If you do not have a water filtration system shown above, you can use the 7 shelf filter as a LAST RESORT filtering method among many others. This will separate out most of the sediment particles found in the water and ensure that you get a cleaner form of water for your consumption.
Grit bottles can be used if there is still some sediment particles present in the water after passing through the 7-shelf filter. Simply pour the contaminated water into a bottle and shake it up, letting all of the sediment settle to the bottom of the bottle before drinking.
This will also work with muddy or sandy waters as well in order to remove sediment from them before it enters your body.
Chemicals that are used to disinfect water can be avoided by adding a little bit of bleach or other sanitizing chemicals to the water before drinking it. This will ensure that you do not ingest anything harmful into your body. After adding these chemicals, shake up the bottle and let it sit for about 30 minutes before drinking.
Depending on how bad your water supply is, there are a few other methods that you can use to purify it. These include:
Boiling Water– This method removes most of the bacteria and protozoa found in contaminated water. Add water to a pot and heat it up to boiling, then let it sit for at least 3 minutes before consuming.
Solar Water Disinfection- This method uses the sun’s UV rays to remove bacteria and protozoa from contaminated water. Place your contaminated containers on a clear surface out in the sunlight without any other surfaces blocking it, like trees or other shadowed objects. Let it sit there for at least 6 hours before drinking if there is contamination present in your water supply.
Ultraviolet Light treatment- This method uses what is called artificial sunlight in order to disinfect contaminated water. The UV light will kill bacteria, protozoa, parasites, and other illnesses that can be present in your drinking water. Place your contaminated containers on a clear surface out in the sunlight without any other surfaces blocking it.
Allow room for some room between the container and the close objects like trees or other shadowed objects. Let it sit there for at least 12 hours before drinking if any kind of contamination is present in your water supply.