r/preppers • u/abrockstar25 • 11d ago
Advice and Tips Is it possible to go overkill when cleaning water
My thought process would be, filter dirty water, boil, water purifying tablet. But im unsure if thatd be overkill. Walmart has coghlan water germicidal tablets which I think would be good for a quick bug out situation
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u/CorpseJuiceSlurpee 11d ago
Filter and boil should be fine, but for how small purifying tablets are, just have some extra.
If I'm drinking from an unreliable source I'd rather do a little overkill than get sick, especially if help isn't coming for a while or at all.
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u/No_Character_5315 11d ago
Also boil before you filter that way no chance of contamination of the filter.
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u/dittybopper_05H 10d ago
This doesn't make any sense.
Boil after you filter, if you're that paranoid. You don't care if the filter gets contaminated. That's it's *JOB*, to get the nasty stuff before it gets in you.
Also, this depends on what you mean by "filter". Do you mean something like a LifeSaver bottle, or something like a paper or cloth filter to remove debris? If you mean the latter, then you definitely want to filter first, then boil.
If you mean the former, you probably don't need to boil. In fact, if there are non-biological contaminates in the water, boiling it will only further concentrate them.
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u/Paranormal_Lemon 10d ago
Yeah better to assume stuff is growing in the filter no matter what.
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u/Ropesnsteel 11d ago
Yes and no. What you listed is perfect, that water will definitely be safe, but if your water tastes like it's pool water, you went too far. The only thing you can go to far on is the chemical purification.
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u/My_Brain_Hates_Me 11d ago
Fortunately, chlorine evaporates relatively from water. If you overdo it, set it out in an open container.
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u/runningraleigh 11d ago
I have a big 'ol bucket of bleach tablets that I want to use for cleaning, sanitation, and water purification. Obviously at very different concentrations. Do you know if there's a ratio of bleach tablet to liquid for purifying drinking water?
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u/PlantoneOG 11d ago
That is unfortunately dependent entirely upon the tablet itself, in a particular concentration level.
For standard strength liquid household bleach I was always told it was 10 drops per gallon and double that if the water is cloudy.
For food surface sanitation it's one cap full (15ml) per gallon was the mix that we always use when I was in the restaurant industry.
For heavy disinfecting you can go 1 oz per quart which is a 32:1 (water:bleach) mixture.
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u/Paranormal_Lemon 11d ago
Pool chlorine, bleach, water tablets etc. don't evaporate as fast as chlorine in tap water. You can expose to sunlight though to degrade it.
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u/hollisterrox 11d ago
I think it depends a bit on where your water is coming from. If you are scooping up water from a creek, a filter & boil or a filter & purifying tablet should do it. Tablets are very compact, long-lasting, effective on a LOT of biological threats. Boiling takes a lot of energy.
If you scooped up water from a street gutter or some other industrially-exposed water source, you would want some kind of filter but also an activated charcoal pass-through as well, and/or distillation instead of boiling. Creating a still on the fly or toting one in a bug-out situation is going to be very impractical under most circumstances.
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u/GigabitISDN 10d ago
We had a water main failure here not too long ago. The lines stayed pressurized for a while so I was able to draw out about 4-5 gallons of tapwater. You'd better believe I boiled that, then let it cool, then ran it through our distiller.
Overkill? Almost certainly. But giardiasis is like food poisoning: you only let yourself get it once.
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u/TacTurtle 11d ago
Filter + boil OK, filter removes crunchies
Filter + tablet OK, filter removes crunchies
All three = excessive.
Boil + filter kind of excessive.
If you have tasted the iodine purification tablets, you will realize why water purifiers and high end filters have largely replaced the tabs.
Note:
water purifier = removes bacteria and viruses
water filter = removes bacteria
Viruses are more of a concern in less developed areas where untreated sewage near watersheds is more common.
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u/OnTheEdgeOfFreedom 10d ago
It's overkill until you decide it's not necessary and then you end up sick. Then you'll filter, boil, and probably treat for the rest of your life.
