How to Make Your Own Survival Water Purifiers

We have all seen the sad commercials late at night about children in developing countries not having safe drinking water. At some point, we ourselves may even be faced with this predicament. We could be lost, stranded, or a disaster could strike that compromises our water supply. Although it is critical to have safe drinking water it these scenarios, it is unlikely that you've brought a water filter along. Luckily, you can make your own filtered drinking water with only a few materials you might find lying around.

Things You'll Need

• Terracotta clay
• Coffee grounds (used)
• Cow manure (dried)
• Dry straw and/or leaves
• Bucket (or other type of container)
• Lighter (match/flint works fine)

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Instructions

How to Make Your Own Survival Water Purifiers

• 1

  Place terracotta clay out into the sun to dry if it is not already dry. Once the clay is dried, crush the clay into powder. If you are in a situation in which you are just trying to survive with minimal tools, a large rock can accomplish this.

• 2

  Place one handful of terracotta clay powder into your bucket with a handful of used coffee grounds. If coffee grounds are unavailable, you also may use tea leaves or rice hulls.

• 3

  Slowly add small amounts of water into your mixture. You do not want to make mud, so pour in water conservatively. You want just enough water for a stiff mixture that is firm enough to handle and will not lose its shape if you mold it.

• 4

  Mold the mixture into a cylinder shape. The walls of your cylinder should not be more than 1.5 cm thick, or about as thick as an adult index finger. Leave your cylinder in the sun to dry.

• 5

  Lay out cow manure on the ground. Do not crush or break up the manure. Just leave it in clumps like you found it. Put your dried cylinder onto this layer of manure. Surround the cylinder with dried leaves and/or straw. Add on an additional two to three layers of dried manure. Make sure your cylinder is completely covered with manure, leaves and straw.

• 6

  Light the straw or leaves on fire. Keep an eye on your fire. The fire will burn holes through your manure surrounding, and you will want to add more manure when this occurs. This will keep the fire the correct temperature. The fire should be bright orange to yellow in color at the right temperature. Leave your cylinder in the fire at this heat for at least 30 minutes, but ideally for 45 to 60 minutes.

• 7

  Remove your cylinder from the fire. It will be extremely hot, so use something besides your hands to get it out. A stick would work if nothing else is handy. Allow the cylinder to sit and cool. Once cool, wash any charcoal or debris off the cylinder, which is now your filter.

• 8

  Pour water into the filter and allow it to seep through the tiny holes created during the firing process. Do not drink this water, as this is to clean your filter out. Once this water has run through, you can use any water filtered through your new filter as drinking water.