Last Updated on September 5, 2022 by TODD FRANZEN
Clean Water Is Not A Guarantee!
The question you need to ask yourself is are you going to allow yourself to become a statistic? Be proactive or complacent?
The solution is easy! An emergency water filter can be a lifesaver in an emergency like a hurricane, tornado, or flood. If your tap water is not safe to drink, an emergency water filter can provide you with the clean drinking water you need to stay healthy and help you get through the challenge!
Key Takeaways
- Emergency water filters are a small, lightweight, and easy-to-use way to ensure that you always have access to clean drinking water, no matter what. So, don’t wait until it’s too late. Get your emergency water filter today!
- To cover you and your family from a natural disaster. When a natural disaster hits, the water supply can be contaminated with all sorts of harmful bacteria and viruses. An emergency water filter can remove these contaminants, providing you with clean drinking water in the event that your tap water is not safe to drink.
- Be self-sustainable, know that you can count on your emergency water filter to provide clean drinking water no matter what the situation is. If an emergency happens, and the water supply is contaminated, you will still have access to clean drinking water.
- This way, you don’t need to rely on others for your survival. You should always have an emergency water filter with you, just in case. If an emergency situation arises, and your tap water is not safe to drink, an emergency water filter can provide you with the clean drinking water you need to stay healthy.
- An emergency filter is an essential piece of gear or tool for anyone who wants to be prepared for anything. When an emergency arises, you can have peace of mind knowing that you will always have access to clean drinking water, no matter what the situation is.
- Emergency water filters come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are small enough to fit in your pocket, while others are larger and can be attached to a water bottle or hydration pack. There are also inline water filters that can be used with a gravity filtration system.
Be Prepared
An Emergency water filter can provide you with clean drinking water in the event that your tap water is not safe to drink. They are a small, lightweight, and easy-to-use way to ensure that you always have access to clean drinking water, no matter what.
You may agree that the last two years have shown just how uncertain our world really is. If the sweeping health crisis wasn’t a wake-up call, then the political turmoil our world is in should be!
Being able to protect yourself and your family isn’t just a good idea, but a necessary one. For example, Associated Press broke current news about the water crisis in Jackson Mississippi. A city with over 150,000 people is without potable water. In fact, residents have been under a boil water notice for the last month. Part of the article even states that a local business is spending over $300 per day on ice and bottled water. Ouch!
What is hard to grasp is a huge majority of the southern United States is at or below the poverty line. Making clean, safe water just a little bit harder to attain. There are countless other cities and municipalities where the infrastructure is failing as well all across the US. And is only one emergency away.
Emergency Water Filters: Helping you through the Maze
Drinkable water is vital to survival. It is confusing to think about how to choose the correct drinking water filter to use when a disaster happens. How should a water filter be purchased? It’s not always easy and efficient to use a water filter for emergencies. A good filter for drinking water will satisfy you. The emergency drinking water filters chosen should be compatible with the following characteristics. Having wholesome drinking water is an important preparedness priority. The main topic of our blog will be Water Filtration.
How Portable Water Filters Work?
Filtering uses a mesh screen that blocks particles. How efficient, these filters are depended on the size of the pores and what they block versus what they let out. These pores are so small that some are measured at the atomic level. Some “1-micron filters’ allowed the detection of 30-40% of a 1-nanometer threat. It is possible for viruses to have a diameter up to 100 mm larger than those of bacteria, so a suitable filter may eliminate the bacteria and protozoa.
Note: Many products use marketing tricks by indicating that their nominal size is X microns.
Tell Me The Best Way To Filter Water
Let’s start with the source. Sometimes you might be forced to use water that is doubtfully pure, but it should be safe for you to use it. Ideally, use groundwater instead of surface water as much as possible in order to use soil filtration. Fresh rainfalls provide another good alternative to sagging water.
Generally, avoid using surface water that has a hazy or odorous smell as far as possible. Other methods of filtration include distillation, ultraviolet light, ozonic, and reverse osmosis filters.
