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6 Simple Methods For Purifying Your Own Water

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Whether you’re out in the wilderness or hooked to an untrusted water supply, you don’t need to count on expensive and wasteful plastic purifiers to filter the water you drink. Here are six simple ways you can purify your own water: at home, on vacation, or during your next camping adventure. All you’ll need to complete each of these is a fire source, the sun, and a few items you can find in just about any backyard.

Passively harness the sun for simple disinfection.

Solar water disinfection (called SODIS) is a process by which the sun disinfects water with just two ingredients: a clear plastic bottle and contaminated water. Simply fill a plastic bottle with the contaminated water, and sit it out in the sun for at least one full day. UV rays from the sun will kill just about any viruses and bacteria—although this method does not protect against chemical contamination.

There are a few more things you should know about SODIS before assuming you have a handle on this method. For one, it’s useless if it is raining out (although in that case, you could just be collecting the rainwater). The bottle should not be glass for this to work properly, and you can’t use anything bigger than a 2-liter plastic bottle.

Boil your water.

If you find yourself in a situation without a trustworthy water source, boiling is an easy option that will get rid of most disease-causing microorganisms such as pathogenic bacteria, protozoa and viruses. One word of caution: boiling will not remove salts, heavy metals, or other chemicals. It also won’t help at all with dirt or other solid materials.

You can build a fire in the woods, use your stove top, or any other strong heat source to get your water boiling. To properly kill off disease, you need to keep the water at a rolling boil for at least one minute. If you’re in an altitude higher than 5,000 feet, extend the rolling boil to three minutes. Then, let the water cool naturally and store it in clean vessels with lids. Boiled water doesn’t taste great, but you can mitigate the flatness of the water with a pinch of salt for every liter of water you boil. Pouring the water back and forth between clean containers a few times will also help with the taste.

Make a solar still.

Solar stills, in use since the 16th century, and recreate the natural water-purification system of evaporation and rainfall. The resulting distilled water doesn’t acquire the flat taste of boiled water, and is free of salts, microorganisms and pathogens. You can even use a solar still to turn ocean water into drinking water.The only caveat is that in order to make a solar still, you need a lot of sun, a cup or jar, bowl, and plastic wrap. Food for thought when you’re packing for your next expedition.

To make a solar still, you need a large bowl or similarly shaped pot with a wide, flat bottom. Into the center of the vessel goes a cup, glass or jar that is not taller than your large bowl and has some weight to it so it will not float when you fill the surrounding container with water.

Fill the bowl with the water in need of purification. You don’t want any of the water to get into the cup standing in the center. Then, cover everything with plastic wrap and put a weight over center of the plastic so the weight is sitting over your cup or glass. You don’t want the weight and glass to touch, but you do want the weight to create a slight dip in the plastic.

Put the whole thing out in the sun, and wait. Eventually the sun will cause the water to evaporate, and the plastic will trap the evaporated water along the bottom of the plastic stretched over top of the bowl. Your center weight will pull those water droplets along the plastic until they eventually drop into the cup, purified.

During transpiration, water that was absorbed in the ground by plant roots travels through the trunk and stems of a plant before being released from the plant’s leaves and evaporated into the air. This water vapor can be easily trapped by a survivalist for clean, purified water. Just don’t try this on poisonous plants! Simply place a large, clear garbage bag over a cluster of branches on a leafy shrub or tree and tie the bag off. Leave it sitting in the sun for a full day. The water droplets will gather at the lowest point of the bag, and can yield up to a half cup of water every day.

Make a simple filtration system.

Charcoal, gravel, rocks, sand, and even grass make great water filters for bacteria and chemicals. But be forewarned: These systems are not thorough. Only use this sort of filter to create drinking water if you are in an emergency situation. Otherwise, use this filter in tandem with another purifying source.

To make the filter, simply make holes with a drill or hammer and nail in the bottom of a large bucket. If you’re outside with no buckets lying around, you can cut a bottle in half and use that, or use thin bark or even leaves to make funnels that you then set into a vessel like a cup, bowl, or rock with a deep depression in it. Then, layer your materials. Start with pebbles, followed by sand, a piece of cloth (bandages will also work), charcoal (from your campfire), another piece of cloth or bandage, more sand, and more pebbles. Place a catchment bin under the bucket, and then pour the water to filter over the top of the sand. When all the water has made it through the filter and into the bottom catchment, repeat the filtration at least two or three more times.

