How to Filter Ditch Water the Easy Way

In an emergency situation, there are four elements to consider for survival: shelter, sanitation, food and perhaps most important, water. Without water, a person can die in just a few days. However, during an emergency, clean water may not be available. Even when resources are limited, there are simple ways to filter dirt, bugs and bacteria from the available water supply. Methods like these are already being used in third-world countries to provide safe drinking water.

Things You'll Need

• Stew pot
• Bucket
• Sheet
• Cup or ladle
• Gallon-size container
• Scissors
• Plastic 2-liter bottle
• Coffee filters or paper towels

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Instructions

Cloth

• 1

  Fold a clean bed sheet into four to eight layers. If you don't have a bed sheet, any tightly woven fabric will do. Stretch the sheet, or filter, over the top of a large stew pot.

• 2

  Dip water from a bucket of ditch water and slowly pour onto the filter. Allow the water to drain into the pot before adding more water. Fill the pot two-thirds full. Remove the filter.

• 3

  Place the pot on the stove or fire. Bring to a boil, maintain a slow rolling boil for 10 minutes. Allow to cool before pouring into a clean plastic or glass container.

Paper

• 4

  Cut the bottom off a plastic 2-liter bottle with the scissors. Turn it upside down. Place several layers of paper towels or two coffee filters in the neck of the bottle, pressing snugly against the sides.

• 5

  Pour the ditch water slowly into the filter. Do not allow the water level in the filter to rise above the paper towels. You do not want the water to seep down the sides, past the filter.

• 6

  Boil the water to kill any remaining bacteria. Keep out of sunlight to inhibit algae growth.