic grade lemon essential oil
Re: BPA leaching into the water – that’s why PET is much better than other plastic types. Still, you should rotate the plastic bottles.
Somebody asked about the 4″ thickness business. That’s why you need to lay the 2 L bottles on their sides.
This method is proving to be incredibly beneficial for third – world countries.
The best true water purifier/distiller is the survival still at survivalstill.com it will purify even salt water.
Worst advise ever. Water bottles exposed to sunlight grow bacteria. Ask any Doctor that’s treated sick people who bought bottled water that was over exposed to sunlight.
when a bottle of Bleach is empty leave a few drops in it 7 fill with water, the bleach purifies the water & makes it drinkable RD
No….it’s not the worst ever advice. Pay attention and try and understand the depth of the method. Totally uncalled for comment.
If you lay the plastic bottles in the sun for hours, wouldn’t the chemicals from the plastic leach into the water? Maybe it’s a case of best of the worst – chemicals or bacteria.
If you go to this image you can see that reuse of 2, 4 & 5 coded plastic does not leech into liquids https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCPnFk56e-scCFQePgAodLRwLHw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.back2tap.com%2Fresources%2Fget-the-facts%2Freusable-bottle-options%2F&psig=AFQjCNE9nA3iDsT4Ia6-CnMIbIO43pzKUg&ust=1442446791925941
If u believe that info…I have a nice piece swampland to sell u….
Do you have an opinion on using UV LED lights to kill bacteria? The UV LED lights are cheap and easy to assemble.
UV light is only germicidal in certain wavelengths – You’ll need UVC bulbs. UVC is the most damaging to your eyes, so be sure you’ve taken that into account. Right bulb, right protection, not trying to do too big of a jar…yep works just fine.
Looked around on the net and could find UVA and UVB in LED. Looks like a few manufacturers are looking at UVC, but I could not find any for sale in the 280 – 100 nm wavelength. I found a site that sell a ready built device using LEDs, but no LEDs for DYI. Thanks for all your help.
Question: Will ” Life Straw” clean brackish or salt water into drinkable water?
No. Salt is dissolved in water, meaning the particles are far smaller than the bacteria and viruses that LifeStraw is intended to filter. The purpose of the LifeStraw is to make natural water sources (such as lakes, rivers, creeks, and ponds) safe to drink.
thanks for sharing us your knowledge. we really need to have a good water purification system now that millions of people are dying from different diseases they acquired from drinking unfiltered water
Water is essential for health, hygiene and the productivity of our community. water treatment process may vary on the water condition that you have in your area. its better to invest on a good water treatment. it will benefit you by providing safety to you and your family.
Boiling it is all you have to do.
Will this work – water converterd salt water pools,
Question, can swimming pool water be treated to be drinkable? If so, what system would be best.
Swimming pools are pretty viable water sources. Some treatment chemicals have cyanide in them, so you’ll want to avoid those if you’re planning for your pools to be a backup water source. Anyone with a pool knows that the chlorine dissipates pretty quickly. Once that’s gone, you’re left with a standing body of water, subject to algae and bacterial growth. Treat it as you would any other body of standing water.
your response is really a great source of information. I wouldn’t consider my pool water as back up water source. thanks a lot
Thanks for all of this information Frank. Even if someone disagrees or has a preferred method of ANY survival or preparedness idea, at least you provide us with constant and consistant reminders that we do all need to be prepared for any type of emergency.
My concern is with carcinogens using non bpa free plastic bottles where water is heated. While on one hand you are benefiting with the destruction of bacteria, you are not safe guarding yourself from the cancer free radicals that come from water and beverages heated in plastic bottles. At least use the bpa free plastic bottles.
Wouldn’t it be better to use glass bottles? Glass intensifies the heat, and plastic leaches BPH?
I mean’t BPA!
I believe that glass blocks most of the UV light, so the UV would not get in and kill the bacteria. BUT if you are just depending on the heat, then that makes sense.
So maybe if you are in sunny/hot Florida you might want to use glass and just go for the heat. But if in the north and/or it is cold (and you won’t be hitting the high temps) use the plastic and go for the UV exposure…???
you’ve apparently forgotten some of us live in apartments and don’t have a place to put our bottles in a rack to sit in the sun. Only 4″ deep in a 2 liter bottle? Explain, I don’t understand. oh and how long is water good if it’s inside the house at say less than 80 degrees? Is there a shelf life for bottled water? And how long before a bottle should no longer be used for storage and we get the effects of the plastics? haven’t seen any time limit on that so I’d like to know before I start using a lot of them. Thanks
Thanks for the information. But- – – –
we have well water containing minerals. Due to the many orchardists around here a sample is tested each year before harvest; however, now there is talk about
some chemical getting into a neighbor’s well water. The summary is that our problem is sprayed chemicals being washed into the ground by irrigation and picked up by the tree roots as well as the absorption of chemicals by the fruit skin. EPA report shows that over
50 % of chemical spray is absorbed by the fruit skin.
Cherries, apples, and pears are grown in the area.
All pesticides should be outlawed! Yes they leach into the fruit, vegetables, etc! I know i am probably going to catch some flak for this, but i would rather live in, and eat produce free from chemicals!
And, GMO is another thing!
@Ross Allen….. Agreed. Pesticides = death.