Bring on the bleach.

If you don’t have power or fire for boiling, bleach can work very efficiently to disinfect your water. Always remember to get rid of debris in the water first. You can either let it all settle at the bottom of the holding vessel (this usually takes about 30 minutes), or you can strain it with a cloth or screen.

How much bleach you need will depend on how bad the water is. Cold and/or dirty water requires four drops of bleach per quart, while warm and/or clear water only needs two. Once you’ve added the appropriate amount of drops, put a lid on your container and shake it for 60 seconds. Flip the bottle upside down and unscrew the lid just enough for a little bit of water to seep out, thereby disinfecting the cap and bottle threads. Then screw the lid back on, wipe the exterior of the bottle and lid down, and let it sit in a dark or shady spot for 30 minutes before opening the lid again. If you take the lid off and can’t smell chlorine, add another two drops and wait for another half hour before drinking.

 

Water Filtration Systems for Your Faucet

Glass being filled with water from faucet with water filtration system

Water filtration is a general term that refers to any system or process that is used to filter out particles and pollutants from water. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a purifier to make the cut. Anything that removes any amount of particles, sediment, bacteria, and the chlorine taste can be called water filtration. If it has a filter of any type, it’s a filtration system.

Types of Filtration

Filtration systems can include activated carbon charcoal filters either designed within a pitcher or included as part of a faucet-mount or tap-installed filter, ultraviolet (UV) light units, reverse osmosis, water distillers (whole system or portable counter), or another form of water treatment process. The term incorporates home filter systems, as well as much larger scale municipal or public water treatment plants. Some appliances are also designed with water filtration features such as refrigerator models which come with onboard filtered water/ice or freestanding water cooler/dispensers.

DIY Citrus and Herb Sprays for a Cleaner Green Home

There are many different types of water filters available, and your buying decisions will be influenced by the present condition of your water. If it’s not potable, you’ll need a process to remove or destroy harmful bacteria, minerals, and pollutants for starters. Your local water expert is the best professional to help you evaluate your choices.

Once water testing has confirmed what is in your water, you will be given remedy options to make your drinking water safe (potable). Installation requirements and costs will be discussed, based on needs and whether you own your home or not. Today, there are many choices, and these systems are much more affordable than they were a decade ago.

Keep It Clean

Whether you choose a small filter or a large unit, maintenance is key to keeping that system working efficiently. That means routine filter changes by yourself or by your chosen water specialist. If you have hard water or, for some reason, there is more sediment and particles in your water, it may require more frequent filter changes. Being proactive with care is an important part of any filtration process. Water filtration systems differ in size, price, installation, and efficiency, but they all in some way improve our water’s quality.

What is Hard Water?

When water runs through limestone or chalk, it can build up a deposit of minerals, including magnesium and calcium. Water with a high concentration of such minerals is known as hard water. Soft water, on the other hand, contains low concentrations of these ions.

Home Filters

Water does not need to qualify as not being potable to benefit from some filtration system. One of the biggest consumer concerns is the chlorine taste left by town water treatment plants. It’s a necessary evil that results from measures taken to make your drinking water safe. You can, however, add an economical and simple filter system to reduce that if you wish to. A good alternative is also keeping a filtered water pitcher in the refrigerator.

Note that not all carbon filters, or larger units, have the same efficiency. There are differences in filtration layers or stages, as well as in the quality of materials. That’s where the product details should be reviewed, so you know what the product will do for your water.

The Bourton-on-the-Water.net featured is a good example of a simple measure to improve the quality of water. This is a popular choice for many because of its performance, easy install and affordable price.

 

 

How to conserve water

If we all do our part in conserving precious water supplies, we can make a huge difference for the environment.

The average person uses around 140 litres of water a day. But huge water deficits are on track to occur by the 2080s – so we need to start cutting down.

Water conservation means using water wisely and not contributing to unnecessary wastage.

