Water is something we cannot live without. In just two days without it your judgment is gone. After three days, your kidneys shut down and modern medicine cannot restart the kidneys once they shut down. Also, in a disaster your metabolism goes crazy and you will be perspiring, which means you will drink even more water than usual. In 1997 in Honduras, 9,000 people were killed by Hurricane Mitch, but an estimated 35,000 more died over the next five weeks from drinking dirty water. Your water MUST BE CLEAN. The average person uses an average of 72 gallons a day. No matter how much you store, if there is a disaster, you will probably have to find water and you will need to be able to make that water clean and pure. Finding water, even in Arizona, will not necessarily be the problem; the problem will be how to find CLEAN water if our local water supplies become contaminated.
So, what are the most important elements of a water filter? Well, simply stated, you need to have a way to filter contaminants from the water, and then a way to treat the water to kill all other pathogens. First, you will want a pre-filter. A water sock ($15) will remove all visible contaminants and many microscopic ones such as parasites. You simply filter water with it into a 5 gallon bucket, then let it dry inside the house (do not leave in sunlight) and turn it over and tap out the now-dry dirt, grass, or whatever. It will last forever if you treat it well and do not leave it in the sunlight.
After the pre-filter, you now need to treat for contaminants that cause many life-threatening water-borne diseases such as cholera, E.coli, dysentery, and typhoid. Chlorine can kill these contaminants, but stocking up on bleach is not necessarily the best way to go because the actual chlorine will leach out of the bottle and within six months 75% of the chlorine is gone. A better solution is to purchase pool shock (97% pure chlorine without the conditioners and other additives) at any local store that sells pool supplies, and keep it in a glass jar with a plastic lid (the clorine gas will eat through metal). 1/8 teaspoon will treat 55 gallons, but for less you simply mix up 1/8 tsp. with water and use the appropriate proportion for whatever quantity you are treating. Let it sit 24 hours and if you can still smell chlorine, or see undissolved chlorine crystals, you have killed the contaminants. If not, repeat chlorine treatment and wait 24 hours to evaluate again. One precaution: when you open the bottle of pool shock, do not breathe the gas that has collected at the top of the jar. It is chlorine gas and is toxic.
Now you want to make your water palatable to drink, and to do this you need a higher-quality filter. You can inexpensively put something together that will do a great job for around $50. What I am selling in (at cost) is a system that uses 2 buckets with an excellent quality ceramic filter in between the two buckets. You pour the water into the top bucket (after it has been treated with chlorine), and the water is filtered through the ceramic filter to the bottom bucket, where you access it through a spigot at the bottom. The top bucket has a “gamma lid” (screws on & off), so you can easily open and close it and keep the water clean. This will remove the chlorine and anything else which would make your water so you wouldn't want to drink it. When your ceramic filter becomes dirty, you use a plastic scrubby sponge (the kind you use for dishes) or a toothbrush to clean it. It lasts for thousands and thousands of gallons, until the ceramic is actually washed away by cleaning. What does run out is the activated charcoal, which is inside the pre-filter. The charcoal absorbs “off” odors and tastes. You will want to stock up on some of this from a pet store (goes in fish aquarium filters) or from a health food store. When your water starts to taste or smell weird, fill a clean sock with activated charcoal, tie a knot in it, and put it into the top bucket. Your filter will work just like new again. You can also make your filter work faster and last longer by buying extra ceramic filters. They are only $26.
Truthfully, this system has some repetition. You don't actually need the pre-filter water sock because the ceramic filter will remove everything that the water sock did. However, by using the water sock, you will extend the life of your ceramic filter dramatically. Also, the chlorine would kill some of the parasites that the water sock would already have removed. But in a matter as important as water for your family, it is much better to have a little repetition than to miss removing a dangerous contaminant. Technically, you could drink the water after it has gone through the water sock and has been treated with chlorine. But we all know the importance of hydration, especially in Arizona, and especially in a crisis situation where who knows what else might be going on. You are going to want to have water that you and your family will want to drink. This entire system is quite portable and practical, and very comparable to many systems that do basically the same thing, but cost four or more times as much.
Please seriously consider purchasing one of these simple water filter systems for your family, and let your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and extended family know about this opportunity. Let's do all we can to make sure that those we care about have lifesaving water in a time of need. I am offering this system at wholesale cost so that we can get as many of these filters out to the community as possible, before any need occurs. If you would be willing to help with drilling holes, assembling components, or delivering filters, please let me know! Thank you!
Tracy Langston (480) 804-1803 mailto:herffie@yahoo.com
Disclaimer – The above information has been compiled from many different sources. The information is accurate to the best of my knowledge and information but has not been evaluated nor approved by the US FDA, AMA, or any other US Agency. I make no health or safety guarantees.
Water Filter Order Form
Due Mon., Oct. 19, 2009
Name: ________________________ Phone #:_____________
Address: ____________________________________________
E-mail address: ______________________________________
Price:
Pre-filter sock - $15.00
Complete Bucket filter setIncludes 5 & 6.5 gallon buckets, gamma & regular lids, ceramic filter, spigot, all holes drilled - $47.50
Quart jar with plastic lid(PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE POOL SHOCK but jar will hold 1 lb. Pool Shock in bag – that you purchase) - $1.50
5 gallon bucket - $4.00
6.5 gallon bucket - $6.50
Gamma (screw-on) lid - $8.00
Regular lid - $1.00
Doulton candle filter - $26.00
Spigot - $2.00
Other items suggested for purchase on your own:
Plastic scrubby sponge (for cleaning ceramic filter)
Filters will be assembled & delivered in November.
Please order as soon as possible. I will be ordering components as I receive orders.
Complete Bucket filter set Includes 5 & 6.5 gallon buckets, gamma & regular lids,
ceramic filter, spigot, all holes drilled Quart jar with plastic lid (PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE POOL SHOCK but jar will hold 1 lb. Pool Shock in bag – that you purchase)
Dry pool shock – 97% chlorine – no conditioners (Store in glass with non-metallic lid.)
Extra activated charcoal to absorb “off” odors and tastes (available at pet or health food store)
Please make checks payable to Tracy Langston and return to
1753 N. Dresden St., Mesa AZ 85203. If you have questions,
please call 480-804-1803 or e-mail herffie@yahoo.com