Ross,
It is evident you know nothing of what you speak. Yes, I agree with you… I would rather eat “clean” food that has never been sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc. as would most anyone. But unless you have firsthand tried to battle bugs intent on destroying your crops (as have I) or tried unsuccessfully to keep weeds from overgrowing your fields (as some neighbor farmers have) don’t make such a broad statement. I could say “all antibiotics should be banned” because overuse of them has contributed to”super bugs” and after all, who wants to eat antibiotics in their chicken, pork, beef, etc.? But I bet you’re one of the first ones to run to the doctor for antibiotics when you get a sinus, ear, or throat infection.
Yes, I agree we have become too dependent on chemical “weapons” to battle bugs, pests, weeds in our crops. As also technology. One neighbor farmer had to stop planting prior to a storm a few days ago, due to the fact that the clouds obscured the GPS signal to his auto-steer tractor, and he couldn’t plant without it. (Me, I just use old fashioned row markers on my planter,) While some see the new technology as a huge benefit for farming, I can see where it could become a huge problem….Our neighbors chicken farms are all fully automated with computers controlling everything from the temperature, humidity, food, etc. Huge mega-farms couldn’t function without their computer-guided tractors and combines, fertilizer trucks and sprayers, automated grain storage facilities, (I could go on and on.) What is going to happen to these farms, and subsequently to our once-abundant food supply, when something disrupts the power grid or satellite signals on which they have become increasingly dependent? Yes, I am concerned about chemicals being overused, but being a farmer, I see firsthand what farmers are up against. But just as easily as we have become far too reliant on “Got a pest? We’ve got a chemical for that!”, I see looming on the horizon an ever-increasing dependence on technology, which will create far more problems than eating an apple that has been sprayed with a fungicide. Which is better? To have abundant food, although it may have been sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. or to have no food at all? Unless we go back to every family in the U.S. growing their own food, like it was in the pre WWI era, farms will not be able to supply the demand for food without using chemicals. And while I’m on my soapbox, the U.S. has the strictest guidelines about chemical usage on crops. For example, it is unlawful to spray a crop with a chemical not labeled for that particular crop, or to spray at higher than the recommended rate. U.S. farmers are required to keep records of what chemical was sprayed, when it was sprayed, where it was sprayed, what crop it was sprayed on, and the application rate. Why then do we constantly import food from other countries where there is no regulation about what may be sprayed on any crop? You have no idea what chemicals have been used on that food, or if the rate used was double what it should have been, etc. I have rambled on for far too long; but Ross, my advice for you would be this: Grow your own food, where you can absolutely be sure there are no pesticide residues. But be aware there will be other critters who will want to munch on your lettuce, tomatoes, salad greens, etc. Be prepared to deal with them in whatever fashion you see fit. Can’t grow your own food, you say? Then don’t criticize those of us who are trying to feed you. You have no idea what farmers go through in trying to furnish the food that magically appears on your table.
People were able to grow vegetable and fruit etc.,
long before pesticides were invented. We still can if we discover the apparent lost art. Sometimes antibiotics are needed in an emergency when there is not time for natural substances to take effect. But when there is time natural means is better. We just need to discover what those substances are.
Wow – you sound as if you live up the road from me! Central/Eastern WA, with miles of apple, pear, cherry orchards surrounding me on all 4 sides :-) My next-door neighbor also tested positive for the nasties. (But I still prefer this to town!) I love the fact that I have a lot of calcium in my well water, but the herbicides & pesticides- not so much. I “bit the bullet” and purchased the AlexaPur water filtration thingie a few months ago & enjoy it, and my water still tastes delicious. I continue to save & fill with water all my emptied-but-for-a-few-drops bleach bottles to keep an emergency supply of water for when the power goes out (a regular thing , esp. in the winter). Out here in the country, when the power’s out, EVERYTHING is out – no heat, no water, no toilet, etc, not just the “inconvenience” of no boob tube – but you know that, right? Glad the orchardists give away their tree trimmings for fires :-)
Wow – you sound as if you live up the road from me! Central/Eastern WA, with miles of apple, pear, cherry orchards surrounding me on all 4 sides :-) My next-door neighbor also tested positive for the nasties. (But I still prefer this to town!) I love the fact that I have a lot of calcium in my well water, but the herbicides & pesticides- not so much. I “bit the bullet” and purchased the AlexaPure water filtration thingie a few months ago & enjoy it, and my water still tastes delicious. I continue to save & fill with water all my emptied-but-for-a-few-drops bleach bottles to keep an emergency supply of water for when the power goes out (a regular thing , esp. in the winter). Out here in the country, when the power’s out, EVERYTHING is out – no heat, no water, no toilet, etc, not just the “inconvenience” of no boob tube – but you know that, right? Glad the orchardists give away their tree trimmings for fires :-)
Water purification trick
Been saving empty 1/2 gal milk bottles(plastic). Wondering if OK to store, sugar, flour, cornmeal, and the like? Conversations interesting!
How long are you thinking of storing these products? A week or so? Because I sure wouldn’t want to eat anything out of a milk jug if it was stored any longer than 10 days at the most!!!! Think about it??!!! If you are wanting to store anything that will be eaten, do it right! Use food grade buckets and the Gamma lids that fit them, AND before storing food in these buckets, it would be wise to vacuum seal the items in food grade plastic and store it by the cup [8 ounces]. The lids and buckets are found at CheaperThanDirt.com and you can probably find the vacuum sealer locally, along with a good supply of the tubed plastic that the sealers use. AGAIN, use your head to store food, not your wallet, as you’ll be glad you did when you find all your stored food with mold and what-not all over it if you try and use milk jugs!!!
