Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Here's the best link I could find for a homemade water filter.

They show it being made in a hollowed out log but a series of stacked buckets should be more doable in the US.

http://www.m4040.com/Survival/Skills/Water/Water.htm

One problem is it requires "crushed black charcoal" [not BBQ bricketts because they are likely more toxic than the water your are starting with].

How do you expediently make the quantities of charcoal required?

As the article stated, you may still have to boil the water. And possibility add chlorine.

BTW, the Miox device is not something to dismiss lightly, especially if you become thirsty. It is well proven and continues to have a good reputation, even with the most aggressive tree-huggers.

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

EXPY37 it may well be that RO is the best solution for the stated problem. But who can provide filters for 100 peoples?

Can the RO filters be purchased on there own. Maybe the housing and other plumbing can be made more cheaply than the bought one.

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

EXPY37 it may well be that RO is the best solution for the stated problem. But who can provide filters for 100 peoples?

Can the RO filters be purchased on there own. Maybe the housing and other plumbing can be made more cheaply than the bought one.

Let's not change the goal in the middle of the mission.

First of all the OT did not postulate providing water for 100 people. That is a small village, not "your neighbors". An entirely different problem completely.

So, responding to the OT, let us assume the neighbors are 4 families with an average of 3/family equaling 12 people.

12 people will need approx 2 gal/day each for drinking and cooking if good discipline and management practices are used.

That's 24 gallons/day.

Easily provided with several inexpensive technologies.

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

EXPY37 it may well be that RO is the best solution for the stated problem. But who can provide filters for 100 peoples?

Can the RO filters be purchased on there own. Maybe the housing and other plumbing can be made more cheaply than the bought one.

Addressing your question, the RO filters are available cheaply and the inexpensive tubing etc is pretty much a non-issue re cost.

EBay is the least expensive source of RO filters. Anyone seriously interested can search "reverse osmosis".

Another possible way to provide additional "purification" [killing microbes] [NOT removing nasty chemicals] from a homemade filter is to use an expedient UVC lamp arranged to irradiate the contaminated water.

It is very effective and UVC lamps can be salvaged from some home air purifiers, swimming pool filters and other places. Energy requirements are low and UVC is probably the best purification method once chlorine and other non-renewable chemicals run out.

It is a major component in my plans.

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Ok lets work with 12 people. It can always be rounded up if necessary.

Which technologies will provide enough water for those twelve people?

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Ok lets work with 12 people. It can always be rounded up if necessary.

Which technologies will provide enough water for those twelve people?

A quick search of eBay, as I suggested before, yielded at random, this RO system.

http://cgi.ebay.com/WaterGeneral-RO6100-DI-2-OUTPUT-REVERSE-OSMOSIS-RO-DI_W0QQitemZ120074723140QQihZ002QQcategoryZ20756QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They claim it will do ~100 gallons per day and the cost as ~$125.

Another alternative, that I personally have, is discussed in another FluTracker thread cited in one of the first posts in this thread.

It is the ceramic "candle" filter capable of making 1000's of gallons of water. Simple gravity siphioning action draws the water through it into a container. It is as fast as need for the stated goal.

Be aware however, it will not remove chemical impurities that the RO filter will.

It will not remove all biological threats, so chlorine, Miox type, or UVC treatment will also be needed.

It boils down to this:

People will have to take the necessary steps to provide redundant sources of potable water BEFORE it is needed or they may become very thirsty and die.

Anything else is irresponsible and/or wishful thinking.

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

EXPY37 we are cross posting.

Next question.

How do we get the water to and from the water filter.

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

some filters have the advantage of being portable.

Some are fixed.

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

EXPY37 we are cross posting.

Next question.

How do we get the water to and from the water filter.

Buckets.

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

some filters have the advantage of being portable.

Some are fixed.

That is a simple engineering issue, solvable by even a smart teenager with common sense.

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Let's not change the goal in the middle of the mission.

First of all the OT did not postulate providing water for 100 people. That is a small village, not "your neighbors". An entirely different problem completely.

So, responding to the OT, let us assume the neighbors are 4 families with an average of 3/family equaling 12 people.

12 people will need approx 2 gal/day each for drinking and cooking if good discipline and management practices are used.

That's 24 gallons/day.

Easily provided with several inexpensive technologies.

That is a simple engineering issue, solvable by even a smart teenager with common sense.

The neighbour could deliver the water in a bucket left at the door way.

You do the work of filtering.

Place the cleaned water in to a clean container.

Leave on door step.

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Yes to the above.

Anne, if you are trying to provide as important commodity as water to a group of neighbors, I would think it would be worth investing a lot of time and study on the subject not to mention the equipment to do so. Their lives may depend on you.

A funnel device could be connected to the outside of your house for the neighbor to dump the raw water into, and a spigot provided to dispense the water to them, without you having to risk coming outside your house and being attacked or invaded.

From what I gather here, most people will have no idea how to make potable water, so if you have that ability, you probably can get some degree of protection from others who might otherwise not be so friendly.

I see you are in NZ, what kind of water do you have in your AO to work with?

[Lynda]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

It seems to me the MIOX is the best, most efficient, cheapest way to purify water.

EXPY, I was warning against the homemade models. the real MIOX has a titanium core. The homemade ones just plain don't work.

It seems to me that few MIOX's (real, not ebay with a stripped core) and cheap coffee filters for pre-filtering would actually be the best way to furnish water to a group.

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

It seems to me the MIOX is the best, most efficient, cheapest way to purify water.

EXPY, I was warning against the homemade models. the real MIOX has a titanium core. The homemade ones just plain don't work.

It seems to me that few MIOX's (real, not ebay with a stripped core) and cheap coffee filters for pre-filtering would actually be the best way to furnish water to a group.

I would partly agree unless there were chemicals in the water like PCB's etc.

My preference [after RO] would be an inexpensive ceramic candle and carbon block filter series siphon with Miox or chlorine dioxide treatment. The carbon would help to remove non-biological impurities.

Your mention of Miox 'copies' on eBay is something I hadn't heard of before, but I live a sheltered life.

I guess you know where I'm heading next.

[EXPY37]

Re: Discussion: How do we build a Water Station

Back from an eBay search and couldn't find anything ref a DIY Miox.

However here is a good link to a DIY one.

http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=survival&Number=72499&page=22&view=expanded&sb=7&o=&fpart=

I have a Miox and have carefully studied it and also read the Miox lady's comment that the electrodes are some proprietary design and have heard titanium mentioned.

I wrote a post in CE about a year ago on making your own expedient Miox with platinum electrodes and small battery [~6VDC]. There is no reason it couldn't be done.