PRIORITY ONE: SAFE WATER

PRIORITY ONE - SAFE WATER

We are told to have at least 5 ways to start a fire in our READY KIT.
This is good advice, as fire will facilitate other important solutions, including pure water, safe-to-eat foodstuffs, comfort (both physical and psychological), and signalling, if and when appropriate.

That's great. But what if we come across water, questionable at best, and dangerous, most likely. (Treat ALL water as contaminated, regardless of how it looks, smells, and/or tastes.)

SO WHY 5 WAYS TO START FIRE, BUT ONLY ONE WAY TO PURIFY DRINKING WATER? 

I'm confused, too, so here's at least:

FIVE SOLUTIONS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER.

FRIENDS, PLEASE ... (DON'T WAIT FOR KATRINA TO HIT TO EXPERIMENT/BECOME FAMILIAR WITH ALL TECHNIQUES HERE LISTED.)

1. So, the first and probably most recognizable, is combined with the "FIRE PROTOCOL", i.e. BOILING.

• A great many resources recommend boiling for several minutes. 
• On the other hand, many experts in the field assert that once water achieves a rolling boil, it is, for all intents and purposes, free of dangerous contamination. As always, USE YOUR OWN JUDGEMENT. 

2.  Then comes MECHANICAL FILTRATION, i.e. microfiltering everything out, including cysts, bacteria, viruses and toxins. 

•  The high quality filter bottles (like the Katadyn MyBottle Purifier), capable of filtering 100 to 150 gallons are essentially ready to grab and go. They aren't CHEAP (inexpensive) but are "all in one". Replacement filters are available here lightweight and affordable, relatively speaking.

Full disclosure and personal opinion - For those just beginning to prepare for disaster, I do not personally recommend a full-blown filter unit, such as this [filter unit ] though an excellent, long-lasting filtration choice, The full filter units are as just as durable and more affordable in the long run, viewed as gallons filtered per filter.However, they are unforgiving when it comes to field maintenance, back flushing, and etc. That being said, if you have the required degree of self-discipline to perform such, they could definitely be right for you.

Be honest with yourself here - if you CAN'T or WON'T spend that time, you could put yourself and loved one's at greater risk.  

Therefore, IF you have the money, time and self-discipline to become thoroughly familiar with the use and maintenance of full scale filtration units, then by all means choose to do so. 

THE DETAILS:
The choice and use of personal filtration devices or systems, for the longest time, was a big, expensive deal. But the prices of perfectly effective filtering units have come way down. The perfect solution, which I have been  fortunate enough to, is CLEARANCE and ESTATE SALES. 

So far, I have the first 2 of these 3:

• Katydyn Micro, (now discontinued, now replaced by the Katadyn Mybottle, see above) a 1 liter, 2-stage unit that filters everything - viruses, bacteria, protozoans, & cysts. I happened upon this steal (reg. price $70) at an estate sale, in original packaging, thus never used, for $2! 

• The other, similar to the first, is good for 100 gallons before replacement of the filter is necessary (this was found in Clearance for $5!). The only difference between it and the Katydyn is the lack of a secondary, "taste" (Activated Charcoal) filter. In reality, once we reach this point in a disaster scenario, the "flavor" of the safe liquid of life is less important than its availability.
• A new player -  the Sawyer Mini Water Filter is literally blowing my mind right now. This is a true game-changer, and can easily replace the above mentioned units. It screws onto any water bottle or can be used as a straw and, with field maintenance, filters up to 100,000 gallons and retails for less than $25 !!!

          3. Finally, there's the STERIPEN PURIFICATION family. In contrast to any of the preceding, these don't filter but "corrupt/scramble" the DNA of any microorganisms present, preventing them from preceding, thereby halting the infective process before it even begins!

This is genius (I will have a separate post reviewing the STERIPEN) - it is truly amazing - Imagine being able to hike the Appalachian Trail and just drink WATER, where ever and whenever!  JUST MAKE SURE YOU DO IT RIGHT, follow the included instructions to a "T".

4. AND last, but by no means least, are the CHEMICAL DISINFECTANTS.
There are but 2 varieties of these, regardless of the names they go by. ESSENTIALLY, they are:

• CHLORINE BLEACH (unscented and NOT color-safe), which is what is in our tap water, anyway. Rather than simply copy and paste what is the most amazing set of directions, follow this link to CLOROX, and SAVE it, PRINT it, SHARE it.

• IODINE -  a little harder to find in it's basic form, but it is readily available (and safer), in kits like Potable Aqua and Aqua Mira. Available as DOSES, as in ""X" number of tablets treats "X" number of units of water." 

         When you merely look at cost per quart/liter, these kits may appear cost prohibitive at first to              some, but that is up to you and your budget/comfort level.

         USE CAUTION - Make sure you use the accurate dosage - explosive, projectile diarrhea from undertreated water is never safe, or fun.

AGAIN, FRIENDS, EXPERIMENT WITH THESE BEFORE THE EMERGENCY ARRIVES. That way, you'll be able to stock and be ready to use, your and your family's favorites.

Both of these chemical processes can leave an unfamiliar, perhaps less than desirable after taste in the now SAFE-to-drink-water. But don't worry - that actually means the processes are working!
Keep some Kool-Aid or the equivalent to cover the flavor, especially if you have hard to please children.

So, that's the BASICS OF EMERGENCY WATER PURIFICATION. Get familiar with these and use what best for you and your loved ones.

Which do you like?
Which do you want to learn more about?
Let me know in the comments below.