RickWennihan The problem with used plastic bottles is 3 ford. 1.) The plastic bottle had been opened, the seal broken. This means you can not have an airtight seal. Without an airtight seal the items that you have mentioned would be exposed to the air, humidity, and possible insects, and rodents. (I’ve seen ants get into seal packages that I would have bet that they couldn’t get into just to get some sugar.)
2.) The plastic bottle itself is made of a very thin plastic. This means that it can be punctured easily by any sharp object or animal. (I’ve had rats bite into my plastic milk container just to get a drink of water.) The plastic bottle can also be warped by heat, stress, and/or outside pressure. (I use to carry a water bottle in the trunk of my car for those emergencies, the heat evaporated the water to the extent that the waster jug started to collapse on itself. In one instance, a sharp corner was made and produced a hole and the water just leaked out.)
3.) Storage. Over time you will end up with a multiple amount of half gallon or gallon milk jugs. The sear weight will crush those underneath them either spilling or spoiling your stores. (The solution to this problem is to purchase storage blocks. They cost about $20.00 each and you can store your grains inside them and they stack nicely. You can also get a 5 gallon bucket with an airtight seal. they too can be stacked but they are very large and noticeable. Once opened, the bucket must be emptied or you may face spoilage. I use the mason jar method. I use what I need and there is another jar to take it’s place. The draw back to mason jars is the convenience or transporting them. You can carry only so many. I’m sure that there are other methods that can also be used, but, I think you get the point. Best of luck, Rick.
Fantastic work survival is the way :http://youtube.com/rodiles1147
Green bottles,brown bottles and clear bottles stoed in cool and dark spaces and hidden is best when full of water,then when needed sun it as above then use. :) and Active yeast from beer making might be helpful?? Thank yall. :) In Freedom, Carolina J. :)
Dude , you guys Rock!
Why not use glass bottles/jars and eliminate the BPA stuff?
If you look at the full information, you’ll see that glass refracts and is too thick (in many cases) for the process to work. There are, likely, glass jars that *would* work, but if I’m passing out information to save your life in an emergency situation, I’m going to prioritize removing bacteria over long-term-BPA buildup.
I do not understand this about glass bottles. The sun rays come through our car windows and heats up the inside of our car but it will not heat up a mason bottle full of water turned on its side? Isn’t car glass thicker than a glass mason jar? Help me understand.
Glass filters out most ultra-violet light, which is what kills the bacteria, rather than the heat or visible light.
Why and how is this world so crazy, anyway? There are too many power-crazed maniacs. What is power? Is it the ability to maintain the presence of Solitude I enjoy? What is life anyway, except reminiscing, and about what? Anything I’d like, of course. Ha, ha, ha.
What about toxins leaking from the plastics into the water? We are told not to use plastic, e.g. microwaves, leaving bottles in the sun etc. for that reason.
If y’all re read the article, he does say to rotate the plastic bottles so as to Not have a leaching effect. Using the bottles 4-7 times is acceptable. Just keep looking and saving them bottles….but not use them too many times….as stated.
Lifestraw makes something called “Lifestraw Family 1.0 Water Filter”. You can buy it on Amazon for less than $90, and it will filter 4755 gallons of water. Cheap protection for your family.
Thanks for the information on purification of water. Hope I won’t ever need it, but is good to have, just in case. I really appreciate all your emails. Keep up the good work on trying to inform citizens.
I can only say thank you for all your great advice and instruction. A lot of people will have a much better chance of survival.
Awesome Thank you very much.
WAY COOL, I ALSO HAVE THE WATER STRAWS!!!
Very interesting and cost effective solutions for safe drinking water.
Awesome…Thanks, Frank.
Recently I saw a video where this method was being introduced to third world countries as a full-time water supply and as a way to generate drinking water after a disaster.
You suggest using 2L plastic bottles for this process of water purification. Why would not glass half gallons be approperiate? If I have green bottles will that affect the purification process?
Mary
If you’ll read the full pamphlet you’ll see that glass is not recommended as some thicknesses block out too much sunlight.
I have worked on commercial uv sterilizers in remote outposts…. Uv has trouble passing through glass and over time the glass will ” etch ” and become UV resistant … If glass is to be used it has to be quartz crystal and over long periods of time even this will need replaced
Thank you for the insight, William.
Green is used to block sunlight it may be better to keep purified water. Green and brown are normally used to preserve vitamins in the storage.
Good trick!! I wonder if it kills parasites and cyst and not just bacteria? I would still filter ,If able) to remove the dead bacteriabut the dead bacteria could be benificial in making you immune to some contaminants. Kinda liker a vaccine. Just a thouht.
I wouldn’t count on any waterborne bacteria being beneficial to health. There is much research that goes into vaccines, and if we go into a time of crisis such as is being described by some, I wouldn’t want to risk it. Besides, how would a person filter out the “live” bugs and leave the dead ones?
Yep…they did some figuring during the black plaque, and fed the babies scabs from the sores….they survived.
I have read several Posts and my question or inquiry is are we not talking about short term survival?
The least expensive long term (8 months 15 gallons a day) water purifier I found was at http://www.monolithic.com under products tab. Less than $40.00 total ups 3 day delivery. Everyone should have at least one…
thanks for the website the rest of it looks interesting also.
I bought that filter several years ago, and it is the only affordable solution I have found to remove most of the heavy mineral content from my well water to make it palatable. Monolithic is a distributor, and you can find out more about the filters from the company that makes them at http://www.justwater.me/
The filters need to be cleaned periodically, but will last for a very long time.
Well, I’ll be dipped! Great idea!