Mechanical Filtering
Mechanical filters physically remove contaminants. The technology could be low-tech using sand and clay or as high-tech as using ceramic microfilters and an exchange resin bed. It will help determine which filters are right for you, and what situation you have.
A countertop distilling system purifies water without using electricity. Ceramics (as far as cost goes) are the lowest permeability (0-1 mm) and are commonly found by some of the world’s largest portable water filter companies.
Boiling
Heating water to boil for (X) Minutes is effective at killing viruses, bacteria, and protozoa from water. It is possible to do this by fire or another source of energy. A solar cooker can purify water as well. Boiling doesn’t eliminate contaminants, so a mechanical filter may be necessary.
Hollow fiber, activated carbon, or even a string wound type of filter can make a huge difference after you boil. But filter technology is such that you don’t need to boil water. When I think of boiling water, I think of the TV series Naked and Afraid. This is last resort stuff here.
Solar ovens provide a great heat source. They can boil water in about 45 minutes and cook meals. But this is a way to kill all the bad bugs or types of purification you should be aware of.
My Water Filtration Options
I have purchased numerous filters over the years. My wife and I purchased a Big Berkey a few years back which has their compressed carbon block and fluoride filter. Having the ability to filter raw water straight out of the Colorado River will have amazing filtered water. 100’s gallons of it! They eliminate turbidity, noxious and unpleasant scent as well as some nasty dissolved solids in our drinking water. It sits on our counter next to the sink making it easy to refill and access the spout.
The main reason I wanted an aggressive filter is to remove fluoride from the municipal supply here at home. Having been through some pretty heavy health stuff, it was important It just so happens the Berkey system reduces a huge amount of the contaminants in our local water.
We also have a PUR dispenser in the fridge. It is great to have cold filtered water on hand. Even in the winter months.
Extra Noticeable Bonus
What’s cool about having filtered options is seeing the changing habits of my family. Filtered has become a mainstay in our daily routines. We all have insulated flasks that we carry with us everywhere. In total, my family drinks about 2-3 gallons a day.
Year-Round Availability
I keep a straw filter in my winter backcountry backpack. Even though we get an average of 300 inches of snow, there are places along the valley bottoms that don’t freeze over. Access is there, just need to think about it logically. But you must choose these openings wisely, as the risk of avalanche is very real.
Here’s a photo of me in one of those open spots in the snow…
A simple “straw” filter (Lifestaw or MB Solutions) would be helpful in bug-out bags or camping. I’ve personally added a Katadyn BeFree Filter to be able to filter water when I’m cycling. Ceramic filters can be more investment-oriented, but they’re great for long-term use and can be serviced in the field.
Gravity Filtering
Filtration can help to improve emergency water supplies if water sources become damaged. The Big Berkey and the Crown Berkey are able to solve this issue. Each Black Berkey filter lasts for around 3000 gallons with the Big Berkey filtering 2.25 gallons at a time. It is able to remove 99.99% viruses and 99.9% pathogenic bacteria.
Platypus GravityWorks is a good gravity filter option as well as LifeStraw’s Peak Series. All these filters have a hollow fiber membrane that can be cleaned and reused.
Chemical Disinfection Options
Iodine is effective at killing viruses, bacteria, and protozoa except for cryptosporidia in humans. This means it will not kill giardia and other parasites. Iodine is available in tincture, tablet, or crystal form. The tincture is 2% iodine and the crystals are 7% iodine.
But the biggest percentage of chemical disinfection comes from the use of chlorine. Chlorine has been used for over a century to disinfect water and is still one of the most commonly used chemicals today in water treatment facilities.
The major advantage of chlorine is that it can be used to treat a large volume of water at once, making it ideal for emergency situations. Chlorine can be added to water using tablets, granules, or liquid bleach.
It is important to note that chlorine does not remove dirt, debris, or other particulates from water. Therefore, it is important to filter water before adding chlorine.
