[Vigilanteman]

I've noticed there are lots more stuff on the market including a $129 biomass burning device which can heat water and charge a cell phone. While it looks like a neat thing to take on a hike or too a deer camp, I wonder how practical it would be in a typical SHTF scenario.

The featured product at the link looks more practical but I'm not sure I trust the distributor like I used to because they now sell occasional junk mixed in with their mostly practical stuff.

Freeper advice, especially from other Preppers, would be appreciated.

[SumProVita]

The FReeper who has a ton of information on this subject would be Kartographer.

[Baynative]

The time is coming when people will have to figure how to make or take what they need and others will be figuring out how to protect what they have.

This horrible condition is being set up by republicans in congress who will not do their duty and confront the liberals and their media head on.

[Baynative]

The time is coming when people will have to figure how to make or take what they need and others will be figuring out how to protect what they have.

This horrible condition is being set up by republicans in congress who will not do their duty and confront the liberals and their media head on.

[Farmer Dean]

We bought the Aqua Rain 404 filter.Gets everything down to .2 micron.

[Farmer Dean]

We bought the Aqua Rain 404 filter.It’s an excellent ceramic filter system.

[EdReform]

Ping

[altsehastiin]

Unscented, pure household bleach can be used to disinfect water (although it will obviously not do anything about particulate matter). Household bleach does not have a very long shelf life, however, so consider storing a little bit of pool shock (granular calcium hypochlorite), which can be diluted to make chlorine bleach.

[P.O.E.]

I recently bought a ceramic filter kit - works with two plastic buckets (Walmart has ones with lids). Haven’t put it tried it yet, but it was cheap & simple. As far as alternative fuel, I’m in the market for a diesel generator that I can use my home heating oil (solves the storage/rotation problem, at least).

[Vendome]

Lifrsaver bottles are about the size of a thermos, making them very portable. they come in two versions that deliver 4,000 - 6,000 liters of pure H2O in the most extreme conditions. Think Katrina water.

Berkey filters are about the size of an orange igloo and come in several configurations. They too deliver pure water but are not really practical for travel due to their size.

If you are stationary then get Berkey.

I myself have two Lifesaver bottles with an extra filter system for each. it’d be years before Ione the ability to make fresh water and I can take em anywhere.

[cableguymn]

I have a private well and a generator big enough to run it and heavy enough it’ll take a back how to remove it from it’s footings. Generator is currently setup for natural gas but I have the parts to switch it to propane or gasoline.

Still working on the 50 cal to defend it though. (of course I do have smaller options)

[richardtavor]

The best is the Berkey Water Filter system....

[FReepaholic]

http://www.berkeyfilters.com/

[McGruff]

I was thinking. I've got this 15 foot pool out in the yard that I have to keep chlorinated anyways.

[Eska]

We had a flood 3 years back, washed out our road for several miles along with elec & phone lines. It was 3 months until we had elec back. Had a small generator that we used for dish, tv, several freezers, ect; couldn't use my well though. We have an artesian spring close by that we dug out some and was able to get all the water we needed and was about as pure as one could want. What surprised us was how much water that we did use; probably 25 gallons every day or so. We had a few plastic 50 gallon tubs that we bought at feed store and they worked out well.

Of course we missed the internet, but it had a good side too; getting away from it all for several months. I had to ride atv down to the school to email; which I did maybe once a week.

We had a 1000 gal fuel oil tank full, but only had maybe ten 5 gallon gas cans in the shed. Fuel is just as important as water I do believe.

Everything else, like food & supplies didn't seem too much of a problem; lived outta the garden too.

Until you've experienced an emergency, you can't imagine all the things you never even thought about, ha ha.

[The Duke]

I've studied this quite a bit and done some interesting math. What you need is a "gravity fed" water filter that not only "filters", but "purifies" the water ("purify" is a legally-defined term that cannot be used lightly).

There are many filters that fit this description, with the Berkey filters being one of the most well-known. Others are significantly cheaper, but when you do the math on the cost of replaceable filter elements and their life expectancy, the Berkey starts to look like the best choice.

Alternatives to consider (in my mind) are: 1) Doulton, 2) Ceragrav, 3) Low cost ceramic water filter elements you can buy on eBay that can be attached to 5-gallon buckets.

I have the "Big Berkey" model at home and use it to filter all my drinking water.

Just don't be fooled by filters that require you to change the elements frequently - it drives the cost WAY up.

Also, I highly recommend that you research the use of calcium hypochlorite for chemical water purification. Just a few pounds of this can purify a family's water supply *FOR YEARS*. However, be aware that this is a volatile chemical that must be stored in appropriate containers and in appropriate locations away from food and other chemicals with which it may react.

[Sergio]

bkmk

[rw4site]

I’m planning to use this to boil water for sterilization.

https://picasaweb.google.com/109188381423929573522/MyLargeHomeBuiltRocketStove

I am also going to build a much smaller one closer in size to the one Kartographer made using an ammo box. They are fun to build and they give great results using just a little fuel.

[Ellendra]

Lehman’s used to carry a steam distiller for purifying water, but the last time I checked I couldn’t find it. There might be something similar on Amazon.

The advantage to a distiller is that it gets both microbes and particulate, and there’s no filter to clean. The disadvantage is that there are some chemicals that might get distilled along with the water.

[blitz128]

I have thought a lot about this and finally came up with my own system. It is all gravity fed. I made fittings out of PVC and used food grade 5 gallon buckets. My thinking is that you are going to need a lot of clean water to survive. I have several filters which filter the water down in stages.

First I will filter the water through a funnel with cheese cloth to get rid of big particles

Second Stage is a filter that goes from 100 micron to 50

Third Stage is a filter that is 50 to 20 microns

fourth stage is 20-5 microns

I use one filter in stage 2 and 3 and it will filter 5 gal in 1/2 hour, fourth stage I use 2 of the 5 micron filters and it filters 5 gal in 2-3 hours, all of these times would be faster if the buckets were kept full.(which you can do with this system)

At this point this water has been filtered enough for the greatest amount of water usage which is personal washing, cloths washing......, put this water in storage and treat with calcium hypoclorite, I have a 55 gal drum for this, then when you want to make drinking water I have a bucket with 2 ceramic filters to bring it down to >1 micron.

This is stage 5, it takes about 6 hours to filter 5 gals, once again much faster if bucket is kept full.

To make this system I had to modify some PVC fittings and make my own lexan washers and gaskets.

I have made this system for several friends, system contains 10 buckets, 5 modified, 5 modified lids, and 5 catch buckets, 4 ea 50, 20, and 5 micron filters, and 2 ceramic filters.

This system extends the life of the filters, is easy to store and will make a great deal of water.

I am working on another stage which will hold a silver embedded charcoal filter to remove bacteria, chlorine, and lead, kind of expensive, but so is getting sick when there are no doctors.......
I also have found a 12 volt UV system that I might also try out, no need for Calcium hypoclorite, but does require power
Well that is my 2 cents

[RedStateRocker]

I have a basic still.