It does not. Lime or calcium hydroxide are effective absorbers of fluoride, though.
What are you talking about?
i want to know about the fluoride absorbers…
Would this water pureification method remove FLUORIDE from tap water?
BONEHEADED – Plastics contain Dioxin; heating OR freezing food, not just water leaches it into the food. The tinfoil we’ve used for well over fifty years is partially plastic, which is why it is easily shaped. If you eat a steady diet of processed microwaved foods, you’re accelerating the intake of this toxin:
Toxicity of Dioxin
Dioxin is a known human carcinogen. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the general population exposure to dioxin may cause a lifetime cancer risk that is 1,000 times higher than the EPA’s “acceptable” risk level. Other health problems associated with dioxin exposure include birth defects, learning disabilities, endometriosis, infertility, suppressed immune function, reduced IQ and hyperactive behavior in children.
Easy way water purification technique really worked for me..thanks for sharing such a natural process purification process.
Thank you so much for the wonderful tip.
The treatment and purification of drinking water is essential. Drinking impure water can cause so many diseases. Thanks for sharing the information regarding water purification through natural means.
SODIS is a good emergency water purification method. Read the manual. Reading the other responses prompted me to make the following comments.
UV-A is filtered out by normal glass so glass bottles does not allow the UV-A part of the system to work.
The normal 2 ltr plastic beverage bottles are transparent to light from the UV part of the solar spectrum.
I know of one water district that has filled plastic water bottles with water for emergency supplies and tested for contamination from the plastic. No evidence of contamination after 2 years of storage upon repeated testing.
The procedure provided above does not include only filling the bottle 3/4 full of water to start and then shaking it vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Best to just count to at least 30 before then filling the bottle to the top. This oxygenates the water which is an important part of the process. Oxygen is toxic to micro organisms and helps to sterilize the water.
Heating is improved if the bottles are laid flat on dark surfaces that capture solar heat.
You need to filter the water or let sediment settle prior to filling the bottles to reduce turbidity. You need to be able to basically see through the width of the bottle for effective 2-3 hour sterilization in strong sunlight.
This is a cheap and fairly effective emergency water purification system destroying pathogens. But it does not reduce toxins.
Regarding life straws…military experience has shown that they can become contaminated without the user knowing and can cause diarrheal disease which can be a killer.
Be safe. Don’t be afraid of the use of the plastic bottles for this system. Glass will not work.
Not a good idea- but if this is the only option at the time, yea- it will work. I just do not like the idea of releasing the toxins from the bottle into my water! I would use glass, like old milk bottles…
Thanks for reminding me !! My gray matter is often just to worn out to remember !!
Does this work with glass bottles?
Years ago, folks used to use the sun to make lemonade .. don’t know the specifics, but I’d bet if I Googled “Sun Lemonade” ( or something like that ) I might find it.
Why not glass bottles, thin but wide, with metal caps?
Seems to me plastic is a poor place for this action.
Larry
Their is a in expensive water filtration system being used in third world countries; capable of providing drinkable water form mud puddles etc. The life span is decades. The company also makes a unit for use in the US; contact http://www..watersavers.org for details cost around $80.00.
Where do we get theLifestraw personal water filter?
Why not use glass bottles, to avoid chemicals from the plastic?
At the hospital where I worked, we kept water and saline in the warmers for surgery. The fluids were in the manufacturer’s plastic bottles. Our regulatory data said we could keep them in the warmer up to 14 days at no more than 110ºF. After that if not used we had to pour them out. According to the data the toxins would rise unacceptably after 14 days if continued to be heated. I don’t have any data about storing the fluids afterwards at cooler temps.
How about ION (a stabilized oxygen product) for water purification – this will even kill giardia. I have been told it is safe for humans. Please give us a comment on this.
Thank you for all your work in helping people to be prepared for a crisis or other serious events. I appreciate your information and knowledge.
Can we use clear glass bottles to purify water, instead of plastic bottles?
Pat
In response to Sylvie the Canadian.
You are partially correct, but it is the shortsighted public and politicians who are the main culprits. Major industries in my home town (Ohio) were asked to clean up their sewage in the late 1950’s… and they did, building efficient treatment facilities that met the criteria.
But the city ‘leaders’ also collected taxes to treat toilet waste and then did a typical foul-up. First they picked a second rate sewage treatment design. Building the piping to the new plants took over five years because they picked a local (nepotism) company that was too small to do the job right. The budget overran and construction of the plant itself was delayed another five years and had to be re-funded (more taxes). The total cost ended up being more than a guaranteed first rate system would have cost from a first rate contractor.
When finished, the resulting facility was outdated and over capacity before it was completed. The river still smelled horrible and the public, like you, in typical fashion blamed the industries…. rather than the goons they had elected to lead them. Al they had to do to discover this truth was to stand near the two effluent pipes.
When required by law, corporations will comply or go out of business. However, politicians and a stupid public are always ‘above’ the law.
When working with high power UV lasers we used plastic goggles. Plastics usually don’t transmit shorter than 400 nm UV light. Plastics release toxic stuff. Fused silica would transmit UV and it is inert, but of course more expensive.
what would be wrong in using a glass container and leaving space for the water to expand would the water get to hot and break the glass? thanks for the info..
Good info.
Is it possible for me to get a printed report . I’ll more than glad to pay for the report .
