Today, most families have some kind of natural water filters system in their homes. It’s certainly convenient, since not only does it remove the impurities that make our water taste bad, but it can also remove things like chlorine and other chemicals that might make the water unsafe for drinking. But are water filters really the healthiest option? And are they worth the money? Water filtration has become necessary in most parts of the world due to pollution. We have sophisticated technology to filter water, but there are natural options that have been used for hundreds and thousands of years before man-made alternatives became available.
Having enough drinking water to survive is one of the top survival priorities in an emergency. We have compiled a list of the best ways to naturally filter water at home to help you access water at all hours of the day.
Read more, total health and fitness tips.
Ways Of Natural Water Filters
Boiling
This tried and tested approach is the simplest to accomplish at home with minimal equipment (plus, if your electric range goes down, you can make it on a grill!) Pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and protozoa can all be killed by boiling them (WHO, 2015). Allow the water to settle before filtering it with a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter if it is hazy. You should then boil it for one minute.
Sand
Sand has been used for water filtering for over 2,000 years. Sand was used by the Greeks and Romans to remove debris from their pools and bathhouses. Particles as fine as 25 microns can be filtered out by sand.
Oysters
When oysters eat, contaminants are automatically filtered out. The water that passes through the oysters has been cleansed to the point where it is safe to consume. Natural oyster reefs are still widely used for water filtering in several places of the world. A single adult oyster may filter up to 60 gallons of water each day.
Water-purifying plants
Both above and below ground, plants act as natural water filters. You can do the same thing at home just as hikers and outdoor adventurers do in the woods for clean drinking water. You can filter your water with a variety of plants.
Cilantro
Cilantro is a common household item that has the ability to cleanse water. Simply pulverise it and use it to filter water. This herb may be as effective as charcoal filters in removing heavy metals. Lemon peels, cactus cores, and pine tree branches are also viable options.
You can use banana peels to filter water instead of throwing them away! Banana peels have been found to be an effective way to remove bacteria and contaminants from your drinking water. Hence, banana peels remove toxins from your water since they adhere to any potentially toxic substances. Using them as filters allows for a safe and clean drink. All you have to do is mince and mash them to use as filters.
Cactus leaves
Cactus leaves and their sticky cores have long been used to remove silt from water, and study has discovered that they can also remove arsenic and germs. Boiling the mucilage in polluted water produces a floatable layer that can be readily skimmed off, resulting in safe and drinkable water for those in need. During the earthquake in Haiti in 2006, the technology was successfully employed to provide clean, potable water to displaced people.
Xylem plants
Plants that produce xylem are so effective at purifying water that a MIT study demonstrates how white pine trees are capable of sieving dirt, bacteria, and even dye out of water, and how they remove 99% of E. coli bacteria. This same tissue delivers life-giving sap to every part of the tree as well as trapping possible that using the right type of xylem plant can filter out some highly toxic viruses too.
Sunlight
Solar radiation has been shown to be an excellent technique of cleansing contaminated water. This is due to the fact that ultraviolet (UV) radiation damages the production of DNA links in microbes, rendering them incapable of reproducing and so harmless. What is the most cost-effective and simple method of water disinfection? Sunlight. Simply place a clear glass or plastic bottle in direct sunlight for six hours. The World Health Organization recommends solar water disinfection for locations where access to clean water is limited. The sun’s UV rays rip the bacteria apart, making the water safe to drink. Take a sip!
Gravity and Ceramic Pots
Using this technique, all you need is gravity and a clay ceramic pot. Cambodia’s diarrheal diseases were reduced by 50% by UNICEF and the Water Sanitation Program’s provision of ceramic water filters. Ceramic’s porous structure prevents most bacteria and protozoa from reaching the water source, decreasing E. coli by 99 percent.
Charcoal
The water filtering properties of charcoal are slow, but they are effective. Charcoal removes toxins from water. Nitrogen oxide, lead, sulfur oxide and nitrogen dioxide are all removed by charcoal. Before purifying water at home with charcoal, be sure to buy hard charcoal and wash it thoroughly. The water will not be purified if the charcoal is dirty or soft.
Coconut
Coconut absorbs water through layers of fibres and filters it. In terms of purity, coconut milk is only second to water. Coconut carbon filters are commonly used in commercial natural water filters to remove pollutants and particulates. Most particles, poisons, and parasites, including cryptosporidium and giardia, are trapped by coconut husks, whether used commercially or in a do-it-yourself filtration system.
Iodine tablets
You can keep tablets of iodine in your pantry for when you need them. It has been used to disinfect water for nearly a century. As well as being convenient and efficient, chlorine has a milder taste than many people prefer. For short and intermediate-term use (up to 6 months), the substance appears safe, but long-term safety remains uncertain. Patients with active thyroid disease, individuals with allergies to iodine, and women who are pregnant should not use this product.
