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national council of educational research and training (organization)

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central board of secondary education (schoo...

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How to convert seawater into drinking water [Class 6, Chapter 14, Water, NCERT]

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Quick video on how to make a water filter out of a 2 L bottle. This style of water filter should last through about 20 gallons of water in contrast to the store bought variety which lasts for 40 gallons. Cheap, easy, effective in a pinch.

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About this film

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

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Credits

The Story of Stuff was written by Annie Leonard, Louis Fox, and Jonah Sachs, directed by Louis Fox and produced by Free Range Studios. Executive Producers included Tides Foundation and the Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption. It was released in December 2007.

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About this film From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns.

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Other places at risk of running out of water

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Other places at risk of running out of water

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The 11 cities most likely to run out of drinking water - like Cape Town

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Cape Town’s taps are due to be turned off because of severe drought. It is not alone in having water woes.

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8 Things You Should Know About Hong Kong Water

Written by China Water Risk
January 12, 2012

Highlights
-Hong Kong uses more water and pays less for it than most other major cities.
-Hong Kong water is good to drink from the tap provided that the building's plumbing are well maintained
-70-80% of Hong Kong's water supply is from Guangdong

In Hong Kong, water is taken for granted because it's readily available, of good quality, and very cheap. We turn on the tap and it's always there. The thought of water rationing might as well be ancient history to those that were born after the 1970s. Water is so ubiquitous in Hong Kong that most of us know little about it. Here are some interesting facts about Hong Kong water you might not know that may make you think twice the next time you leave that tap on...

1. Hong Kong uses more water per capita than most first world cities.

According to the Water Supplies Department (WSD), Hong Kong's total water use in 2009 (both fresh water and salt water) was 3,350 million litres a day ¹. Hong Kong, unlike most other major cities, uses salt water for flushing, so from that total fresh water accounted for 2,608 million litres and salt water 742 million litres. This amounts to an annual per capita consumption of 172.1 m ³, making Hong Kong one of the highest water consumers per capita when compared to other advanced cities. We use more water per capita than Paris, London, Singapore, and Melbourne ².

Figure 1: Water use per capita of global cities

Source: Various government departments and institutions, see footnote 2 and 3 (* domestic use only)

Figure 2: Hong Kong fresh water use breakdown⁴ Source: Civic Exchange

However compared to Chinese cities especially Guangzhou and Shanghai this is not bad ³. But unlike most mainland cities Hong Kong does not have any significant agricultural or industrial users, and over 50% of our water is for domestic use. Since 85% of all water is used for industry and agriculture in China, especially in some of the driest regions of the country, Hong Kong's water use habits seems disproportionate by comparison.

2. Hong Kong water tariffs are one of the lowest in the world.

Hong Kong water is cheap compared to other major cities in the world. In fact, the first 12m ³ of water used every four months is free for all domestic users ⁵.

With a relatively high GDP per capita, Hong Kong's water could be priced higher, however as figure 3 illustrates, Hong Kong's drinking water price is actually very low relative to its GDP when compared to other countries.

Countries with comparable GDP per capita such as Netherlands, Switzerland, and the US all have higher water tariffs. In fact even countries with lower per capita GDP such as Israel and Japan have higher water tariffs than Hong Kong.

If we take a look at the absolute price from around the world (figure 4), again we can see that Hong Kong water tariffs are relatively low.

Water tariffs in other Chinese cities are also low, currently accounting for only 0.8% of national household disposable income. Given water availability in China, the Chinese government recommends a water tariff level of 2-3% average household income as a reasonable level ⁷. This implies a significant tariff hike which could impact Hong Kong's lifestyle choices given Hong Kong's dependence on China's water supplies (see point 3 below). For more on tariff hikes check out "Water Price Hike" in the Big Picture and/or opinion piece "Food for Thought".

Figure 3: GDP - Drinking water charge Source: International Water Association⁶

Figure 4: Water tariffs around the world Source: China Water Risk, GWI
3. Hong Kong relies on mainland China for 70-80% of its water.

Hong Kong's 2010 annual fresh water usage was 935.56 million m ³ whereas its total reservoir capacity was only 586 million m 3 according to the WSD. Given current levels of precipitation, Hong Kong's 2010 catchment yield was only 228.02 million m ³ making it reliant on Guangdong to make up the remaining 70-80%. This indicates that if supply from Guangdong was disrupted, Hong Kong may have to revert back to the water rationing days before it started importing water from the mainland in the 1960s.

4. Hong Kong's water is only guaranteed to 2014.

Hong Kong's water from China comes from the Dongjiang River, a major tributary to the Pearl River, 83 km north of Hong Kong. The Dongjiang also serve as a major supplier of fresh water to seven other cities including the heavy industrial and commercial centers of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Dongguan.
Figure 5: Cities supplied by Dongjiang river
Source: Civic Exchange
In 2011, Hong Kong renewed its water supply contract with Guangdong for another three years. Under the current agreement with Guangdong authorities, Hong Kong will pay HK$3.5 billion in 2012, HK$3.7 billion in 2013 and HK$3.9 billion in 2014 for a maximum supply of 820 million m ³ per year from Dongjiang River. The agreement also allows Hong Kong the flexibility to raise the maximum amount of water it imports from 820 million to 1.1 billion cubic m 3 per year if deemed necessary ⁸. Thus the supply of Hong Kong's water is guaranteed, regardless if there's a drought in Dongjiang. However, of the other cities supplied by Dongjiang, each had its allowance allowance decreased during dry water years ⁹, only Hong Kong has a guaranteed supply. Will this luxury continue after 2014?