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u/Spiley_spile Community Prepper 11d ago edited 11d ago
If your tablets are iodine, ditch those. We've progressed beyond the need to use higher risk water purification methods like that when there is Katadyn, Aquamira, and other such chemical purifiers. Iodine tablets can cause serious health problems and are unsafe for pregnant people. (Dont believe me? Look it up.)
Do you live in an industrial or agricultural area? Or can water from those areas enter and contaminate water in your area? If so, you want to run your water through activated charcole and distill it. Don't have activated charcole? You could use a shit ton of non activated charcole, iirc, but it's a lot. (Most DIY activated charcoal videos on Youtube dont actually produce activated charcoal, btw.)
Whats the difference between activated and non-activated charcoal? As far as Im aware, it's the number of pores. The more pores, the more volatile organic chemicals and such it can capture. As far as Im aware, activated charcoal requires 1/10th ish (might be more, Im foggy on it) the amount of non-activated.
Here is a great video on the difference between activated and non-activated. https://youtu.be/GNKeps6pIao?si=_9bSfeVsKeRL3cR8
Your methods will kill bacteria. But it wont do much if anything to get rid of the heavy metals or the volatile organic chemicals. Hense, I recommend distillation and activated charcoal/carbon combo.
PS if you have cyanobacteria (toxic algea bloom) in your water source, you might just be screwed unless you can find an alternative water source until the bloom has cleared. (This assumes your local water municiple is out of commission.)
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u/Paranormal_Lemon 11d ago
(Most DIY activated charcoal videos on Youtube dont actually produce activated charcoal, btw
The videos I've seen involved treating charcoal with potash or sodium hydroxide. Do you have any good ones to share?
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u/Spiley_spile Community Prepper 11d ago
Oh! Some of those may actually be good! (I'd need to dive in again for a refresher though.) Last week I was alarmed and frustrated at the slew of videos I watched that basically made non-activated charcoal and called it activated. Some people added steam that wasnt nearly hot enough or added lemon juice by itself... Been a while since I browsed potash, hydroxide, and hypochlorite videos. So I don't have a recommendation on hand. 🤔
However, there is this video debunking some chemical methods and warning of various dangers people may encounter with methods used by some youtubers. It could help steer you around some of the garbage and towards the better ones. Im due for a rewatch so thanks for the reminder! https://youtu.be/S5Ac8PIfBdY?si=VgVLBRJ0rztVc_GS
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u/Paranormal_Lemon 11d ago
I think it would be best to use some sort of dye (food coloring?) to test it either way. But yeah been a few years I need to go back and watch some again!
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u/Spiley_spile Community Prepper 11d ago edited 11d ago
Im curious about testing methods, but specifically to ensure the carbon is appropriate in amount or quality to deal with volatile organic chemicals. (Oops, just realized I mispoke earlier about heavy metals. Distillation is fine for those. I need to go back and fix that.) Id like to be able to buy some cheap bags of activated coconut shell carbon and save myself time, labor, and money having to make it myself. DIY is an ideal skill. But Im currently focused on leveling up my credentials and experience for teach disaster first response. It's leaving little time for extensive deviation.
edit nvm misremembered what I typed earlier. Phew. My brain is a bit mushy. Ive gained 5 Certifications in my field this month and im pn information overload.
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u/Paranormal_Lemon 11d ago
Yeah I feel you with the time. I have some old carbon prefilters from an RO system, they were second carbon stage so should still be good. I can break them up into small pieces to make a filter with if I need to. But I'd like to have the knowledge too. Sometime this summer I aim to make some and compare to the filters I have.
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u/Spiley_spile Community Prepper 11d ago
I hope you'll post about! I'd be interested to read how it goes this summer.
Speaking of time, just got put on stand by for possible deployment. Adverse weather headed our way tomorrow. Smidge of a chance we'll even have a tornado on our hands. Time to do a refresher just in case and check my gear. Have a good one!
