How to Purify Water When the water you're hoping to drink might be riddled with parasites or bacteria particles, you can't afford to skimp on water purification. In the very circumstances that put you in contact with questionable water (being in the wilderness, surviving or recovering from a disaster, or living in a part of the world where water isn't purified for you) the last thing you want to do is to get sick. Read the following instructions carefully to learn how to purify your own water.Method 1 of 5: Boiling Water

1

Place the water you wish to purify into a pot. Place the pot on the stove and turn the stove on to high. When water boils, any bacteria that may have been living in it will be killed, thus reducing your chance of getting sick when you drink the water.^[1]

If you are in the wilderness when you need to purify your water, build a fire to boil your pot on. If you do not have pot, you can use any container that is fire-proof.

2

Bring the water to a rolling boil. When bubbles begin to appear, it means that the water is starting to boil, but continue heating until the water goes into a hard, rolling boil, then start timing. Continue to boil the water for 5-10 minutes plus 1 minute for every 300m above sea level, up to around 5500m where boiling becomes ineffective, to have the most effect upon any bacteria and other micro-organisms.^[2]

Boiling water for 1 to 3 minutes will purify it sufficiently. ^[3] It will kill off the vast majority of organisms living in the water. It also removes some chemicals by vaporizing them. However, be aware that boiling the water will not remove solids, metals, or minerals. Also be aware that the boiling point of water decreases with altitude, so you will not get the same purification effect on a mountain top as you would on a coastal plain. You can boil the water longer or use a pressure cooker to offset the lower temperature

3

Remove the pot from the heat. Use caution when handling the pot and water as they are, as you may have guessed, very hot.

4

Let the water sit and settle. You do not need to do this if you are boiling water that came from a tap and you feel sure that there are no solid items, minerals, or metals in the water. If you let the water settle, any dense items in the water will sink to the bottom naturally, allowing you to drink the pure water from the top.

Method 2 of 5: Using Purification Tablets

1

Use purification tablets or drops. You can purchase these drops or tablets at sporting goods and adventure stores. Keep in mind that this is not the best tasting method, but protection from bacteria is worth a bitter taste in your mouth.^[5]

Iodine tablets are the most commonly sold purifying tablets, but you can also use chlorine tablets with the same result. These tablets are most effective when the water you are purifying is 68 degrees F (21 degrees C) or higher. These chemical tablets will kill bacteria living in your water. These tablets are most often used by campers in the wilderness.

Pregnant women, women over 50, and people with thyroid problems or taking Lithium should consult with a doctor before using iodine tablets.

Strain the water if it has large particles floating around in it. You can do this by pouring the water through a cloth and into the bottle or container that you will be purifying your water in. The cloth acts as a strainer that removes the particles floating in the water.

Place the tablets in the water. If your tablets or drops came with instructions, follow these now. In general, you will want to use one tablet for each quart or liter of water you wish to purify. Be aware that these tablets generally have an expiration date. If you use them after this date, they are much less likely to be effective. Always check the bottle before using these tablets

Mix the tablets into the water until they dissolve. They must be completely dissolved so that they can mix most effectively with the water you are purifying. Wait 30 minutes before drinking the water, as the tablets need that time to effectively kill any bacteria in the water.^[7]

You should also be aware that tablets are generally less effective in water that is very cold. If the water is 40 degrees F (4 degrees C), you should wait at least an hour after the tablets have dissolved before drinking the water. You can place the water in the sun to warm it up before using the tablets if you have the time to do so.^[8]

To lessen the strange taste the tablets give the water, add flavoring to the water (if it is available to you.) Powdered lemonade mixes or a pinch of salt will mask the tablet flavor.

crazytofindinnovation