Wafic – you can download the official manual for free here: MANUAL
Frank,
The process you’ve described will work to kill bacteria because of the UV rays. The heat is inconsequential. However, this process will not kill Giardia. These little guys live in very hard
capsules so the best way to get rid of them is to filter them out. You can destroy them with high heat for 30 minutes or more but you might not get them all. Chemicals can kill them too but who wants chemicals in the water supply?
Why are you saying that the chinese are our #1 treat to our water supplies. I think we were the one at first who did crazy things as it is still doing it in your own countries presently.
If sometimes our drinkable waters is no good to drink … it is because of big companies who put their filty garbadge pesticides, lubricating oil, paint, cleaning liquids etc, farms too with some animal stuff… back in rivers and the municipalites that are using bad treatment water purification and bad sanitary sewer, and most of it bad sanitary sewage disposal.
Stop accusing others of the problems we did make at first. I’m a french canadian, sorry if my english is not as good as you.
We are most of the times doing our own health problems by being not clean enough, not having the right knowledges or using the right tools. We are using badly tools and knowledges most of the time.
It seems to me that humans can’t just learn how to make a better life properly, and does repeat the same mistakes always. Sorry if my comment is rude and not too kind towards all humans…not only the usa americans.
Presently on earth, everythings is so mixed up that peoples are doing the craziest things thinking sometimes it will help the human condition and situation and finally it just makes it worst.
Have a good day to everyone who can read english !!!
****YES! You CAN use glass. But not ALL glass, and you may have to leave it out longer. I have updated the article link to one that fully talks about hows and limitations of different bottle types. Check it out for details****
Will this water purification method remove FLUORIDE from the water?
can this be done with glass bottles. and thereby not contributing to the land fillls. how about using the plastic bottes and transfer the water to glass. works for me. but how long is this good for? in glass that is? thanks.
Hi All!
I suspect that it is not so much the heat from the sun that is important as the ultraviolet rays that do the bacteria and viruses in. Ask any body in the medical field and they will tell you that most of the more nasty stuf does not die until at or near the boiling point of water. the way shown does not get anywhere near those temps!
The reason that glass doesn’t work as well is that many types of glass actually absorbs the ultraviolet instead of passing it into the inside. Glass can be used for much higher temps than plastic if you are disinfecting via heat instead of just exposing the water to the suns rays.
Ultraviolet rays will also break down the plastic bottles internal chemical bonds, allowing those toxins to leach into the (contained) water more ond more rapidly.
I agree, however, if the choice is deadly bacteria or very tiny amounts of plastic toxin, my choice is the plastic!
Please note that I do reuse my water bottles, untill they start to break down and become unuseable.
The straw is also a very good idea.
love the life straw idea
Frank,
Curious why you don’t mention an alternative receptacle for this bacterial killing action? Such as: glass Kerr / Ball canning jars for this procedure. They would be cleanable and reusable indefinitely with replacement of lids on an occasional basis. Canning is or should be part of any survival mode / practice, so these jars should be considered safe, practical and held in reserve for the practice. I currently bottle ‘filtered’ tap water each day, which I carry in a cooler of ice everywhere I go. No one can resist the taste of this water when I bring along plenty for others! I bottle between zero and 24 pint glass jars (depending on the time of year) which are kept in a special refrigerator in my home, so I am ensured of excellent drinking water always and know I am not leaving a trail of plastic where ever I go. This water is squeezed through ceramic tubes purchased for the purpose and something I have done for 20 years. If I need to remove additional toxins I am able to purchase different filters based on what I find in the water supply. I plan to capture rain water for the purpose in the future and use filtration to build my own in house water supply for drinking and bathing with a system for recirculation and reuse already on the market. Toilets will be compost method. Ok, I see now others have commented about glass below, but feel this is an important issue and should be developed further. :) Enjoy your research so keep up the good work! We don’t have to be paranoid to be prepared; but we need to be aware and PREPARED! Smile
Great post, Kent! We have NEVER purchased a single plastic bottle of water! We use all GLASS bottles. I just don’t understand those PARENTS who leave a grocery store with one basket full of food and another FULL OF BOTTLED WATER! Wonder why/how they don’t know plastic is leaching toxins into that water?
Millions of people here in Africa are dying as a result of water related sicknesses. We need such safe drinking water. This is Richard in Kenya Africa. We need to know more [email protected]
Pastor Wasike, click the link I’ve pasted into the article. It has the full instructions on this method.
GLASS REFLECTS SUNLIGHT AND PREVENT THE UV AV RAYS THAT HELP PURIFY THE WATER. PLASTIC DOES NOT REFLECT THE HEAT AND LETS IN ALL THE UV AV RAYS FROM THE SUN.
You can store water in bleach bottles, rise them out good then fill with water. The bleach in the plastic will keep the water good fore long time i have had some stored for over a year and the water is still good in them, and in a disaster the bleach bottles do not break. I store mine in a cool place .
So when water no longer comes out of the tap where does one get it from besides rain? Everyone will also be looking?
Mine will come from the pond on my property, though without treatment I wouldn’t trust it at all — too many years of having too many ducks & geese on a small pond.
I always have about 5 gallons of bleach on hand, but it breaks down quickly so I’m going to start stockpiling granular HTH (nearly unlimited shelf life) and collecting plastic bottles for SODIS. If you’re not familiar with these methods, you should do some serious Google research — and not just an article or two, read LOTS & consider the sources.
Unfortunately my well is 300′ deep, so when electricity fails it’s impractical to raise H20 that far by hand — though I will probably rig up a long piece of PVC on a nylon rope as a “tall thin bucket” just in case it becomes necessary.
