In a crisis, you might not have a clean water source to drink from. While keeping plenty of bottled water at the ready is always a good idea, you might find yourself in a crisis lasting longer than expected. Learning how to purify water will help you stay hydrated and focused, no matter what happens. Beef up your survival skills and check out these four simple and effective ways to purify water.
Why You Might Need to Purify Water
Just like the power can go out, so can your water. Whether it’s a large storm or another crisis, your community’s infrastructure can be affected, and your water supply may be cut off. You may also encounter an emergency that calls for bugging out.
If you don’t have running water at home, you’ll be depending on natural water sources like streams and rivers. This water might not be clean and safe for drinking. If you drink contaminated water, you risk getting sick, which is one of the last things you want during a crisis. Knowing how to decontaminate water will help ensure you constantly have a clean drinking water supply to stay sharp and healthy.
1. Boiling
Boiling is a tried and true method for purifying water. All you need is a heat source, which means you can create drinkable water wherever you are. A campfire in the woods or a gas stove at home will give you the heat needed to boil your water. If the water is clear, simply bring it to a rolling boil and let it boil for one minute (or three minutes at altitudes above 5,000 feet). Cool before drinking. If the water is cloudy, you will want to filter it through a cloth or coffee filter before boiling.
You can also use gear like the Sun Kettle® XL Solar Cooker to boil your water. With a solar cooker, you don’t need to worry about having fuel, matches, or a lighter on hand to start a fire. You just need the power of the sun.
2. Personal Water Filters
A personal water filter can make it easy for you to create drinkable water on the go. Water filters are designed to remove dangerous contaminants so your water is safer to drink. Something versatile like the Patriot Pure Personal Water Filter is a great choice if you’re bugging out. This small, lightweight filter removes up to 99% of germs*. The portable filter can go wherever you go, making it perfect for drinking from streams or rivers. You can drink directly from the filter like a straw, or you can filter larger amounts of water by attaching it to a bag or bucket.
3. Water Filtration Systems
If you’re prepping for a family or plan to hunker down at home, you might want something bigger than a personal filter. The Patriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System is something you’ll be glad to have at the ready. It looks like a standard water dispenser, but it has one key feature hidden inside — a super-strong filter that can remove up to 99.9% of dangerous contaminants**. This system is perfect for families because it can filter over 5,000 gallons of water and can hold just over two gallons of water at a time.
4. Purification Tablets
Some people choose to use chemicals to purify their water. You can find water tablets containing chlorine dioxide, iodine, or chlorine online and at sporting goods stores. Disinfectant tablets are good for more short-term use, which is why they’re popular among hikers and campers. However, if you’re preparing for a long-term emergency, boiling and filtering water is going to be your best bet.
You never know when a crisis might knock out your drinking water supply. Make sure you’re prepared with a plan for purifying water. Shop 4Patriots for solar cookers, water filters, and more to stock your emergency supply kit today.
*The Patriot Pure Personal Water Filter uses a 0.1-micron ultrafiltration membrane to effectively remove 99.9% of pathogenic bacteria for clean and safe drinking water when used as directed.
**Independently tested by a nationally recognized, third-party lab — click here to see the results.
