How To Filter Water In The Wilderness
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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.
Firstly you will need some sort of container. A bottle will work well. 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. Poke several holes in the bottom of the can with your pocket knife for best results. 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.
You can also use what nature provides. By alternating layers of rocks and sand you will have made a serviceable filter. Create as many layers as you can for best results.
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. Sand pouring out of the bottom of the cone needs to be avoided. This isn’t difficult. 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. As the water starts coming out of the filter collect it in your container. If the water is not clear, pass it through the filter again. 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.
The ability to filter water with at hand materials is an important life saving skill. If you can keep yourself alive by staying hydrated you have a better chance of survival while you wait for help to arrive. Practice this valuable skill before you actually need it. Dehydration is a killer when lost in the wilderness so this skill could easily be the difference between life and death.
This article has been written by the author,Jack Marine . Should you require anymoreWildernessplease visit his Education For Survival resources!
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