Important Tip: When using iodine or chlorine to disinfect water, it is important to follow the directions on the package. Iodine should be added at a rate of 2 drops per liter of water and allowed to sit for 30 minutes. For chlorine, add 2-4 tablets, 1/8 teaspoon (or 0.75 grams) of granules, or 8 drops of liquid bleach per gallon (3.8 L) of water. Allow the water to stand for 30 minutes before consuming.
Chemical and Radiation Contaminants
The best removal procedure varies depending on the chemical. Some examples include chemicals such as tar, oils, oxidizers, fuel, pollutants, etc. Municipal water supply monitoring and testing systems are employed to reduce the quantity that is contaminated water and to ensure safe consumption.
Quick Tip – Water isn’t Radioactive, only the dissolved elements in water are radioactive!
Radioactivity can come from water being exposed to elements like radium or uranium naturally in the ground. Or potentially through a nuclear explosion. Now the best way to remove radiation from water is by using high-quality salts. Potentially just using a water softener. Even using a D-ionizing type of water filtration will help remove the elements that actually cause radiation. Cesius-137, Iodine-131 is a couple of the more common radioactive contaminants.
Best Personal Water Treatment Method
There is a difference between each method, and none of the methods will provide 100% protection against contaminants. But what it does is reduce risk. The most common way to clean up water is through filters or purification equipment.
- How do you plan on using this water filter?
- What kind of water source do you think you will be mostly using?
- How much water do you need?
What I’m trying to say is my personal water filter method is going to be different than your personal water filter method. The point is having a water filter that works for your situation, where you live. And if you travel a lot, there are great personal water filters for your frequent flyers as well.
Common Risks In Untreated Water
Mitigating risk is a necessary preparation. The risk of contamination is divided into three groups: sediments, biological organisms, and toxic. The two most common health threats are giardia and cryptosporidium, two unpleasant protozoa parasites that arise from animal or human wastes causing serious intestinal problems. It is generally known as Bear Fever by nonscientists.
Toxic substances, such as heavy metals, can also contaminate your water supply. Arsenic, lead, and mercury is only a few of the heavy metals that can enter your drinking water. These contaminants come from both natural and man-made sources. Coal, Gold, and Silver mining, for example, can release large amounts of heavy metals into the ground and surface water.
Properly filtered water will remove these contaminants, giving you peace of mind and preventing you from becoming sick.
How do Water Purifiers Fit Into Emergency Preparedness?
Simple, water is the most important aspect of life. Without water, we all die.
With that said, I don’t expect Armageddon, but you should be expecting emergencies and natural disasters in the future. Purifiers are small and lightweight, so they are easy to take with you wherever you go. Having one in your emergency preparedness kit will ensure that you always have access to clean drinking water.
Water purifiers are important to have in case of an emergency. If the water supply is contaminated, you will need a way to purify it so that you can drink it. Water purifiers can remove contaminants from water, making it safe to drink.
There are many different types of water purifiers on the market, so it is important to choose one that is right for you. Make sure to read reviews and compare products before making a purchase.
Water sources during disasters & emergencies
When an emergency flood or flash flood contaminates your water source, it can limit the water supply of your property. When I think about disasters, I think about events like Hurricane Katrina, and the Mississippi River flooding. I can picture the photos and videos on the news where there’s just devastation with miles and miles of flooded land in every direction.
Unless your water supply is protected, it could be unsafe. Even though it looks clean to the eye, it might have dangerous pathogens which are invisible to the naked eye. If there’s no water in our homes, the problems become even more complicated.
#1 – Water Clarification
Clarification removes floating particles before disinfection. Take the water from the mud. The water is filtered through coffee filters, paper towels, tight wrapping, or anything that removes all the stuff visible. Nature purifies water by sifting out of the pores in the water. Before disinfection water is clarified so that bioactive substances are not able to “hide” in particulate matter or are deactivated.