I won’t mind if a few neighbors want to take water from the pond, though since my deck is only 90 feet away I can control access if I want. Another reason to stockpile lots & lots of ammo in various calibers (including hi-power .22 air rifles, often disregarded). The one thing I probably won’t tolerate is anyone taking fish from the pond or shooting the deer that come there every morning. That’s MY food source.
Thanks,
I will buy some of the lifestraw personal water Filters.
Terry
This is my third try to get this comment out to you. Internet isn’t working well today.
The plastic bottle purification sure fits the bill for emergency water in life or death situation. But, I would have to clean the water a bit more maybe with a sand filter to get the big stuff cleaned a bit more. I really like this emergency solution.
Frank, have you seen the Lifesaver Jerrycan units? They run about $450 US, but a family of five can have enough water to even shower, use for toilet, do every domestic activity you do at home now. They have the Lifesaver Bottle, a unit for individuals and it’s only $150 US. These units will even clean sewage water to drinking water standards, with one pass filtering.
Sure a bit much for my pocketbook, but if we still had kidds at home it would be a blessing.
You may also heat stones if you are camping. If you have a mettle container and a camp fire. Heat stones,quite hot and then drop them into the water.
Just be careful of where you get the stones. Ones from a creekbed, especially those that are fairly round & smooth, can sometimes “explode” when subjected to sudden heat. Usually just loud noise, but I’ve heard that occasionally people have been injured.
I got this from some old stonemasons that had built chimneys back in Texas in the 1920s. Apparently it has something to do with water trapped inside some porous grades of rock, or so they told me.
Thanks for the Information about water making it drink able.
Yes glass can be used, when I learned about this in the boy scouts, plastic bottles did not exist.
Thank you for all your advice. I have collected glass bottles over the years and prefer to store my supplies in them rather than in plastic due to the gases that discharge from plastic. Wouldn’t glass bottles holding water put out in the sun work better than plastic bottles? And, yes, I know that plastic bottles are more available to the general public so presume that is the reason you suggested plastic bottles — but I still would like to know if glass wouldn’t be better.
Thank you again, Carena
HI Frank,
Can glass bottles be used?
thanks for all your generous research!
Those that research this sort of thing have indicated that glass is not effective.
Good idea, the water bottles purified by the sun! What I want to talk about is your seed-vault, though. You say it is good for anywhere in America. But I wonder how much use it would be in Brazil, where I livel, actually in the Southern part of it. Will any of your seeds grow here? And any of the ones among the 10 most important ones? Depending on your answers to these questions, I might decide that I want them, too! Just for your information, your summer is our winter, and your winter is our summer, since we are in the Southern hemisphere! And there may be other differences, too!
THANKS for ALL your INFO. is VERY APPRECIATED THANKYOU , I LOVE ALL the LEARNING is MUCH APPRECIATED!! THANK YOU MUCH!! RON
All I have heard about drinking water from plastic bottles left in the sun or a hot car says not to drink it because toxins from the recycled plastic bottles makes it dangerous. Is that not true?
Many people have commented about the dangers of warm plastic leaching into the water. And it’s true – long term, it is not the best choice. In a survival situation, however, if my choices are to drink bacteria infested water or drink mildly toxic water, I’m going to treat my water before I drink it. That will offer me a chance to not suffer immediate illness and dehydration.
Great idea for ultimate simplicity in bare essentials water recycling.
My thoughts are though if you had it available would be to use glass bottles so you have no plastic contamination.
Better yet if you are stationary set up a solar still, so you remove all bacteria and other contaminants by distilling the water.
good trick thanks for the info.
Update (2009): A new European study raises concerns about the safety of disposable water bottles, which have heretofore (see discussion below) been regarded as safe by the FDA and other government health agencies. Researchers in Germany found evidence of a man-made estrogen-like compound leaching into water packaged in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.
Such chemicals, known as “endocrine disruptors,” have the potential to interfere with estrogen and other reproductive hormones in the human body.
Please note that the authors of the study say more research is required to determine whether, or to what degree, this poses an actual health risk to humans.
It sounds like the bottles should be filled only half full.
I dearly love all the helpful hints you pass on thanks so much…
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU USED 250 GALLONS OF WATER..
NEED A GAGE ?????? MAY WANT A COLOR TEST /???
LETS TALK
HAVE FUN
TONY DIROMA
HI AGAIN. – QUESTION WAS AT WHAT TEMP DOES THES PLASTIC TOXINS GET INTO THE WATER. I HAVE A SIMPLE EXPERIMENT TO HELP GENERAT THE DATA THAT IS NEEDED.
1 – GET TEN BOTTLES FILLED WITH WATER AND HEAT EACH ONE AT A DIFFERENT TEMPERATURE. 70, 80, 90, 100 AND ETC. TAKE THE WATER TO A SCHOOL CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT AND HAVE THEM TEST THE WATER USING A MASS SPECT. RUN A SAMPLE THROUGH THE MASS SPEC THAT HAS THE PLASTIC TOXIN. THIS IS YOU CONTROL. SEE HOW MANY SAMPLES SHOW THIS COMPONENT AND AT WHAT TEMPERATURE IT WAS GENERATED. SECOND TEST WOULD BE TEMP VERUS TIME.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE DETAILS EMAIL ME
HAVE A NICE DAY
REGARDS
TONY DIROMA
HI – THIS LIFE STRAW WOULD BE A GREAT TOOL FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL. WHEN OUT IN THE FIELDS OR IN COMBAT. MAY WANT TO DESIGN A SMALLER APPARATUS FOR THIS FUNCTION. COULD BE BUILT INTO A BELT TYPE DESIGN. THEY COULD USE IT FOR TWO DIFFERENT THINGS – DRINK CLEAN WATER AND HOLD UP THERE PANTS.