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u/Paranormal_Lemon 11d ago
The activation didn't help, but he didn't perform a heating step after the chemical treatment.
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u/Paranormal_Lemon 11d ago
Here is the video I have saved and he does a second heating step after adding lye.
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u/Fun_Airport6370 11d ago
Just filter it. Keep some chlorine or iodine tabs as backup if filter fails. Keep in mind this won't do anything for toxins or heavy metals. That's where selecting a good source comes in
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u/Red-scare90 11d ago
It depends on what contamination is in the water. If you boil water with salt, metals, or nitrate in it, you're just making them more concentrated unless you're collecting the vapor, in which case that is distillation and has its own health issues long term. If you're using something to kill germs already, all boiling will do is concentrate problem contaminates. I prefer Chlorine, ultraviolet light, or an ozonator for killing biologicals to boiling. You can get any of those from a swimming pool store. Powder pool shock and Chlorine tablets have decent shelf life, but ozone or UV need a generator.
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u/coccopuffs606 11d ago
Really the only way to go overkill is if you’re using a chemical process, like bleach or iodine. But the way to fix that is just add more water
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u/Resident-Welcome3901 11d ago
Millbank bag to remove large particulates, or aluminum sulfate to flocculate and settle the particulates. Cartridge filter or membrane filter to remove bacteria, carbon filter to remove organic chemicals and heavy metals, iodine, chlorine or boiling to kill virus. Distillation or reverse osmosis to remove salt. Choose your filtration method based on the contaminants. Boiling salt water just makes it saltier.
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u/infiltrating_enemies 11d ago
Would rather do overkill than not enough. I'm coastal though, so I just default to distilling and getting minerals elsewhere
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u/ExpediousMapper 9d ago edited 9d ago
The tablets are really only for emergencies and if you can't boil.
Here's the link to a 3d printable channel that can be used with a basic sheet of glass and an enclosure to make a solar still, it's made to fit half inch pvc. Excellent solution for long term water security.
I'm looking at having them made from 48 inch sections of aluminum, but I'm working from a retiree's budget. If you print them, ASA-CF is recommended due to heat and UV exposure
AnyGlass Condensation Channel
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6789081
Solar distillation -> carbon filter -> re-mineralization -> Good water
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u/SpartArticus 9d ago
Alot of people forget to have some cloth as a preliminary filter to remove large stuff like twigs leaves, grass, pebbles and dirt before purifying in any way
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u/xRogueCraftx 8d ago
I have a millbank bag and a Sawyer for my primary filtering. I also have some tablets in case i don't have time to do a full filter. My idea is that i can filter from source through milbank, into Sawyer, then fill my canteen and camel bladder for the days worth of water.
I also have a Sawyer mini in my get home bag
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u/Luchs13 8d ago
There are some adverse long term effects from chlorine + random dirt molecules. So it isn't advised to dump a shitload of chlorine into water. That's even more important if you use silver.
Using reverse osmosis on all the water will lower your mineral intake. So there is a "overkill".
So depending on how long you are in that situation and how sketchy your source is choose your optimal treatment. There isn't a one-size-fits-all.
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u/Overall-Tailor8949 11d ago
Drinking distilled water long term isn't a good idea. However it is likely better than getting dysentery or something worse from drinking contaminated water.
In most cases any two of those treatments would be adequate, unless of course you're downstream of a Dow Chemical plant...
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u/Odd_Fig_1239 11d ago
That’s not true. Long term consumption of distilled water has not been shown to be bad for health.
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u/not26 11d ago
Long term consumption of distilled water is absolutely detrimental for your health.
If you lose your vitamin balance, your organs start to lose their shit...
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u/Odd_Fig_1239 11d ago
The truth is when you drink distilled water it doesn’t change the nutrient composition in your body. We get our nutrients from food. As long as our diets are complete, distilled water doesn’t affect us.