Top reasons to conserve water:

  • Conserving water saves energy. Energy is needed to filter, heat and pump water to your home, so reducing your water use also reduces your carbon footprint.
  • Using less water keeps more in our ecosystems and helps to keep wetland habitats topped up for animals like otters, water voles, herons and fish. This is especially important during drought periods and in areas like South East England where there is a big demand on water supplies.
  • Conserving water can save you money. If you have a water meter then the less water you use, the less you may be charged by your water company.

Waiting for the tap to run cold can waste 10 litres of tap water a day!

 

Save water in the kitchen:

  • Put a large bottle of tap water in the fridge to save waiting for the tap to run cold. Waiting for the tap to run cold can waste 10 litres of water a day!
  • Only fill the kettle with the amount of water needed.
  • Put lids on saucepans to reduce the amount of water lost during heating.
  • Put your dishwasher and washing machine on with full loads and on an eco-setting wherever possible.
  • Use a washing-up bowl in your sink to reduce the volume of water you use to fill the area.

Save water in the bathroom:

  • Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth. A running tap can waste more than 6 litres of water a minute!
  • Purchase a water-efficient toilet (one with a dual flush) or go by the old saying ‘if it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down!’
  • Get a cistern displacement device to save up to 5,000 litres of water every year. They are free from most water companies.
  • Shower instead of bathe. An average bath uses around 80 litres of water, but a shower typically uses between 6 and 45 litres.
  • Install water-efficient taps and showers to minimise heating water – this will save you money on your water and energy bills, buy twitch followers as well as decreasing your carbon footprint.
  • Fix a dripping tap. A dripping tap can waste 15 litres of water a day!

Save water in the garden:

  • Sprinklers can use as much as 1,000 litres of water an hour! In truth, it’s okay for the lawn to go brown, it will recover the next time it rains.
  • Use a water butt to catch large amounts of rainwater and use this to water your plants, clean your car and wash your windows.
  • Use mulch and bark in your garden, it will help to reduce evaporation by up to 75%.
  • Plant drought-resistant plants that don’t require as much watering.

More useful tips and in-depth information can be found on the bourton-on-the-water.net website.

Water Conservation: 8 Easy Ways to Save Water at Your Home

The importance of saving water cannot be understated, especially as many countries around the world are facing drought conditions. Of course, there is an endless list of small changes you can make as a homeowner to improve the water-saving efficiency of your home, and they add up to a potentially significant difference in the long term.

1. Repurpose Water

A staggering amount of water literally goes down the drain each day, when there are plenty of smart, safe ways to conserve as much of it as possible. Your bathroom is a key contributor to single-use wastage, and by keeping a container on the floor of your shower you can collect liters with each use. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, even seemingly small things like using a container to catch the water used in washing fresh produce can make a difference over time.

2. Get Smart About Lawn Care

It’s a common misconception that maintaining a healthy lawn requires a plentiful supply of water. Even during water-restricted periods, keeping your grass green is possible – you just have to get clever about your lawn care practices. Depending on the severity of restrictions, you may only be allowed to water your garden and lawn on certain days and at set times of day, and this will probably be enough, as long as you follow a few guidelines.

If possible, it’s best to water your plants and grass in the evening so that the water has plenty of time to soak into the soil and roots without the threat of evaporation. In case you’re unsure whether to water or not, feeling the topsoil for dryness will give you the best indication. Another interesting option for a smart and healthy lawn is to go for artificial grass or a drought-tolerant landscape.

3. Use the Half-flush

The second button on the toilet is more than just an aesthetic feature. In fact, the half-flush button can save as much as 70% of the water used in a full flush, owing to the difference in flushing design. A wash-down design and a large trap way make it easier for waste to flow down the drain, meaning less water is required. If you can afford to replace an old, inefficient system, you stand to save a lot of water (and by extension, money) in the long term.

4. Use Dual Sinks

Washing dishes by hand gets a bad rap in terms of water efficiency, and it often uses more water than a dishwasher, but it’s possible to prevent a great deal of wastage by using your sink effectively. If you have a double-barreled sink, using one side for washing and the other for rinsing will allow you to wash an unlimited load without needing to refresh the water.

