Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

[Sally Furniss]

Thanks Corky at PlanforPandemic for this idea.

What sort of water station could be made for your local?

Would you spend part of your preps money to be able to help your neighbors? How much money and how much effort would you spend to put together something that would allow you to clean water for your unprepared neighbors at little or no risk to yourself?

I'm working on ideas that would allow you to help your neighbors and water looks like the simplest to start with. I need some idea of what kind of target to shoot at and would like some input. My goal would be to design a simple device that will clean and sterilize nearly any water and use little or no power. I envision a device that would not require any human interaction except from the user. Would you build and share such a device, at what costs and with what labor on your part?

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Could a water filter be made from a garbage can filled with sand?

Holes would need to be drilled in the sides near the bottom.

 

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

The home version of this is far more practical. ~ $150 at Costco or Sams, less on eBay.

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13168

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Here is a low tech approach and inexpensive too. http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=712

Assuming that you can't get to the shops can a biologically active sand filter be made using a garbage can with some gravel and sand?

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

I think the question should be rephrased.

How can some one make a water filter or sterilizer from what they might find around the home?

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

It may depend on what pathogens you expect in the water. Here we have giardia - very debilitating and very difficult to filter out. However other places, stream water MAY be safe to drink, after running through a simple sand filter. If I'm not sure, I boil, then shake for taste.

.

 

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

I think the question should be rephrased.

How can some one make a water filter or sterilizer from what they might find around the home?

Unfortunately, if there are pathogens such as Crypto, etc, and unless your home filter is reliable to <1 micron, it is doubtful that you can.

However, there are a numvber of economical solutions that are entirely practical.

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Protozoa Giardia, Cryptosporidium 5 microns or larger

Bacteria Cholera, E. coli, Salmonella 0.2–0.5 microns

Viruses Hepatitis A, rotavirus, Norwalk virus 0.004 microns


http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/manual/water.shtml

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Common Practices for Using a Water Filter

http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/manual/water.shtml


* Filter the cleanest water you can find. Dirty water or water with large suspended particles will clog your filter more quickly.


* Prefilter the water either through a prefilter on the pump or strain it through a bandanna.


* If you must filter dirty water, let it stand overnight for particles to settle out.

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Heres a really good description of a low tech water filter system.

I would think one can be made using a large plastic garbage can.

http://www.friendswhocare.ca/I -%2...e Manual.doc

The biolayer is the key bacteria removing component of the filter
Without it, the filter removes some contamination through screening of the particles and microorganisms (only 30-70% removal efficiency)

A good biolayer will remove 90-99% of biological pathogens.

 

[Solarpanel]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Question:

We have a creek near us but, the EPA states that the water is contaminated with PCB's and sewage. How do you clean these contaminates from the water and make it drinkable????

 

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Question:

We have a creek near us but, the EPA states that the water is contaminated with PCB's and sewage. How do you clean these contaminates from the water and make it drinkable????

The best way I know of is reverse osmosis for the PCB's. Maybe a carbon block filter would work for a while.

RO is easy to impliment, I can't understand the apparent resistance to it. [Not saying you are resistant SP.]

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

EXPY37, RO is great technology.

During or close to a pandemic water filters may be harder to come by.

One of the points of this exercise was to find something low cost and low tech that could be used by people who do not have a commercially made filter.

Technology that can easily be shared with neighbours. Say about 100 people.

 

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

EXPY37, RO is great technology.

During or close to a pandemic water filters may be harder to come by.

One of the points of this exercise was to find something low cost and low tech that could be used by people who do not have a commercially made filter.

Technology that can easily be shared with neighbours. Say about 100 people.

I understand clearly.

But what if the mission isn't achievable with the initial proposal? Wishful thinking won't achieve it.

The point is, if a person's objective is producing potable water for 100 people, and their first premise isn't available as a solution, then the only logical step is to look at the next least complex possibility from a long list of possibilites.

I have tried to provide that information and still fall within the original criteria.

Sorry if it wasn't what was wanted to be heard.

What do others' suggest in accordance with the context of the original question?

 

[Lynda]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Some 3rd world cultures are using "Clay Pot Technology". Not bad.

Corky is asking a question that is asked a million times a day in these cultures, and for them it's about today. Untold numbers of people have tried to solve this. If there could be small viruses in the water, the problem is compounded.

Unfortunately, all of the cheap answers seem to lack something in terms of water safety.

Someone will probably jump in here and suggest a homemade MIOX. Well, don't drink anything purified with that.

 

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Here's the best link I could find for a homemade water filter.

They show it being made in a hollowed out log but a series of stacked buckets should be more doable in the US.

http://www.m4040.com/Survival/Skills/Water/Water.htm

One problem is it requires "crushed black charcoal" [not BBQ bricketts because they are likely more toxic than the water your are starting with].

How do you expediently make the quantities of charcoal required?

As the article stated, you may still have to boil the water. And possibility add chlorine.

BTW, the Miox device is not something to dismiss lightly, especially if you become thirsty. It is well proven and continues to have a good reputation, even with the most aggressive tree-huggers.

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

EXPY37 it may well be that RO is the best solution for the stated problem. But who can provide filters for 100 peoples?

Can the RO filters be purchased on there own. Maybe the housing and other plumbing can be made more cheaply than the bought one.

 

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

EXPY37 it may well be that RO is the best solution for the stated problem. But who can provide filters for 100 peoples?

Can the RO filters be purchased on there own. Maybe the housing and other plumbing can be made more cheaply than the bought one.

Let's not change the goal in the middle of the mission.

First of all the OT did not postulate providing water for 100 people. That is a small village, not "your neighbors". An entirely different problem completely.

So, responding to the OT, let us assume the neighbors are 4 families with an average of 3/family equaling 12 people.

12 people will need approx 2 gal/day each for drinking and cooking if good discipline and management practices are used.

That's 24 gallons/day.

Easily provided with several inexpensive technologies.

 

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

EXPY37 it may well be that RO is the best solution for the stated problem. But who can provide filters for 100 peoples?

Can the RO filters be purchased on there own. Maybe the housing and other plumbing can be made more cheaply than the bought one.

Addressing your question, the RO filters are available cheaply and the inexpensive tubing etc is pretty much a non-issue re cost.

EBay is the least expensive source of RO filters. Anyone seriously interested can search "reverse osmosis".

Another possible way to provide additional "purification" [killing microbes] [NOT removing nasty chemicals] from a homemade filter is to use an expedient UVC lamp arranged to irradiate the contaminated water.

It is very effective and UVC lamps can be salvaged from some home air purifiers, swimming pool filters and other places. Energy requirements are low and UVC is probably the best purification method once chlorine and other non-renewable chemicals run out.

It is a major component in my plans.

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Ok lets work with 12 people. It can always be rounded up if necessary.

Which technologies will provide enough water for those twelve people?