Purifying Water for Safety and Survival

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What if the water you're drinking could mean the difference between life and death? In this episode of Survival Sense, host Keith Thomas takes you through essential water purification techniques to ensure your survival in any scenario. Listen and learn how to convert contaminated water into life-saving hydration with methods like boiling, chemical purification, water filters, solar disinfection, and UV light purifiers. Each method is laid out with practical steps and insightful tips, so you're equipped to handle any water purification challenge that comes your way.

From the simplicity of boiling water to the convenience of portable straw filters, and the innovation of UV light purifiers, Keith breaks down the pros and cons of each technique. This episode is packed with critical information that could be a game-changer in emergencies, natural disasters, or wilderness adventures. Tune in to acquire the knowledge that can keep you and your loved ones safe, healthy, and hydrated when it matters most.

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Episode Transcript

Keith Thomas (00:05):
Thank you.

(00:53):
Welcome to another episode ofSurvival Sense, your go-to
podcast for all things disasterpreparedness.
I'm your host, keith Thomas,and today we're diving into one
of the most critical survivalskills water purification.
Whether you're in thewilderness, facing a natural
disaster or experiencing anemergency, knowing how to purify

(01:17):
water can be the differencebetween life and death.
Before we get started, I wantto remind you to check out our
Send Us a Text Message link inthe show notes to share your
thoughts, questions and survivalstories with us.
So let's get into it.

(01:37):
Water is essential for survival,but not all water is safe to
drink.
Contaminated water can harborharmful bacteria, viruses,
parasites and chemicals.
Drinking untreated water canlead to severe health issues
like diarrhea, cholera anddysentery, which can be fatal in

(01:58):
survival situations.
In this episode, we'll explorevarious methods to ensure your
water is safe to drink, nomatter where you find yourself.
Boiling is one of the simplestand most effective methods of
water purification.
Bringing water to a rollingboil for at least one minute

(02:20):
three minutes at higheraltitudes kills most pathogens.
Here's a step-by-step guide.
Step one gather your supplies.
You'll need a pot or containerto hold the water and a heat
source like a camp stove or fire.
Step two filter the water.

(02:41):
If the water is murky, filterit through a clean cloth or
coffee filter to remove debris.
Step 3.
Boil the water.
Place the pot over your heatsource and bring the water to a
rolling boil.
And Step 4.
Cool and store.

(03:02):
Let the water cool naturallyand store it in a clean
container.
Boiling can be highly effective, but it doesn't ensure that all
pathogens and viruses arekilled in the water.
Chemical purification involvesusing disinfectants like iodine,
chlorine or water purificationtablets.

(03:25):
These methods are lightweightand easy to carry, making them
ideal for emergency kits.
For iodine.
Add iodine tablets to yourwater and wait 30 minutes before
drinking.
Follow the instructions on thepackage for the correct dosage.
Instructions on the package forthe correct dosage For chlorine

(03:48):
.
Household bleach can be used insmall amounts.
Add eight drops of bleach pergallon of water, mix well and
let it sit for 30 minutes.
Keep in mind household bleachneeds to be unscented, just
plain bleach.
Unscented, just plain bleach.
Water purification tablets.
These tablets are specificallydesigned for purifying water.

(04:11):
Just follow the manufacturer'sinstructions for best results.
While effective against mostpathogens, chemical methods may
leave an unpleasant taste anddon't remove chemical
contaminants.
Water filters are a popularchoice by outdoor enthusiasts

(04:31):
and preppers.
They come in various forms,from portable straw filters to
pump filters and gravity fedsystems.
Here's a quick overview.
Straw filters these are small,lightweight and perfect for
individual use.
Simply sip water through thestraw to filter out contaminants

(04:54):
.
Pump filters these use a manualpump to force water through a
filter.
They're efficient for purifyinglarger quantities of water.
And gravity-fed systems Idealfor groups.
These systems use gravity topull water through a filter.

(05:15):
Set up the system, fill thereservoir and let gravity do the
work.
Filters are effective atremoving bacteria and protozoa,
but not all are capable ofremoving viruses.
Always check the specificationsof the filter.

(05:36):
Solar disinfection, or SODIS, isa low-cost method that uses the
sun's UV rays to kill pathogensin water.
Here's how it works You'll needa clear plastic bottle.
Use clear PET bottles, as theseallow UV rays to penetrate

(06:00):
effectively.
Fill the bottles with water andshake them to oxygenate the
water.
Place the bottles on areflective surface in direct
sunlight for at least six hoursAfter exposure.
The water is ready to drink.
You just have to let it cooldown.
Sodis or SOTUS is effective anddoesn't require any additional

(06:23):
supplies, but it'stime-consuming and depends on
sunny weather.
Uv light purifiers are compactand easy to use.
These devices use UVC light todestroy the DNA of pathogens,
rendering them harmless.
Here's a quick guide Preparethe water by filtering out any

(06:47):
debris before using the UVpurifier.
Activate the device.
Follow the manufacturer'sinstructions to turn on the UV
purifier, then steer and purify.
Insert the device into thewater and steer for the
recommended time, usually about90 seconds per liter.

(07:07):
Uv purifiers are effectiveagainst bacteria, viruses and
protozoa, but they do requirebatteries and don't remove
chemical contaminants.
If you're in a pinch and don'thave access to commercial
purification methods, there aresome DIY options you can use.

(07:30):
The first option is improvisedsand and charcoal filter.
Basically, you're going tocreate a basic filter using
layers of sand, charcoal andgravel and pour water through
the filter to remove largeparticles and some pathogens.
Large particles and somepathogens no-transcript.

(08:00):
Your next option is a solarstill here, you dig a hole,
place a container in the centerof the hole, cover the hole with
plastic and put a small weightin the center.
The sun will evaporate water,which then condenses and drips

(08:20):
into the container.
And your third option is clothfiltration Use a clean cloth to
filter out larger particles.
While this method doesn'tpurify water, it's a first step
before using other methods Formaximum safety.
Combining methods can be veryeffective.

(08:44):
For example, filter water toremove debris, then boil or use
chemical purification to killpathogens.
This multi-step approachensures you're tackling various
types of contaminants.
Well, that's a wrap on today'sepisode of Survival Sense.
Water purification is acritical skill and now you have

(09:06):
several methods to ensure yourwater is safe to drink in any
situation.
Remember, the key is to alwaysbe prepared and have multiple
options at your disposal.
Don't forget to visit the sendus a text message link in the
show notes to share yourexperiences and ask any
questions you have about waterpurification or any other

(09:29):
survival topics.
If you found this episodehelpful, please subscribe, rate
and review our podcast on yourfavorite platform.
Before we go, a quick plug forthe book SAS Survival Handbook.
This comprehensive guide ispacked with survival skills and
knowledge passed down throughgenerations.
It's a must-have for anyonewho's serious about preparedness

(09:53):
.
Find the link in the show notesand get your copy today.
Stay safe, stay prepared anduntil next time.
This is Keith Thomas signingoff.