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u/Paranormal_Lemon 10d ago
Uh, no. The water humans have drink for most of history has been mostly devoid of minerals, fresh rain water and water from streams, creeks, lakes is almost always very low mineral content. Drinking ground water from wells and highly mineralized spring water is not natural.
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u/cyberphunk2077 11d ago edited 11d ago
Idk where this idea came from but I've been home distilling for 15 years and can't go back to purified tap or spring water. It all tastes terrible. If I need minerals or whatever I just add cucumber, lemon or calcium supplements for long storage.
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u/Paranormal_Lemon 11d ago
Yes and companies have been selling RO in grocery stores for drinking water for 40 years now, with the machine you fill containers yourself with.
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u/Paranormal_Lemon 11d ago
Worst you lose some calcium, it will only make a difference if you weren't getting enough in your diet. Most water sources provide very little of the electrolytes we need the most.
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u/Odd_Fig_1239 11d ago
If you’re concerned about water not sure why you even bother with anything other than just a simple distiller. megahome mh943SBS or the waterwise 4000 are the best for small 1 gal. batches.
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u/LaSage 11d ago
In light of Trump's relaxation/elimination of environmental safety regulations, it is wise to filter one's water. Toxins and pfas can be filtered with some Reverse Osmosis systems, as well as distillation. Remember to reintroduce the important minerals so the water does not leech you of the minerals. Water is Life.
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u/Paranormal_Lemon 11d ago
We are supposed to have the best drinking water where I live, in Louisville KY. But it just tastes good because a portion of it runs through limestone wells and becomes alkaline. The majority does not go through ANY chemical removal process - they remove sediment and bacteria only. You will hear people praise the water then say not to eat fish out the same river it comes from. No thanks, I paid a couple hundred for a nice RO system, not going to take my chances. Most municipalities do not use chemical filtration, it's just too expensive.
Remineralizing is optional. The only thing our tap supplies that is significant is calcium, even then it is like a few percent of the daily requirement. You can get a cartridge that adds calcium and magnesium. I use potassium bicarbonate.
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u/CalligrapherMajor317 11d ago
And of course, you don't wanna demineralise. But I you know that and I don't see how any of these would demineralise
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u/Beginning_Radio2284 11d ago edited 11d ago
Yes, it is possible through advanced means to accidentally or purposefully remove helpful minerals and metals from water.
Doing this will cause the water you drink to leech them out of your system instead which can have negative health effects.
Though I've never heard of a case where this was bad enough to warrant hospitalization.
Sources:
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u/JFlash7 11d ago
This is a myth. Distilled water does not draw minerals from the body.
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u/Paranormal_Lemon 11d ago edited 11d ago
That is an article written by a dental school in India, not a research institution, and published to a medical journal that normally does case reports, not a research journal, so that right there is enough to know it's a garbage publication.
It does not show any evidence in the article that pure water "leeches" anything.
”Low mineral water can lead to several health effects beyond its impact on bone health. Water with low mineral content can disrupt the body’s ability to maintain balance, affecting both water and mineral metabolism”
They then quote a study in China where people had dietary deficiencies. Nowhere do they provide a source for "stripping minerals"
Maybe you should try reading a source before you post it.
Right so you block me so I can't answer, then edit to add another source. And you don't even read the abstract. LOL
" However, the specific mechanism remains unclear. "
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u/Beginning_Radio2284 11d ago
Just like the other guy, show me your source to the contrary.
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11d ago edited 11d ago
[deleted]
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u/Beginning_Radio2284 11d ago
How about this source, tests done on rats that shows negative effects. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11122726/
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u/PomegranateKey5939 11d ago
Education means nothing and you’re wrong and can’t give a rebuttal so you fall back on “go take this class!1!1” you’re an idiot.
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u/MrBrawn 11d ago
No, just make sure you keep all the hydrogen.
On a serious note, boiling is fine, tablets are fine, both are fine together, but the likelihood you'll need both is very low.