I. Sediment Removal and Initial Testing
Always test your water using high quality kits to identify specific threats to your health. To test, first remove sediments / silt.
What you’ll need:
Researching and discovering known or suspected water contaminants in your area enables your efficiency in dealing with water contaminants
Applicable Water Test Kits
Five Gallon Buckets or Coolers with Taps - Qty: 4
Copper (100 Mesh) screens - Qty: 4 (Why Copper?)*
Step 1 :
Place 2 Large 100 Mesh copper screens (1 on top of another) on top of your bucket. Pour contaminated water through the 2 copper screens into the bucket to screen out “large” particles/contaminants.
Step 2:
Let water settle for at least 30 minutes to allow heavy particles / silt to sink to the bottom of the bucket. Use a safe flocculant (to initiate the bonding of particles, to create heavy bunches of particles, and to accelerate the water/particle separation) if required.
Use coolers in place of buckets
Place 2 Large 100 Mesh screens on top of your cooler. Pour contaminated water through the copper screens into the cooler to screen out large particles/contaminants. Let water settle for at least 30 minutes, allowing heavy particles / silt to sink to the bottom of the cooler below the tap. Lighter then water residue with float on the surface of the water.
Step 3:
If necessary repeat step 2, in order to remove as many particles / as much sludge as possible prior to initial water testing. Test your water to determine if further treatment will generate usable water. You need to know if you will get a return from your additional investments of boiling fuel, iodine and filter resources.
Step 4:
Dispose of sediment, sludge and oil residue safely away from any water source and according to local regulations.
