I live on a lake, what options exist for water purification? I know nothing.
Posted by Usual-Scarcity-4910@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 46 comments
The topic says it all. I also have a well but it's concrete capped.
hellhound_wrangler@reddit
Depending on what's in the lake, you might be OK with some backpacking water filters. Maybe see if your local conservation office can recomend some water test kits so can you can get a feel for what you need to worry about filtering out and then go from there?
Alternately, since you're looking at short-term stuff specifically, getting a couple flats of bottled water for the pantry might be an easier approach.
mlotto7@reddit
I own a private/shared lake with five other homeowners. The water is great - bass, catfish, turtle, ducks, and folks swim in it all the time. I'm concerned about the fertilizer runoff because we all keep pristine lawns. Berkley will be my go-to.
Berkley tests: These elements can reduce glyphosate in water by more than 75%. They can also remove other pesticides, as well as hundreds of other contaminants.
Berkey filters use a proprietary matrix of six different types of supports with millions of microscopic pores. These pores are so small that pollutants like pesticides can't pass through and are trapped.
Berkey filters can also remove other contaminants, including:Nitrites, Petroleum pollutants, Perfluorochemicals (PFAS), Pharmaceutical drugs, Trihalomethanes, and VOCs.
DirtyTacoBox@reddit
Berkey is garbage. They lie about the filters. Independent testing does not agree with their claims.
mlotto7@reddit
New York Times:
One area where everyone’s findings did align was in removing lead from drinking water, suggesting that the Big Berkey would perform well at removing heavy metals. So if there’s a known issue with lead or other metals in your water, the Big Berkey is perhaps worth investigating as a stopgap measure.
With its large activated carbon filters, the Berkey would also be expected to remove PFAS efficiently, and it did so in a test by the Environmental Working Group, who used our recommended home water-quality test kit for PFAS. (See the full test kit guide for detailed information; for more on PFAS filtration in general, see our overview.)
https://www.tidbits-cami.com/berkey-water-test/
alexoftheunknown@reddit
the first place you decided to ask this question was in the prepper sub?
ChickieD@reddit
My goodness….give the new person a break, y’all. They’re here to learn. 🤷🏻♀️
alexoftheunknown@reddit
:/ obviously you didn’t read the rest of their comments
tacticalawnchair@reddit
Sawyer water filters is the answer. They are cheap buy a bunch. The bags suck so get a bunch of other ones and extra options. Like platypus bags and life water bottles
Cute-Consequence-184@reddit
Pre filter the water.
Coffee filters, old T shirts, whatever.
You have choices like
sand filters, which work with beneficial microbes to help clean the bacteria from the water
Reverse osmosis
Something like a HydroBlu Versa Flo filter where you can set up a bucket gravity fed filter.
You can also boil the water then filter for taste.
Chemical means like chlorine bleach or pool shock.
You can also combine several of those above.
Watch this video.. It is about different filters.
For just taste, a Zero filter works great.
TheHappinessAssassin@reddit
Jfc like 75% of the comments in every question post are rude assholes. What a shit sub this has become.
Jumpy_Decision_8552@reddit
Agree. Not everyone is as knowledgeable as some of the others. Seems lo like the purpose of this sub should be to help those that are asking (who may not know as much!). Shout out to those who take the time to give I intelligent input.
TheHappinessAssassin@reddit
Exactly. Obviously there's information out there. We're on the fucking Internet. When someone asks a question it should be a conversation. Help others with your knowledge and compare methods.
y0plattipus@reddit
Have you heard of this thing called fire?
Usual-Scarcity-4910@reddit (OP)
Yes ive heard of it. However, if it comes to boiling water to get something to drink, I am moving to a hotel. If there are no hotels left, it ain't worth living in my book. I got a gas stove, BTW. But seriously, we got pfas in the water, even in the well. Probably heavy metals and god only knows what else, they used to make rocket fuel in the nearest big town.
y0plattipus@reddit
Truly a new level of dumb. Why the fuck are you here?
You are going to off yourself so you don't have to worry about PFAS's and heavy metals in boiled water? You'd rather die of thirst? You realize that is a problem for years down the road at worst right? It's likely you are drinking it for a few months max during SHTF.
Maybe it is best if you just curl up and die. The average IQ will increase.
