When it comes to making sure you have clean and healthy drinking water, it’s important to understand the options available. Many filtration methods can be expensive, and bottled water can also be costly. There are, however, plenty of cost-effective do-it-yourself (DIY) options for water filtration that can help make sure the water you consume is contaminant-free. We’ll take some time right now to explore DIY water filtration methods that are both efficient and cost-effective, including a product that Rusco has available.
The first method you can implement to help ensure you have clean drinking water is to boil it. This is one of the oldest and simplest forms of water purification. Taking just a few minutes to get water to the boiling point can effectively kill most microorganisms, and in turn, make it safe to drink. The CDC points out how this method can be useful for specifically removing parasites and bacteria from water.
A DIY charcoal filter is another potentially cost-effective option for purifying water. Activated charcoal is known for its ability to absorb impurities from water and can be made from readily available materials. Hunker.com offers instructions on how to make a charcoal filter, but at the most basic level, all you have to do is layer fine sand, gravel, and crushed charcoal in a container. Once you have that, all you need to do is pour the water through to remove larger particles and impurities.
A third method for a DIY filtration option is solar water disinfection, also known as SODIS. This is a method that utilizes sunlight to kill bacteria as well as other pathogens in water. To implement SODIS, you need to fill a transparent PET bottle with water and that bottle needs to be exposed directly to sunlight for six hours, according to a publication by the CDC. This is a very low-cost method that’s effective against a wide range of microorganisms.
A DIY ceramic filter is also an excellent option for taking bacteria and sediment out of water. It’s fairly simple to make your ceramic filter and soulfulprepper.com offers a few different ways. One such method involves mixing clay, sawdust, and a few other materials. The filter, once fired, can be used to purify water by passing it through the porous material.
Another DIY option is known as water distillation. Water distillation involves heating water to create steam and then cooling that steam to create distilled water. The setup for this particular option may seem complex, however, a simple version can be created using basic kitchen equipment. Cnet.com states that as long as you have a pot, a heat-resistant bowl, as well as a lid, you can perform water distillation at home.
Along with all the above water purification options, Rusco manufactures a filter that is both cost-effective and very much in the DIY category. The Spin-Down filter, which has been a part of the Rusco product line for years, is a simple way to remove sediment from your water system to not only help protect your health but also your system as a whole. A Spin-Down filter doesn’t require any tools and is designed to go directly onto your home’s water line. The filter is cost-effective in that everything you need to get it to operate comes in the box, and as long as the filter is flushed and cleaned out regularly, you can get use out of it for years without needing to purchase a replacement or replacement parts. There are many variations to choose from when it comes to a Rusco Spin-Down filter from several mesh size options as well as inlet/outlet sizes. Regardless of your system specs, Rusco has a filter that can cater to your exact needs.
As we’ve talked about many times before, having access to clean drinking water is very important to have good health, and the DIY water filtration methods above offer cost-effective solutions for cleaning up your water depending on the exact circumstance. As a result, the effectiveness of these methods may vary, and not all of them will eliminate every type of contamination. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to get your home’s water tested to find out what exactly you have going on, and depending on the results, you may want to consider combining some of these methods.
Regardless of what shows up in your water, Rusco will have a product you can benefit from or information that can help you out. To learn more, please contact one of our knowledgeable customer service representatives at 1-800-345-1033.
Source Notes: All information in this article relating to how boiling water can remove parasites and bacteria came from the CDC. Information regarding how to make a charcoal filter at home came from hunker.com. All information relating to how to implement solar water disinfection came from the CDC. Information regarding how to make a ceramic filter at home came from soulfulprepper.com. All information relating to how to perform water distillation at home came from cnet.com.
