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Water Purification Methods To Keep You Hydrated During Survival Situations

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When you’re out in the woods and you run out of drinkable water, knowing water purification methods can save your life! Understanding the importance of hydration and water purification is vital and we’re going to discuss them here!

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Water Purification | Efficient Methods to Have Drinkable Water Outdoors

Importance of Hydration

hand man filling his military canteen | importance of water purification

Water is the main solution to hydration problems. Though we can also find solutions from fruits and other plants, for the most part, we really need to find some type of water source or collect rainwater in order to get hydrated.

It’s a critical need. Some say we can go 3 days without drinking water, but that’s not always the case.

After a day and a half or so of not having water, people start to deteriorate and have a decreased level of consciousness, poor decision making, start to stumble around, feel weak, and low in energy.

Water is a critical element to life that’s why it’s really important to pay more attention to it. Pay attention to the sources of water in your area. Pay attention to water erosion on the land and where the sun hits.

Know where the seasonal creeks, year-round springs, and rivers can be found in your area.

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Once you find water sources, the first thing you need to do is to purify the water and make it safe to drink. There are all kinds of microorganisms in the water that could potentially harm you.

Water Purification Methods

Filtration

young man using water filter drink | water purification steps

Filtration is a water purification method that uses any form of a filter with tiny holes where debris and parasites can’t pass through. They are being filtered and separated from the liquid.

There are lots of different commercial water filters available. Find the best option for you, but make sure it filters to at least 0.2 microns. You can buy a LifeStraw which is ideally an essential part of your bug-out bag.

You can also buy a larger pump water filter that can accommodate a larger amount of water compared to a LifeStraw. Both of these water filters do the filtration process on the same level.

Chlorination

tablets poured out medical jar | water purification tablets

Chlorination is one of the easiest and the most common water purification methods used for many years. This method, not just filters but swiftly kills parasites and microorganisms present in the water by using chemicals.

Household bleach is a great way to kill parasites from the water. 8 drops of bleach are recommended per gallon of water. Just shake the mixture and let it sit for half an hour.

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Smell the water and check if it smells chlorine already. If not, add 8 more drops, let it sit for 45 minutes, and smell it again. This time, it should work.

If you’re out in the woods and bleach isn’t within reach, you can also use iodine tablets to kill parasites and disease-causing microorganisms from the water. Just add 2 tablets per liter, let it sit for half an hour, and you’re all set.

RELATED: How To Have Potable Water Anywhere | Emergency Preparedness

Boiling

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Boiling is another effective way of purifying water. You can use a regular boiling pot but investing in a good stainless steel water bottle is a must.

The Klean Kanteen stainless steel double wall insulated water bottle works great for this situation. This water bottle can be used to boil water. It’s durable and perfect for water purification.

However, the boiling method isn’t as efficient as the filtration method or the chemical purification which is really quick.

Solar Water Disinfection (SoDis)

plastic water bottle hand against backdrop | drinking water purification methods

SoDis is a water purification method that uses solar energy to make water contaminated with protozoa, bacteria, viruses, and worms drinkable.

For this method, you’ll need a clear container or a  clear water bottle. Fill up the bottle with water and leave it exposed to the sun.

There are a couple of things to consider when using this purification method. First, you don’t want your container to be larger than one gallon. It won’t work if you have a large container that is over a gallon.

Second, you don’t want the water to be too dirty. You can perform the basic water filtration right before using the SoDis method.

Essentially, you need to set it out in the sun for six hours or more then it should be good to go. If you want to be sure and go on the safe side, one day exposed to direct sunlight and two days if it’s cloudy is highly recommended.

To conclude, it is advisable to always bring a water filter or chemical tablets and keep it with you. It is more efficient in times of survival. Boiling water for purification is good to know about, but it’s a constant effort.

During this time, you got a lot of other important things to do such as working on your survival shelter and looking for food. You don’t want to put too much effort into constantly boiling your water for drinking.

Watch this video by CNET for an in-depth explanation of how a LifeStraw really works and saves life:

Water is definitely a vital element one must prioritize. Knowing where the sources of water are in your area plus understanding the water purification methods will give you an advantage during a survival situation.

Mastering one or two of these methods might save your life and increase your chance of survival!

Which of these water purification methods have you tried before? Share your experience with us in the comments section below!

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