Which Water Filter System?
 

Okay, here's the situation, my parents went away on a weeks vacation... Just kidding... I dunno why I said that.

Okay, I want a water filter system that will purify, tap water, pool water, rain water, and possibly even creek water. Is there a system that does it all? Such as Big Berkey or AquaRain?

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

You just named 2 of the best ......you could add Katadyn to the list, Auguarain is hard to beat for the money.

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

a reverse osmosis system.

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

So any of the systems from AquaRain or Big Berkey will work for me?

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

Maximus -

Depends on your budget and your purpose.........you can go all the way from a handheld to a marine reverse osmosis unit which will do 1800 gallons of saltwater, or damn near anything else, per day.

There is also a low (household) pressure unit which you can mount in your
kitchen sink cabinet with a sink mounted spigot for the drinking water it produces.

What is your goal, here?

I've used the low pressure unit for years, and a couple handhelds for out in the boonies.


Scyth

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

Pool water should be a last resort option. Lots of bad stuff in there, most filters do not remove them all.

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

Be sure to check out the Doulton portable kitchen and emergency water filters.

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

The MSR Waterworks II is a good system...small, easy to use and uses ceramic filters. Think it retails for around $150 and additional filters run around $55. I've have the original waterworks....works great and well made.

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

I've used a Genesis 6000 distiller and purifier for the past 6+ years. I love it.
Though, this isn't an "emergency" system (requires electricity).

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

I have the berkey system and absolutelty love it. Couldn't recommend it more. DO get a size bigger than you think you need. I got the small stainless one and the only problem is I am constantly filling it with water, because I use the purified water up so fast. That and buy extra filters and a parts kit. The system is stupid simple and requires on power. +1 in my book.

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

I have a Berkey and I love mine too. Been on it for 2 yrs...no going back EVER. I bought my parents one too. If you want to save money, go to your local hardware store and pickup a spigot and a few 5 gal buckets. You can buy the Berkey filters and just make your own. Google: "home made berkey" and you will see a pictorial with all the info. You can achieve the same results at half cost.

Also use the KDF shower filter. After living behind a chemical plant for 18 yrs it feels good to get this shit out of my system.

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

I did xactly that 2 years ago. Works great using just one filter it makes 5 gal in 8 hours. Use 2 filters to cut the time in half.

I use the "black filters".

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

Does Berkey filter Flouride?

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

You can get some extra elements (PF2 I think they're called) to filter fluoride. However, they're a little vauge on low well and how long they work.

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

Likely not. It's hard to filter. I use a Waterwise distiller for that purpose.

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

I'm wanting a filter for a SHTF scenario... Meaning I can go to a stream or pond or something to get water and then have it filtered.

Will the Big Berkey do this for me?

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

YES INDEEDY

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

I have a steri-pen and some tablets from the army navy store. I also have some particulate filters. These all (should) work for a water bottle and are highly portable. I imagine a combination of the three would do the job in a pinch.

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

Why are Big Berkeys not available in iowa?

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

If you are truly thining shtf type of filter, you want one that will filter contaminated septic type water wouldnt you?

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

One thing to think of for SHTF is making your stuff last as long as possible.

For water filters this means using prefilters. Depending on the original quality of the water, you may want to implement several stages of progressive filtration.

Let cheap disposable filters (coffee filters) that you can store lots of and/or reusable filters like cheesecloth remove most of the crud. Save your Berkey for doing what it does best - taking out the really small stuff.

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

I don't know whether the Milbank bag is available worldwide, but it's cheap as chips and very effective for clearing the crud (though not the micro stuff).

Hang from a branch or whatever over a container and fill to the line with turbid water. It's a simple porous canvas bag with one corner lower than the other so that the clear water drips from one corner into any container you place below.

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

All -

The Milbank bag reminded me of this.......

One way from the olden times.

Take a gunny sack, or similar bag, and fill the bottom of it

With charcoal you have pounded up into fairly small particles, and,

If you have access to relatively clean sand -

Like that you might find in a river,

Put a good layer of sand over the charcoal.

There you have prefilter and filter, in modern terms.

Pour water over this, set up to it will drip into whatever

Container you might have.

It works.

Variation on this theme.

If you can build a fire and boil water with pulverized charcoal

Thrown in - like a handful or two to a good sized pot -

Then strain it through a bandanna or whatever cloth you've got

You will have potable water.

Note that I said the olden days.

The specific reference to this comes from the Mountain Men

Of the Old West - don't remember if it was Jim Bridger, or ? -

Anyway, water hole in desert, water full of fine mud, and a ripe, dead

Buffalo in said water.

They claimed it worked. I have read similar references from the

Early days in Australia.

Anyway, I rather doubt it works for the various wicked

Combinations of chemicals and pollutants we have these days.

However, I keep it in my mental possibles bag

As a last resort.

A final comment, actually a quote from Jim Bridger,

Which is about the finest, shortest definition of a survival ethos

I have ever found:

"It pays to be shifty in new country."



scyth

A little more research
 

All -

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/activatecharcoal

http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed....ys/ae1029w.htm

scyth

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

I'm a Berkey afficianado too. Love mine. Put 1 oz silver and 1 oz gold in the bottom section, for a little added power.

Re: Which Water Filter System?
 

Do you want a filter or a purifier? There is nothing better than Berkey Black cartridges - purifiers, not just filters. They fit a variety of Berkey units, both metal and the Berkey light (plastic).