Water is the source of life. Our body is made primarily of water. Nothing is more important than the quality of this material that makes up most of our organism. Even food and air do not hold as much importance as water does. If we want the best for our bodies, we will want to make sure that the water we are drinking is pure. Some people turn to purchasing bottled water that is derived from cleaner sources. This, however, does not take into account the fact that the water stays in plastic bottles the whole time which can enhance it will elements from the plastic material.
The other reason some might not want to turn to bottled water is because it is pricey, takes up space at home, and leaves plastic waste to deal with. A better alternative to this is to find a way to purify the water that you already have access to. Tap water is usually treated with chlorine and other chemicals and may contain small particles if it passes through old pipes. Even if you are deriving water from nature, you will still need to clean it from various pathogens that may be present inside. Here are some ways to purify the water you have at hand.
Boiling Water
Boiling water is one of the easiest ways to disinfect it. If the water is not drinkable or you are afraid of bacteria and pathogens inside of it, you can boil it for at least a minute of rolling boil. This will be enough to kill any viruses, bacteria, pathogens, or protozoa. Other pollutants like heavy metals or chemicals will not be affected too much by boiling.
Iodine Tablets
If you are out traveling at a place where you are not sure of the water quality, you can carry iodine tablets with you. Iodine is a powerful antiseptic just like chlorine. An iodine tablet can be diluted in a quart of water. If the water is cloudy, two tablets can be used. If you are going to drink the water straight away, you must wait at least 15 minutes. If the water is cold, it will take 30 minutes for the iodine to completely dissolve. Have in mind that iodine is not effective for Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Women who are pregnant or nursing as well as people with thyroid issues should steer away from this purification method.
Sunlight
The sun’s radiation and heat can destroy pathogens in the water. To do this, pour the water you need in plastic water bottles that are made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or glass. Steer clear of any other plastic that can stop the UV radiation from reaching the water. For the sun’s light to work, the bottles must be exposed to direct sunlight on a bright and sunny day with a maximum of 50% cloud overcast for at least six hours. For cloudier days, the bottle will need to stay outside for two days.
Chlorine Dioxide
Chlorine dioxide is a good disinfectant of water that does not contain active chloride. The chloride element inside is tied up to the oxygen molecule and does not have the same effect as pure chloride which interacts with the body. The chlorine dioxide product can be stored at your home for 3-4 years before losing its properties. Unlike iodine, chlorine dioxide kills off Giardia and Cryptosporidium — two commonly found water-bourne pathogens.
Distillation
Distillation is more effective than boiling. It requires that the water boils and cools in a separate surface. The steam is turned back into the water. This eliminates all microorganisms and pathogenic bacteria and separates pollutants like lead, iron and nitrates from the end water. You can distill your water at home by pouring water halfway into a large pot. Over the water, place a glass bowl that fits inside the pot to float over the water. Place the lid on top to close off the steam. You can even add ice cubes over the lid to speed up the condensing effect. The steam on the lid will quickly turn back into the water and fall into the glass bowl. When most of the water from the pot is gone, you will have pure drinking water in your glass bowl.
Filtration
Filtration is one of the best and oldest ways of purifying water. The filters that have been created since the time of ancient Egypt are made from natural ingredients that create small pores through which only water molecules can pass through. This leaves all other large particles out of the end water. Companies like Fill2Pure Australia have different forms of filtrating products that can filter the water directly from your tap or shower water.
Water Straw
There are filtering products that are designed to filter the water directly from the water source for individual uses. If you are out hiking, you can use the filtering straws that are available to drink water from creeks, lakes and streams. This is a great option for people that do not want to carry heavy water bottles and are out on an adventure in the wild.
End Thoughts
Probably the best and most simple water purification technique, for now, remains using filtering products. You can use them on all the water sources in your home or wherever you may be traveling. Water matters for you and your health. Make sure that you have the cleanest water possible at all times.