How Effective are CHARCOAL & Sand Water Filters? Let's find out!

This week we're making another simi primitive slash survival water filter. We're using a plastic bottle, some sand, charcoal, gravel, and some cedar boughs for this one. These sand and charcoal water purifiers have been used for thousands of years and they're actually very good at removing sediment and clarifying dirty water. Here I show how to make a DIY charcoal survival water filter, and use sunlight to sanitize the water. The lab results weren't exactly what I'd imagined though!

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[nevisstkitts]

11:04 the solar disinfection (SODIS) method employed by the UN and international relief agencies specifies using PET containers between 1 and 2 liters for disinfecting clear water. They specifically recommend against using glass containers because they can block UV light. Food jars are sometimes produced with additional UV blocking to better preserve food quality. If the conditions are partly cloudy, then a full 48 hours is required f9r sterilization in a PET bottle.

The observed difference between e coli and total coliform after UV exposure has been studied by various organizations. E coli and other coliform pathogens that have developed antibiotic resistance do so by producing additional proteins. It turns out that these proteins afford significant UV resistance, as well. Different coliform pathogens have varying UV resistance to begin with. Thus, the observed residual of e coli and total coliform after UV treatment demonstrates the effect of uv blocking by that specific jar, exposure to less than 48 hours, and the likely presence of antibiotic resistant coliform as a fraction of the original sample population.

Take away: boil water and/or use chem disinfection when possible. Use PET for SODIS for at least 48 hours, tho IMO 72 hours is the way to go.

[sonicplanet]

I'm loving the water filtration series Clay has going on. It's very kind of him to lab test everything for us, and it helps separate fact from fiction - potentially saving lives.

[dougd]

A good step prior to pouring any natural source water into any filter is to let the water stand for an hour or more to allow suspended particles to settle out. That makes for clearer water to begin with and helps extend the life of the filter.

[joshuataylor]

Need to sample the swamp water too. You need a baseline to tell you how effective it truly is. Thanks for awesome vids!

[beansmalone]

Years ago, while camping with some friends several of us got Giardia infections. The only fresh water was from a small pond with a beaver dam and lodge, so we knew we had to be extra careful. We used iodine at double strength and boiling everything and still we got it. I've never been so sick. It lasted weeks. That stuff is no joke.

[edwardenglish]

Your UV quart jar should be upside down with the lid down. The lid blocks light during the peak solar time.

[mattmarzula]

I had a buddy send me a link to this channel because he couldn't believe how capillary action through a grapevine could filter water. We went to high school together and were in the same science classes. I reminded him about how we learned this as teenagers and the same thing could be done with a strip of cotton. It's amazing what people forget and then latch onto as if it will be the way to do things in some fantasy scenario. I don't know. I just like how the man pays for lab testing to prove the methods and talks the science behind it.

[madamecampsalot]

I'm loving this series Clay! Thanks so much for providing all of the details.

[misterdubity]

I once saw a carved stone water filter at a Hacienda in Mexico carved from solid limestone. It was like a big vase, 2 feet tall, 1 foot in diameter at the top, tapering to a rounded point at the bottom. Not sure how thick the stone was at the bottom. When filled it would slowly drip out the bottom into a container below. I wonder how well that cleared the water.

[calebcothron]

Hi clay. These water filtration videos have been really informative and enjoyable. Keep it up! I suspect you're right about contamination. Dont be discouraged if you still get some after trying it again though! I work in the plant pathology field and so i deal with lots of microbes and cultures. When i am inoculating cultures on petri dishes i usually do so in a laminar flow hood or biosafety cabinet while weating nitrile gloves, and using tools/vessels that have been sterilized by autoclave/ethanol/flame and i will still occasionally get contamination. If get contamination in a sterile lab it will certainly happen in the woods

[survivalbert]

Very well done and explained - thank you! In addition to your future improvements, such as washing hands, a general rule: If you take samples, then always take the "middle" portion. This means pour out the top part and discard it. Pour more water into your sample container, but only to rinse it a couple of times. Finally, keep (roughly) the middle portion of the water. This is even a good hint in a survival situation: Take water, let it sit for some time, take some kind of straw, and carefully drink only the middle portion. This is because most dangerous things are either floating to the top or sinking to the bottom.

[dougsamson]

Clay I believe the rim of the car you left in the sun is the issue. It was covered by the lid. Even if you had used chlorine to sterilize the water then put the lid on without sterilizing the lid and threads of the jar you would have some contamination present. That’s why you’re supposed to turn your canteen upside down with the lid loose to allow some of the water out when using water purification tablets. Just something to consider. Love the vids. Keep up the good work.

[MarJin]

Before I expose the water to the sun, I always put a few small pieces of flint into a jar of water, this not only purifies/refines it with minerals the water but also gives it a pleasant taste

[mycrosstocarry]

Sterilize the sand, pea gravel and rocks by boiling prior to building the filter and try again.

[thewarriorandthegarden]

you have done the best advertisement for this knife you truly have showed us how strong and versatile it can be in the right hands and thank you for the lesson

[theoroth]

Great Job. Thank you man! Few people in this branch are able to inform so clear

[Johnbobon]

Interesting test. Thanks for demonstrating these techniques. I've always wondered what to do about drinking water if I find myself and my family in a tough situation.

[waltwalters]

Thank you for doing these water filtration videos. I have been thoroughly enjoying them and learning so much

[catcalculator]

It reminds me of that filter with cotton, sand, charcoal, and rocks. I learned about it in school very early like at the same time we were putting beans in humid cottons in little cups to see how they germinate

[chlarmusred]

Great series Clay— Thank you for showcasing it. My kids love it!

We built a similar filter and ran into the same contamination issues. This may have been due to my 8 year olds excitement to pour the water. But, when you pour the water into the filter, the plastic coke bottle directs any rim spill-over into your catchment jar below. I switch to a pitcher and me doing the pouring…. No visual contamination (and finish it with a boil).