Natural Ways of Water Filtration Treatment

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), harmful matter can be in any type of water, including drinking water. Many people choose to filter their home's water to avoid health problems caused from salmonella and e. coli. Along with chemical treatments and reverse osmosis, you can use natural ways to filter water with basic items including sand, dirt and charcoal.

Sand and Dirt

• Sand, dirt and gravel have been naturally filtering water on Earth for millions of years and can be used as modern filtration tools. Many people believe spring water gets its purity from passing through the many porous layers of sedimentary earth. Some experts think the spring water moves through the sediment at a rate of less than 0.1 gallon a minute for every square foot. The disease-causing bacteria and microorganisms are filtered out and trapped in the sedimentary layer, leaving the water almost 100 percent free of contaminants.
  When treating groundwater or surface water with this natural type of filtration, several natural filters may be used to get the desired results. Some people use the slow sand method for bacteria removal. One cubic meter of sand will pass around 2 liters a minute. Pressure sand is another way to filter water and passes around 40 gallons per minute in the same time frame, but it must be backwashed on a daily basis. Diatomaceous earth, a fine crystallized powder, is also used and can remove small particles at a very high-speed flow rate. Others use porous stone or ceramic filters to clean their drinking water.

Charcoal

• Charcoal is another naturally occurring substance that filters water. Many people are familiar with charcoal filters in handheld water pitchers and coffeemakers. Activated charcoal is treated with oxygen to open millions of pores between the carbon atoms that make up the mineral. When liquid like water passes through it, the charcoal absorbs any carbon-based impurities and chemicals.
  Compressed charcoal, also known as a carbon block, is one of the most common water filters and can remove lead and chemicals. These filters need to be replaced every six months, because they can get clogged up. Granular charcoal is also used, but some water can get around it without being filtered. For larger bodies of water, powered charcoal is sometimes used.
  No matter what type of natural filtration system is used, water can still contain harmful products that will sicken a person. Always combine boiling and filtration, as boiling will kill any unseen microbes. Use the filter first and finish with boiling.