IF YOU WANT MORE IDEAS I HAVE PLENTY OF THEM. i AM AN INVENTOR WHO WOULD LIKE TO RENT OUT NEW IDEAS. LET ME KNOW WHAT YUO ARE TRYING NEXT AND MAYBE I COULD HELP YOU MAKE IT BETTER.
YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY AND KEEP THE BRAIN WAVES GOING
REGARDS
TONY DIROMA
Where do you think they got them from, The military. LOL!
Has anyone tried to find out at what temp the bottle has to be heated to to release the toxins or how long it takes??
DOES FREEZING WATER KILL GERMS AND PURIFY THE WATER IN PLASTIC BOTTLES AND DOES IT BRING OUT TYHE HARMFULL SIDE EFFECTS?
It is my understanding that a lot if not all of our plastic drinking bottles give off Dioxin when heated, thats why they tell you not to drink water from bottles left in your car. Dioxin is a byproduct of Agent Orange, and you can see how that turned out for thousands of people. Please correct me if I miss stated anything.
Best Regards
Hi
Where could I get the Lifestraw Personal Water Filtere?
Use glass bottles or jars, they do not break down or have other chemicals that can leach into the water. Unfortunately this method will only kill bacteria, not remove other contaminates. Better than iodine or other tablets, but a filter is still needed if you want other chemicals out of your water.
That’s great and all, but the problem is this: when you heat plastic bottles, a chemical is released into the water called dioxin, which is a carcinogen (cancer causing agent). So sure, maybe you will kill the bacteria, but you also contaminate the water with dioxin. I would not recommend this method of water purification for that reason.
PET volatile plasticizers in these bottles is a concern over the long run, Most likely, activated charcoal may combine with it, and remove it from the water. I am not a chemist, and I do not know for sure- yet, it seems logical to me that there are compounds that combine with those nasty organic plasticizers that could be used to eliminate it entirely from drinking water. I’ll bet that there is some chemist out there reading this now that could conjure up a solution and advise.
Recently, I viewed an individuals water filtering invention on TED Talks. http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_pritchard_invents_a_water_filter.html This is a very complete discussion that ends up in a very well researched product. Well worth viewing. Good useable information here.
Still, I like this “Emergence” sun generated water idea- if you do not have a hi-tech product like this.
A drop of chlorine dioxide will kill any parasites, bacteria, and viruses in that bottle of water. Google MMS online .
Sun is ok, but I still think that there are things in there the sun can’t eliminate. Double a cheese cloth, spread coconut charcoal powder (from coconut charcoal mashed up) mixed with a bit of water to make the distribution easier, cover with a second cheese cloth. I would probably use 3 layers of the charcoal before finishing with a clean layer of cheese cloth. Just pour the water trough there and let the charcoal filter out the particles. May not be a Brita but I’m sure it would do the trick
I’m not too sure about plastics but it sounds like a good idea.
I too am not very convinced about using plastic bottles. There are some inexpensive purification systems out there, but don’t know if they’re wholly reliable or dependable. But Frank, this topic is really important and has got us all consciously motivated. Thanks!
I totally disagree with this! Leaving water in plastic bottles in the sun is dangerous. Almost all plastic bottles on the market are impregnated with BPA, and when you heat it, like with sunlight, the BPA’s leach into the water. I realize in a true survival situation, that wont make much of a difference, but otherwise, you should never do this.
Glass bottles would be better with plastic you are making your water toxic with bpa’s you really should avoid drinking out of plastics
Actually, Aaron, not all glass bottles effectively transfer the sun’s rays for disinfection.
I’d also read about this, laying the bottles in the grooves of a piece of corrugated metal. Concentrates the sun a little more, and I believe they had said a minimum of 6 hours exposure to the sun would be best.
thanks.it’s looking like we’re gonna need all this info more sooner than late.
good points on the water FRANK
Distill the water if possible…use a Fresnel lens and set up a distillation apparatus consisting of a dark glass bottle, copper tubing and a collection bottle….keep it simple….and use a Fresnel lens developed for solar use…not a cheap “reading glass” type….I have one that is 49″ on a stand…I purchased mine through Green Power Science…..distillation will remove most contaminants but not herbicides/pesticides…that will require special activated charcoal filters…such as a homemade “bucket” filter…….or other filter that removes chemicals….
I have looked at several sites about water storage and all I have learned is three months is all you should store it. None have said anything about purifying like they all advertise. What up?
I thought you can’t have water in PLASTIC bottles in the sun because it has something toxic that can cause cancer in a person! Would glass be safer?
Frank, PLEASE stop using the word “weird”. So many words in the English language…. get creative, and try something else. Thanks
I have been using the sun to filter my drinking water. I recommend this process, as it is cost
effective and takes little time.
On the glass bottle question:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_water_disinfection
In short, it appears that not all glass bottles offer the same disinfecting abilities.
I heard about this method a few months ago from a medical doctor working periodically in Africa. It IS a method that is used there. Of course, the sun is more effective on those Latitudes, but it works. I never had any time info for more temperate latitudes.
Would glass bottles work?
Why not use the simple sand filters like those that Rotary International and other NGO groups set up for communities in third world countries? Here is a link to biosand filters that explains the process http://www.biosandfilter.org/biosandfilter/index.php/item/229
Some years ago during a devastating flood in the area. There was water stored up outside in the sun and we were told that that water could not be used for drinking. We had to get rid of all that water. Can you explain this.
