Water is essential for survival, and having access to clean drinking water is crucial during emergency situations. In times of natural disasters or unexpected water shortages, it’s important to have a backup plan for obtaining safe water. One solution is to build your own DIY water filtration system. This article will guide you through the process of creating a basic yet effective filtration system using readily available materials.
Materials Needed
Before starting, gather the following materials:
- A large plastic bucket or barrel (preferably food-grade)
- A smaller plastic bucket or container
- A piece of mesh screen (such as window screen mesh)
- Activated charcoal (available at pet stores or aquarium supply stores)
- Sand (play sand or construction sand works well)
- Gravel (small, smooth rocks work best)
- A length of tubing (such as aquarium tubing or flexible garden hose)
- A container for clean water storage (such as a clean plastic jug or bottle)
- A drill with a 1/4-inch drill bit
- A screwdriver
- A hammer
- A utility knife or scissors
Building the Filter
Step 1: Assemble the Buckets
Drill a 1/4-inch hole in the bottom center of the smaller bucket or container. This hole will allow clean water to flow out of the filtration system.
Place the smaller bucket or container inside the larger bucket or barrel. Ensure it fits snugly and is stable. This will be the housing for your filtration system.
Step 2: Create the Filter Layers
Cut the mesh screen to fit snugly inside the top of the smaller bucket or container. This will act as a pre-filter to catch larger debris particles.
Fill the smaller bucket or container with the following layers of filtration media, starting with the coarsest material at the top and ending with the finest material at the bottom:
- Gravel: 2-3 inches
- Sand: 4-5 inches
- Activated Charcoal: 1-2 inches
The gravel layer will help support the weight of the other layers and provide a space for the water to flow. The sand layer will catch smaller particles that pass through the gravel, and the activated charcoal layer will remove impurities and odors from the water.
Step 3: Assemble the Tubing and Connect the Containers
Cut the tubing to a length that will reach from the top of the smaller bucket or container (where you drilled the hole) to the bottom of the larger bucket or barrel. Attach one end of the tubing to the hole in the smaller container using the utility knife or scissors to create a tight seal.
Place the clean water storage container at the bottom of the larger bucket or barrel. This will collect the filtered water as it flows through the system.
Attach the other end of the tubing to the bottom of the larger bucket or barrel, ensuring that it is submerged in the dirty water. This will allow the water to flow through the filtration system.
Step 4: Test Your Filtration System
Fill the larger bucket or barrel with the dirtiest water you have available (preferably from a nearby