13,000 gallons worth at $300 for the Katadyn “Pocket” Water Microfilter works out to a little over 2 cents per gallon. That doesn't include 866 hours of pumping or the time needed to clean the ceramic filter.
Posted on 09/12/2011 4:40:16 PM PDT by Kartographer
If most people take an honest assessment of their water supplies and their capability to stay self-sufficient in the event of a major catastrophe or prolonged off-the-grid situation, they will become suddenly aware of their planning shortcomings and the room for improvement. A key case in point is water. Water is an essential component to life; it is not a fringe need. As humans, we consume so much of it, yet plan so little for it in the future because of its perceived abundance.
Recently, many Americans have become aware of the shortages of fresh water and the need to prepare for a time when freshwater may be very difficult to obtain, yet many of them still haven’t put that plan into effect. How much will you need? How will you store it? Should you plan on using chemical or mechanical treatments to keep water drinkable and safe? What are the drawbacks of the different methods? This article is about the preparation for your future sustainability with regards to one of the most essential elements to the human body.
(Excerpt) Read more at wichitaobserver.com ...
I’m OK, I’ve got plenty of freeze-dried water around. Just add water and I’m good to go.....
hmmm.....
The Rule of Three
3 seconds without hitting it
3 minutes without breathing (drowning, asphyxiation)
3 hours without shelter in an extreme environment (exposure)
3 days without water (dehydration)
3 weeks without food (starvation)
“Water water isn’t always everywhere! And when it is, if you are not prepared to clean and treat it you many still not have a drop fit to drink!”
Look up “Biosand water filter” on Youtube or Google it. I just built a 10 gallon unit (there’s only 2 of us). When I went to buy my barrel the guy at the surplus store said “only a 10 gallon”? People have been buying the 55 gallon tanks around here like crazy to make filters.
Interesting.
Reminds me of that beautiful book passage in the novel “The Road” where the Father wakes up in the middle of the night, senses something ha gone very wrong and goes to the bathroom and starts to fill the bathtub. His wife wakes up and asks him: “Why are you taking a bath”. He answers: “I am not”.
With those few words, you understood right away how he survived that long...
But somehow he ended up with only two rounds for his pistol.
Welcome to FR.
13,000 gallons worth at $300 for the Katadyn “Pocket” Water Microfilter works out to a little over 2 cents per gallon. That doesn't include 866 hours of pumping or the time needed to clean the ceramic filter.
We save plastic containers (cleaned of course) and store water in them. When the power goes out in the wintertime (or whenever), we can flush toilets, heat some of it (on a campstove) for baths and live fairly comfortably, all considered. The laundry detergent (larger sizes) containers are excellent and have handles, making it easy to tote them around to different bathrooms.
If you’ve purchased pool shock to use as a way to purify water, be SURE that chlorine hypochlorite is the only “Active” ingredient. I worry that people will be using pool shock with other active ingredients, such as algaecide. Some of the additives to pool chlorine are in the same family as cyanide.
I have read that 2 minutes of water in a “rolling boil” on a stove will knock out all harmful bacteria , fungus , and viri (plural of virus) for human consumption.
Is this accurate ?
Depending on your elevations. Lower elevations to a boil is good, higher elevations an minute or two. But boiling water is very energy depended and fuel may not be readily available. Having a way to purify without having to boil is a smart long term solution.
Many of us Big Island Hawaii folks are on our own catchment systems and get a lot of good guidance from the University of Hawaii, Hilo’s free catchment publication at this link: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/rm-12.pdf
PLUS, the Katadyn removes not only sediment, but microorganisms, too!
Any thoughts on purifying with Iodine?
The British Berky is a reliable unit. Missionaries in 3rd world countries use it.
It works, but it does take time. People forget that when you drop an iodine tab in your jug it takes about an hour before it is drinkable. Iodine only kills bacteria in the water, too, it won’t of course clear up murky or muddy water.
Water is one thing I have in good supply at my bug-out location. I have my own well and a generator to power it. I’m taking a close look at adding an old-fashioned manual lever pump to the well, though.
LOL... Hey! you are right about that! Great book anyway.
Thanks for the “Welcome...”
The Sawyer Point One is a lot more budget friendly, IMHO.
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