5. Check the Ratings

Every water-using device has an efficiency rating, and choosing a well-rated model will help you prevent unnecessary wastage at the source. In some countries, large devices like dishwashers and washing machines come with a star rating to give an indication of their efficiency, and even if they don’t, you can still do your own comparative checks.

In the US, the toilet is typically the biggest source of water wastage, followed by the shower and faucets, but with modern water-efficient designs like water-saving vacuum toilets and low-flow showerheads, much of that water could be preserved.

6. Install Water-Saving Faucets

The only thing more efficient than collecting and re-using run-off from the shower is using less water at the source, and the right faucet can help with that. You can use touchless faucets in your kitchen as well as it can save a lot of water. According to myhomeneedz, a touchless kitchen faucet can save up to 20% water compared to normal faucets.

Just like dishwashers and washing machines, faucets often come with a water-efficiency rating, but they can also be made more eco-friendly through simple add-ons like aerators. An aerator installation is a perfect project for eco-conscious lovers of DIY – once it’s done, the difference will be practically undetectable, and you’ll be saving liters without even trying.

7. Buy Smaller Machines

Devices like dishwashers and washing machines are becoming more water-efficient with each passing year, but the fact remains that large machines tend to use much more water than their smaller counterparts. A smaller device will also make it easier to commit to only running full loads since it will take less time to fill.

You might even consider investing in a double-gallon dishwasher, designed to run smaller loads with half the amount of water – there’s plenty of technology available to help in your quest to useless.

8. Install a Water Tank

If you have the money and the space available on your property, a water tank is one of the best long-term water-saving investments you can make. Even the average backyard water tank allows for the collection of several hundred liters, which is more than enough to keep your yard in good condition or fill your bathtub many times over. Tanks can be expensive to buy, but the savings you stand to make on your water bills will make it all worthwhile.

Fresh drinking water is a precious resource, and developing efficient usage habits and adopting eco-friendly plumbing has never been more important. The bottom line is that saving water isn’t difficult, and with a few tips and tricks up your sleeve, you’re fully equipped to start doing your bit for the environment and the world as a whole.

Water Conservation Tips for Residents

For Every Room in the House With Plumbing

  • Repair leaky faucets, indoors and out.
  • Consider replacing old equipment (like toilets, dishwahers and laundry machines).

In the Kitchen

  • When cooking, peel and clean vegetables in a large bowl of water instead of under running water.
  • Fill your sink or basin when washing and rinsing dishes.
  • Only run the dishwasher when it’s full.
  • When buying a dishwasher, select one with a “light-wash” option.
  • Only use the garbage disposal when necessary (composting is a great alternative).
  • Install faucet aerators.

In the Bathroom

  • Take short showers instead of baths.
  • Turn off the water to brush teeth, shave and soap up in the shower. Fill the sink to shave.
  • Repair leaky toilets. Add 12 drops of food coloring into the tank, and if color appears in the bowl one hour later, your toilet is leaking.
  • Install a toilet dam, faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads.

Laundry

  • Run full loads of laundry.
  • When purchasing a new washing machine, buy a water saving model that can be adjusted to the load size.