Usual-Scarcity-4910@reddit (OP)
It was a joke, but i am never going to do anything to prepare for the end times. Except going to church. I am here to ask about water purification options in case we lose power for a few days.
pomegranatesunshine@reddit
Ahhh this post all makes sense now
Foragologist@reddit
Just pray for clean water and a hotel room.
"One hand in the dirt is more helpful than a million clasped in prayer."
AshMendoza1@reddit
“I am never going to do anything to prepare” ok so why come to subreddit dedicated to preparing for emergencies? You can use any search engine to find the answers you’re looking for
transitional_path@reddit
Agree fully except with the last part.
It's a willpower thing, and a belief thing. A willingness. Many people have high IQs but don't care to do anything. It's a mindset, a framing, a willingness, and realizing of harsh realities.
It could be associated with IQ though, I'll give you that. But it also could be about people's inability to accept harsh realities.
They don't realize that dying isn't just laying there and peacefully going to sleep. It's 7+ days while the body tries relentlessly to keep going, and it's not getting sustained. It's going to be horrific to experience. People actually think that's dramatic but ask anyone from countries where they experience hardship and death. We don't know hardship and death like that on a daily basis in the West. People don't realize.....they're making a mistake....
kkinnison@reddit
why are you even here then?
AnonymousAutonomous@reddit
Get a couple life straws on Amazon or something if you want minimal effort prep
Excellent_Coconut_81@reddit
You're too lazy even to write a proper post, and expect people to help you? I envy your self-esteem ;)
Usual-Scarcity-4910@reddit (OP)
I am too lazy for a lot of stuff.
Lard523@reddit
like googling.
this is a prepper subreddit. take a hint at the downvotes.
Think-Preference-451@reddit
Google search doesn’t work on a lake?
Think-Preference-451@reddit
Sorry if it comes off as rude. Prepped mentality requires problem solving. Your internet connection obviously works.
Lard523@reddit
as an outside perspective while telling people to PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GOOGLE SOMETHING can come across as rude it’s usually well warranted and a fair reply (like in this case). forums are for community discussion NOT stupid questions google can and in two minutes.
Usual-Scarcity-4910@reddit (OP)
I've been throwing out 10 year old green beens yesterday.
Usual-Scarcity-4910@reddit (OP)
It's not the the same. But I also live in the woods and on a street.
kadmilos1@reddit
Royal doulton gravity filter. Boil the water, put it though that filter and you're good! They are cheap and work. You could also add a drop of bleach if the water is dire.
YardFudge@reddit
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/water-treatment-backcountry.html
throwaway_overrated@reddit
If you drink a little bit of lake water every day, eventually you will build a tolerance and won't need to purify it before drinking
gilbert2gilbert@reddit
Have you tried blessing it?
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
You're new, so welcome.
Did you search the Sub before posting? This question gets asked very often by new people. Have you checked out the Sub's Wiki?
I would recommend you check my recent post about preparing for a Power Outage. There I mention the best filter I have found and explain why I chose it.
Usual-Scarcity-4910@reddit (OP)
Thanks
transitional_path@reddit
It's self-sufficiency. You have to look to yourself to solve problems. It's hard.
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
What item?
Usual-Scarcity-4910@reddit (OP)
https://www.amazon.com/GOLABS-Portable-Station-Generator-Emergency/dp/B08P5W4PXJ
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
They are just out of the all Black color. They still have the Black and Orange option. Same item, just a different color.
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
Happy to help.
alexoftheunknown@reddit
:/ are you actually trying to prep? if not then i don’t think this is the sub for you. i was gonna recommend you to go r/offgrid but honestly looking at your responses, you should probably stay on grid as far in as possible….…..
Reacti0n7@reddit
If in doubt distillation.
boil unknown water on a fire, capture steam, and condense it into another container.
if it's fresh water, you could get away with boiling and straining
you might be able to do something with chlorine and or iodine tablets - but unsure for how long term.
Germainshalhope@reddit
Yeah here's a good sourcewater filtering
Eurogal2023@reddit
Google how much chlorine (bleach) you need to make a gallon of water drinkable.
Then Google water purifcation tablets for backpackers
Think-Preference-451@reddit
Personally I’m saving for a h2O guzzle portable system or the clear source nomad. There’s also life straw, grayl bottles, bleach, water purification tablets etc