DIY Water Filtration System

Your body needs water to survive. Water hydrates your body, regulates body temperature, moisturizes the air in your lungs, protects organs, helps with metabolism and nourishes the skin. However, recent studies show that some tap water of today is not safe for drinking. Pollutants such as dangerous chemicals and heavy metals are often found in tap water. A water filtration system removes lead, chlorine and other contaminants from your water, making it safe for you to drink. In turn, this reduces your chance of developing gastrointestinal disease, bladder cancer and other health conditions, according to Freedrinkingwater.com. You can make your own water filtration system at home in seven easy steps.

Things You'll Need

• 2-liter plastic bottle, rinsed and dried
• Scissors
• Coffee filter
• Rubber band
• 3 cotton balls
• 1 cup fine sand
• 1 cup activated charcoal
• 1 cup coarse sand
• 1 cup gravel

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Instructions

• 1

  Cut the plastic bottle in half, leaving you with a top section and a bottom section.

• 2

  Wrap the coffee filter face down over the top of the neck of the bottle on the top section.

• 3

  Secure in place with the rubber band.

• 4

  Flip the top section of the bottle over and insert the cotton balls into the neck of the bottle, pressing them tight against the coffee filter. There should not be any space leftover in the neck of the bottle. The cotton balls act as a plug for your water filter.

• 5

  Pour the fine sand into the top section of the bottle. The sand will cover the cotton balls and partially fill the bottle.

• 6

  Add the activated charcoal on top of the sand.

• 7

  Add the coarse sand.

• 8

  Add in the gravel.

• 9

  Sit the top section of the bottle into the bottom section of the bottle with the neck of the bottle pointing downward so you are left with the filter sitting upright. Move the pieces slowly to avoid disrupting the layers of filter materials.

• 10

  Pour water into the top of the filter. It will run through the filter material and cotton balls and drain out the neck of the bottle into the bottom half of the bottle. The water that collects here is purified and safe to drink. To be extra cautious you can boil this filtered water to ensure all contaminants are removed before drinking.