# 2 – Water Disinfection
It’s the second phase. This procedure is used to destroy or deactivate tiny animals that cause disease or death. Different ways can be used but they may not always eliminate all pathogens. Ultraviolet light, boiling, and chlorination are some of the most common procedures.
Water disinfection is important because, during a disaster, water can be contaminated with sewage, chemicals, and other pollutants. Disinfecting your water will help to ensure that it is safe to drink.
#3 – Water Filtration
Water filters filter particles to remove pathogens to the point of no effect. Many filters cannot filter small viruses. Water purifiers can eliminate chemical and biological contaminants and can also be used to kill smaller pathogens that pass through a filter. The filtrate can reduce chemical tastes and make drinking easier and safer. The cleaner the water the lower the risk of illness or disease.
Best emergency water storage containers
Although virtually any water-tight container may be useful in storing water in emergencies, keep in mind any leftover food crumbs or material found in containers are likely sources of contamination. In the case of recycling your food container might have ended up in the trash. Starting with the standard glass water container.
Emergency water storage containers come in all shapes and sizes. and come in all price points as well. They even make large storage blatters to stow in a crawl space of your home. you can even become creative and find barrels for water storage that are BPA-free. But again, your storage needs will depend on what space you have available.
Water containers we don’t recommend
Milk jugs have been thinned considerably from when they were first manufactured. It is not recommended. Although gallon water is common in supermarkets, it can often get damaged. Vinegar bottles and Bleaching bottles also have a strong structure but I’ve not really used them as an alternative to drinking water. The cheapest bottle of water is often brittle and its thin plastic is often broken during storage.
Alternate water storage containers
2-liter bottles used to store soda is a must. They are good because containers of soda have to contain stronger material so it will be easier for you to store and won’t break in storage. . If you’re using it make sure the sugar in the product is totally clean and keep it off sunlight if necessary.
Camping coolers are good storage ideas. they are easy to clean and disinfect and can hold 5 to up to 20 gallons of water.
Another option is PVC pipes. You can use these to store water in a structure such as a closet or under a bed. They come in different diameters and lengths, so you can find the perfect size for your needs. Just make sure to get food-grade PVC so it won’t leach chemicals into your water. I’ve seen people build impressive storage solutions out of 6 and 8-inch Schedule-40 PCV that will hold 200-300 gallons of water.
Alternate water sources
More water is available in storage containers (for example rain barrels, water cisterns, swimming pools, etc.). Avoid waterbeds because they are packed full of chemicals that contain anti-bacterial chemicals.
What if you live in an apartment and have no storage options?
If you live in an apartment or condo, you may not have the same storage options as someone who lives in a house. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. Here are some ideas for water storage in apartments:
1. Get a few 5-gallon jugs and fill them up with tap water. Store them in your closet or under your bed.
2. If you have a bathtub, you can fill it up with water and use it as an emergency water supply. Just make sure to plug the drain so the water doesn’t run out.
3. Collect rainwater in buckets or barrels placed outside your window.
4. Store water in bottles or jugs in your refrigerator.
No matter where you live, it’s important to have a plan for emergency water storage. By following the tips above, you can make sure you and your family have access to clean drinking water in the event of a disaster.
Emergency bathtub water storage
The waterBOB 65-gallon emergency bathtub containers can be used for emergency storage. Its “thick balloons” are in the bathtub. Fill the bathroom with water without utilizing the water bladder or Aqua bladder. Worst of all, boil it for drinking and flushing it out of the sink.
Our second recommendation is a container for storing drinking water. a bathtub is a good storage spot in case of an emergency. Depending on its size, can hold 65 gallons or more of water.
Where can I store water?
It is important to store emergency drinking water in a cool, dark location for extended shelf and barrel life, away from light (especially soda bottles). Water containers shouldn’t touch cement. Keep a record of the dates you fill your storage containers. It’s better to rotate the water every 1-2 years.
But sterile water in sterile containers can keep for several decades. It’ll probably not taste good, But your personal water filter will fix that.
