Creating Your own Camping H2O Purifier


Creating Your own Camping H2O Purifier

If you’re an outdoors lover, then you know how essential clean drinking water is while camping. Camping trips often take us to remote areas where access to safe drinking water is limited. Therefore, having a reliable means of purifying water can both ensure your safety and add convenience to your adventure. This article explains how to create your own camping water purifier, a valuable addition to your camping gear.

Why You Need a Camping Water Purifier

Many campers and hikers depend on bottled water or boiling as a means to get safe drinking water. However, these methods might not be practical always. Carrying bottled water can add significant weight to your luggage, and boiling requires a significant time and fuel. Moreover, there can be instances where you run out of your water supply unexpectedly.

Diseases like dysentery, salmonellosis, hepatitis, and giardiasis can be contracted from contaminated water. A simple yet effective water purifier can filter out these harmful microorganisms and drastically lower the risk.

Creating Your Own Water Purifier

While there are several types of DIY camping water purifiers, we will focus on creating a simple and affordable gravity-fed filtration system. It doesn’t require pumps or electronics, making it a lightweight addition to your camping gear.

Materials Needed

  1. Two water containers or buckets
  2. A ceramic or carbon water filter
  3. Silicone tubing
  4. A drill

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Preparing containers: Start by marking a point on each container about 2 inches from the bottom. Ensure that the containers are clean, as microbial contamination can impair the efficacy of your system.
  2. Drilling holes: Using a drill bit that matches the size of your filter’s spout, drill a hole at the marked point on each container.
  3. Installing the filter: Install the ceramic or carbon water filter in the hole of the top container so that its spout runs through the hole and extends out the bottom. Apply the gaskets provided with the filter to create a water-tight seal.
  4. Connecting the containers: Place the container with the filter on top of the one without a filter. The bottom of the filter should go into the top of the empty container. Ensure that both containers are stable and well-balanced.
  5. Adding tubing: Connect a piece of silicone tubing to the spout of the filter. The tubing should direct filtered water into the bottom container. Secure the tubing’s position with a clip if necessary.
  6. Using the purifier: To use the purifier, fill the top container with water from your source (a river, lake, etc.). Gravity will push the water down through the filter, purifying it by removing bacteria, particles, and impurities. The clean water will trickle through the tubing into the bottom container, ready for consumption.

Maintaining Your Water Purifier

It’s essential to keep the water purifier clean to ensure its efficiency and longevity. After each camping trip, disassemble the purifier and thoroughly clean all its parts, especially the filter. Cleaning the filter involves brushing it gently under running water to remove trapped particles. If the water flow significantly reduces, it might be time to replace the filter.

Conclusion

Creating your own camping water purifier is a valuable skill for any outdoor enthusiast. The process is simple without needing any specialized materials or tools. Plus, it’s a long-term solution that can give you access to safe drinking water wherever your adventures take you. Remember, while this is an effective DIY solution, it’s also crucial to know how to use natural water purification methods in case of emergencies where your water purifier might be unavailable.

By Kokoda Gear Uncategorized