Outdoors

  • Maximize the use of natural vegetation and establish smaller lawns. For portions of your lot where a lawn and landscaping are desired, ask your local nursery for tips about plants and grasses with low water demand (such as creeping fescue). Consider planting more trees, shrubs, ground covers, and less grass. Shrubs and ground covers provide greenery for much of the year and usually demand less water. Use native plants in flower beds. Native plants have adapted to rainfall conditions in New England and often provide good wildlife habitat. Cluster plants that require extra care together to minimize time and save water.
  • When mowing your lawn, set the mower blades to 2-3 inches high. Longer grass shades the soil improving moisture retention, has more leaf surface to take in sunlight, allowing it to grow thicker and develop a deeper root system. This helps grass survive drought, tolerate insect damage and fend off disease.
  • Only water the lawn when necessary. If you water your lawn and garden, only do it once a week, if rainfall isn’t sufficient. Avoid watering on windy and hot days. Water the lawn and garden in the morning or late in the evening to maximize the amount of water which reaches the plant roots (otherwise most of the water will evaporate). Use soaker hoses to water gardens and flower beds. If sprinklers are used, take care to be sure they don’t water walkways and buildings bitcoins were tumbled. When you water, put down no more than 1 inch (set out a empty cans to determine how long it takes to water 1 inch) each week. This watering pattern will encourage more healthy, deep grass roots. Over-watering is wasteful, encourages fungal growth and disease, and results in the growth of shallow, compacted root systems that are more susceptible to drought and foot traffic. If an automatic lawn irrigation system is used, be sure it has been properly installed, is programmed to deliver the appropriate amount and rate of water, and has rain shut-off capability.
  • Apply mulch around shrubs and flower beds to reduce evaporation, promote plant growth and control weeds.
  • Add compost or an organic matter to soil as necessary, to improve soil conditions and water retention.
  • Collect rainfall for irrigation in a screened container (to prevent mosquito larvae growth).
  • When washing a car, wet it quickly, then use a bucket of water to wash the car. Turn on the hose to final rinse (or let mother nature wash your car when it rains).
  • Always use a broom to clean walkways, driveways, decks and porches, rather than hosing off these areas.

Know The Best Time To Drink Water To Lose Weight

Weight loss tips: Did you know that drinking water when you are unwell can facilitate quicker healing? Here are 4 other times when drinking water can be beneficial for your health.

Know The Best Time To Drink Water To Lose Weight

Water is a life saver. You can achieve your weight loss goals and prevent most health conditions by simply drinking sufficient water. From regulating body temperature to keeping you hydrated, delivering oxygen throughout the body and improving digestion, there are many functions that water performs. At least 2 litres of water are important for you to stay healthy and hydrated. Also, drinking water at particular times during the day can help you reap maximum benefits from it. It can help you with weight loss, heal from diseases quickly and also improve digestive system.

 

Weight loss: These are the 5 times you should drink water

 

 

1. When you feel hungry

 

Many times feeling thirsty is confused for feeling hungry. This usually occurs when you feel hungry shortly after having a meal. If you feel hungry too often, you should try drinking water. It will help prevent unnecessary snacking and hunger pangs. Dehydration can often you wrong signals of hunger.

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Prevent unnecessary snacking by drinking sufficient water
Photo Credit: iStock

Also read: Here’s Why You Should Make Cucumber Infused Water A Part Of Your Weight Loss Plan

2. When you are unwell

It might seem difficult to gulp down a glass of water when you are unwell but it can actually help you heal quickly. Drinking water when you are unwell can hydrate you and help in removing toxins from the body. It will make you feel fresh and will help you recover at a comparatively faster pace.

3. Before a meal

If you want to prevent overeating, then this is something that you can bank on. Firstly, time your meals. Try having your meals at the same time every day and it can take you a long way in being in sync with circadian rhythm. The next thing to do is to drink a glass of water 30 minutes before every meal. It will keep you from overeating. It is also an effective way to control calorie intake, thus aiding weight loss. Also, avoid drinking water immediately after a meal or during the meal.

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Also read: Water Weight: 4 Easy Ways To Get Rid Of It Immediately

4. On waking up in the morning

Now this is something many of you must already be doing. Drinking water first thing in the morning can facilitate smooth bowel movement. Drinking water first thing in the morning will satiate you and energise you, removing toxins from the body. Make sure that you drink water which is at room temperature in the morning. Slightly warm water can also be helpful. Avoid cold water first thing in the morning. It may trigger cough.

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Drinking water first thing in the morning can regularise bowel movements
Photo Credit: iStock

5. Before and after workout

Drinking water before workout will again, energise and hydrate you. Drinking water after your workout will help you rehydrate and make up for the fluid loss in the form of sweating while exercising. To maintain fluid balance, drinking water before and after your workout can be helpful.

Also read: Drinking Water With Meals: Is It Healthy?

 

 

The bottom line is to keep yourself hydrated for staying healthy. It will prevent diseases and help you with weight loss. No matter the weather, season or occasion, nothing should come in between in your goal of having 8 to 10 glasses of water every day.