Note: Single-use water bottles can become thin and may leak over time when the containers are unused.
To Wrap It Up
No one knows when an emergency will happen, but it’s best to be prepared for anything. That’s why having an emergency water filter on hand is such a smart idea. You never know when you might need it.
These filters are small, lightweight, and easy to use, so they’re perfect for keeping in your home or car in case of an unexpected water crisis. Plus, most of them can last for years without needing replacement, so you can rest assured that you’ll always have access to clean drinking water no matter what. So don’t wait – stock up on emergency water filters today and make sure you’re prepared for the worst!
Shopping for an Emergency Water Filter
The process of purchasing water filtering is sometimes difficult. This can be done by starting to understand your water filter and how it should function. Think of this as the first thing when looking for filters. We can review some water filtration devices for all basic filter types. The above lists are not exhaustive lists. The quality of products is vital.
Berkey Water
I like the Berkey stainless steel filters at home for everyday use or emergencies. It is easy to make and easy to use. The high-quality gravity water purification system has five different sizes and runs between 1qt – 6gal.
Black Berkey replacement components are considered water purification which eliminates virtually all contaminants, including 99.989% virus infection. Each component filters a maximum of 3000 liters. Two Black Berky Replacement Parts cost $170 for a set of two filter elements. It’s best to order from Berkeywater.com.
Sawyer Water Filtration Kit
Sawyer offers several versatile water filters that are cheap and a good choice for emergencies. The bucket Adapter is suitable to be used with five gallons of buckets to make an attractive gravity filter. This kit is also included a connector for connecting this filter directly to a faucet in your home. Sawyer utilizes hollow fibers that deliver high flow rates and excellent water filtration. Sawyer filters last about one million gallons. This Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System includes adapters for making 5-gallon bucket filters or connecting them to household faucets.
MSR Trail Base Water Filter Kit
SMSR trail base water filter kits are portable gravity filters that are intended for use in the backcountry. They are designed for the removal of microorganisms and bacteria. The trail base cartridge is capable of holding 1500L of water. This model costs 150 dollars with replacement cartridges costing $40.
Katadyn Gravity BeFree
Katadyn Gravity BeFree 3.0L Water Filter is a gravity filter that can be filtered to 0.1 Micron. Filtering water is around 1 liter a minute and does not require frequent replacement. Its filter can last 264 gallons and can be easily cleaned by using distilled water and shaking and swishing the element around, loosening debris that is clogging the filter.
Waterdrop Gravity Water Filter Straw
Waterdrop is another MFG that produces great quality gear. This filter has a 5-stage that includes pre-filter, hollow fiber membranes, nonwoven fabrics, activated carbon, and a polyester membrane in the filtration process, as well as filters down to 0.1 microns.
These are just a small sample of great emergency water filters that are on the market. All of them have their pros and cons. You may have noticed that I did not use any electric filter options. This is because in an emergency situation, you may not have access to power or the water pressure may be too low to use an electric filter.
FAQ
What is the best way to purify water in an emergency?
There is a different ways of treating water: boiling or using bleach. The boiling method for untreated surface water is a safer alternative to water shortage. If the rainy water has dried out you may want to filter the water to prevent a splash.
Is distilled water good for emergencies?
The distillation process is deemed the best method to treat contaminated waters in the first instance a crisis arises. Distilling uses a phase-changing process called evaporation and condensing the distillate back to contaminate free water.
How much water should I filter in an emergency?
You should filter at least one gallon of water per person per day. This will ensure that you have enough drinking water for yourself and your family in the event of an emergency.
What is the shelf life of an emergency water filter?
The shelf life of an emergency water filter depends on the type of filter. Some filters can last for up to 10 years, while others need to be replaced after each use. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions before purchasing an emergency water filter.
How often should I replace my emergency water filter?
The frequency with which you need to replace your emergency water filter will depend on the type of filter. Some filters can last for up to 10 years, while others need to be replaced after each use. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions before purchasing an emergency water filter.
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