Living in the Philippines… well water used for washing clothes and dishes/showers… Is this method effective in killing enough bacteria to make it potable water? I would rather use “glass capped bottles versus palstic bottles. How am I doing and plan to bake for at least 3-4 days in the sunlight. Now.. while I read of others notes posted below… I am curious as to why there are “other folks”… responding… BUT not from you office regarding “bottles versus plastic bottles”. I do request a reply from your sources and whether GALSS is better than palstic. I know I have been in the deserts of the Middle East during my deployments and plastic bottled water was the only thing we had to rely on. I have had manuy toxins which had to be removed from my body system. Thank you in advance for the hopeful response.
thank you very much for this. it is definitely a HELPER. i appreciate your dedication to the cause of PFP.
I have been told that you are NOT to drink any water that has been exposed to the sun because of the toxins in plastics. What’s with the information about using the sun to purify water in this article?? Which is true, which is false??
I enjoyed reading your information. What makes me wonder is why you did not mention clear Glass Containers? Pickle Jars or such in different sizes? Could Colored glass be used?
I have read comments from learned individuals here who suggest that you are safe from UV radiation if you are behind glass, such as window glass in your home, or the glass in your automobile. Perhaps these folks don’t get out much. I don’t drive white-color automobiles as the sun reflecting off the white hood and traveling through the windshield will definitely give me a sunburn. Perhaps I am super-sensitive to the rays? I don’t think so. I think there’s enough UV that penetrates the glass to cause harm. I know many who have gotten burned when in direct sunlight filtering through glass.
Thanks for the tips on drinking water and more!…I just want to know, does the smell of stagnant water, say from a lake or wherever transfer into any of the filtering systems.
Why not using glass bottles.. Glass wont expell chemicals as plast does?
Given the fact that we have been hit with drought in parts of this country where we thought there would never be a lack of rain, conserving and reusing gray water is an important consideration for everyone, no matter where we live.
there was an article about this method in national geographic some time ago, they make water from mud puddles and rivers with ecoli and decaying carcases safe to drink and sell the water to whoever has a few pennies.
survivalists can never know too much.
John F.
Sounds like a great idea. Some of the most simple things work the best.
Thanks for sharing. Cecil Shelley
I’m storing a lot of water, glad to know how to make sure it’s ok to drink. Thanks for your information
Whats the significance of plastic PET bottles? Are glass bottles as effective (clean vise replace and no plastic leaching into teh water over time)
Glass filters out UV rays. That’s why a simple pane of common clear glass will keep you from getting sunburn.
My concern with this process is the amount of chemicals from plastic you would be consuming as heating the plastic releases more of this, even with the so called ‘safe’ recycle numbers.That’s why you don’t want to leave bottled water in hot garages or in your car or sitting in tents in the desert like our soldiers have to. Wouldn’t it be easier to treat the water with ionic or collidal silver once you have done a preliminary filter with carbon? Our ancestors knew that throwing a silver coin in the water barrel was a very effective antibacterial.
Victoria, As sunlight passes through glass it changes the wave length of the light waves so it is no longer UV but infrared which is heat. That would heat the water but not purify it.
Appreciate all your information.
In Bangladesh and Africa cotton material that has been washed many times (an old sari is perfect) is folded around 8 times and used to filter water to filter our Cholera Bacteria, Pathogens & Copeods, It’s reported to be very effective in times of flooding.
why not use glass water bottles? I do not like the plastic infiltration.
I like this very much. If I store water in a 5 gallon plastice jug, how long will it last if stored in a cool plase? How much water can I store also in small bottles? If you can please reply. Thank you for your time in this matter. Duane
I saw this same information about water the other day on “Independence USA” that is a program on theblaze TV. TheBlaze is both on the internet and on dish ch 212. Its great that this information is getting out. You just might have just saved some lives. Your article gave more helpful information than they did. Thanks.
HI, I AM SO SHOCKED ABOUT SO MANY SURVIVAL FACTORS THAT I JUST HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT.. I KNOW OUR WATER, FOOD AND AIR IS SO POLUTED THAT WE ARE SLOWLY BEEN KILLED. WOW! I, AM SO GLAD I STUMBLED ACROSS YOU FOLKS! GOD BLESS YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING . I AM NOW AN AVID BELIVER IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND SHARING WITH US THAT CARE TO FARE MORE FOR OURSELVES. THANK YOU SO MUCH..
Have had concerns about water storage in plastic bottles. We use Arizona tea bottles and renew
them anually. This water is for emergency use. I find that straw very interesting.
to karie j.,i get your concern about plastics,however stainless steel is highly reflective,you might try a s.s.pressure cooker in a solar oven(to boil),im pretty sure it would be faster also..kev
UV is a powerful antibacterial. A word of caution, though: one is that very turbid water will protect bacteria from the light – a single particle can harbor many pathogens – so unless your water is crystal clear some kind of preliminary filtration is needed. If that preliminary filter is a correctly made and managed slow sand filter, chances are you won’t need the sunshine finishing step. If you use the sunlight method by itself, you should consider testing the resulting water with a so-called BOD or biological oxygen demand test, which you can buy kits for in a pharmacy or make up yourself.
Glass inherently filters out UV. That is why photochromic materials like Transition lenses will not activate behind a glass windshield
So often articles written about must acknowledge wher these certain things can be found, purchased.