Water filtration from natural sources: how to purify water in nature

During hiking or traveling, a situation may arise when supplies of clean drinking water will run out. You need to remember this and stock up on compact water purifiers or filters in advance, or at least know how to make drinking water from natural sources.

Of course, rivers, streams, and lakes are the most accessible source of replenishment of water reserves in nature. You can also collect water from rain, snow or ice. But how to make this water suitable for consumption? Below are several methods of cleaning and disinfection, but it is better to clean in several stages.

Boiling water

This is the simplest way to purify water, which kills bacteria and viruses that may be present in it.

If you have a choice between running or standing water (stream or lake), choose running water because it is always cleaner.

Before boiling water, if possible, it is always necessary to carry out coarse filtration, or, if the equipment allows, the maximum possible filtration.

I think it makes no sense to write how to boil water. The main thing is to find a container in which to do it.

Use of water filters

Currently, there is a wide variety of such filters on the market, both compact and quite bulky for cleaning a large amount of water in stationary conditions. But if you often travel outside the population centers, then you should buy one such compact filter, which is quite light and does not take up much space.
If you did not have the opportunity to purchase a filter, you can put some cotton wool and napkins in the equipment, which can then be placed, for example, in the neck of a plastic bottle with the bottom cut off, and thus carry out primary filtration. and then boil the water. Or use a t-shirt or other natural fabric instead of cotton wool.

Use of chemical tablets

Tablets containing iodine or chlorine are a fairly effective way of disinfecting water. They are compact, with a long shelf life. The only drawback is that you have to wait a long time for these pills to do their job – from 30 minutes to an hour and a half, and there will also be a specific taste and smell. And, of course, it is desirable to carry out primary filtration. But it is not necessary to boil such water. And be sure to follow the instructions on how to use such pills.

Use of UV purification

Ultraviolet water purification is the destruction of bacteria and viruses by irradiation. There are now small, compact devices for this procedure that fit easily in your travel gear. But before such cleaning, as always, it is necessary to carry out primary mechanical cleaning from natural impurities (sand, pebbles and the like). In addition, UV radiation does not remove chemical impurities, if they are present.

In summary, we can say that with the presence of even primitive, but previously prepared materials (napkins, cotton wool, lighters), it is possible to prepare water in reservoirs for consumption by one or a combination of several purification methods.

But still, it is better to calculate and stock up on the necessary supply of water for the entire duration of the adventure.