5. Hong Kong will face increasing competition for water.

Currently the water quality of the water that comes from Dongjiang is guaranteed to conform to the national standard set out for Type II waters ¹⁰, and according to the Chinese government, water quality remains good in the Pearl River Delta, however the quality varies by section. According to the 2009 Report on the State of the Environment report by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, of the 33 sections of the Pearl River under national monitoring, 84.9% met Grade I to III quality, 12.1% met Grade IV and 3.0% failed to meet Grade V. However, the Shenzhen River was heavily polluted ¹¹. Although Guangdong's rivers may be less polluted compared to some of the other rivers in China, pollution is still a problem affecting water supply. To learn more about pollution status throughout China, visit the big picture.
Figure 6: Classification of water pollution in China
In addition to pollution, droughts contribute to the problem. An ongoing drought in Xijiang, another major tributary to the Pearl River, resulted in 900 ships being stranded in December 2011. The river's runoff decreased by more than 30 percent in December due to lack of rain, however water was retained in the Changzhou reservoir and not discharged to alleviate the situation to ensure drinking water supplies in January. Otherwise there would have been only enough water for twelve days ¹².

Clearly the region is water stressed, and though Hong Kong's supply is guaranteed at the moment, there's no promise that this will remain looking forward as cities in the region continue to grow and develop economically. Hong Kong may find itself subject to a cap on water or even decreasing total supply of water from Dongjiang.

The No. 1 document issued by Beijing in 2011 already proposed to limit China's water consumption to within 670 billion m ³ by 2020 ¹³. This means that the possibility of future limits on Hong Kong's water supply from Dongjiang is quite real and cannot be ignored.

6. Hong Kong's water is good enough to drink.

According to the WSD, Hong Kong's water is actually among the safest in the world ¹⁴. The quality of the local drinking water conforms to the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). However poorly maintained plumbing can affect water quality, for example rusty pipes may lead to discolored or foul smelling water. According to Hong Kong's Waterworks Regulations, the consumer is responsible for the proper maintenance of the building's plumbing ¹⁵. So as long as you maintain your plumbing in good condition, Hong Kong's water is actually safe to drink from the tap without having to boil.

If you are still unsure about drinking from your tap though, installing a filter is often an easy solution to ensuring the water quality you get from your tap. (Not sure on what water filter to use? Check out "Filtering Ideas".).

7. Hong Kong drinks enough bottled water per year to fill IFC Two and pays 1,000 times more for the privilege¹⁶.

source: http://www.ifc.com.hk/

Even though Hong Kong's water is cheap and clean, bottled water is still all the rage. In 2008, more than 275 million litres of bottled water was sold in Hong Kong generating HK$2.68 billion in revenues ¹⁷. An amount roughly equal to the volume of Two International Finance Centre.

This is despite the fact that bottled water in Hong Kong costs 1,000 times more than tap water.

It is worth remembering that there are other environmental costs associated with bottled water from the production and disposal of the plastic bottles to the carbon costs of shipping. In addition we often don't know what exactly is in bottled water. (To find out more about what's inside bottled water read "Just What is Bottled Water".) Perhaps in these economically unstable times, we could save by buying less bottled water.

8. Water embedded in Hong Kong's meat imports from China is greater than water supplied by Guangdong

Production of meat is water intensive. Importing food is actually an indirect way of importing water.(To see how much Virtual Water Content is embedded in meat, check out "Water Foodprint" in the Big Picture.) According to Hong Kong's Food and Health Bureau, in excess of 90% of all our meats including pork, chicken and beef come from the mainland.

Based on import data provided by the Center for Food Safety, figure 6 shows us the total major meat imports from the mainland in 2010 ¹⁸. Using the Water Footprint Network's global average Virtual Water Content embedded per tonne of meat, we can estimate what Hong Kong's meat imports mean in terms of additional water consumption. The results are eye opening:
Figure 6 - Meat imports from the mainland and their water impact Source: Water Supplies Department, Food and Health Bureau, Water Footprint Network, China Water Risk
The amount of water Hong Kong imports indirectly from China via its meat imports is a staggering 1.586 billion m ³- over 50% more than the total amount of fresh water Hong Kong uses annually (2010: 935.56 million m ³). Hong Kong is actually much more dependent on China's water supply than most of us realize.

China water risk affects us all

In a city where high quality water flows cheaply from the tap, it is understandable that a lot of us will take water for granted. Although we see China's water problems in the news frequently, most of us don't make the connection with Hong Kong. But in reality, Hong Kong is highly dependent on China's water supply, and whether we like it or not, China's water risk affects us all.
Further reading:
2 Paris - (550,000m³ daily drinking water + 170,000m³ others)*365/population of Paris 2.2 million = 119.45m³ per capita p.a.,

London - (household consumption in London 1,217 million litres per day + 492 million litres per daynon-household consumption)/1000*365/population of London 7.83 million = 79.71m³ per capita p.a., Environment Agency UK, http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/41051.aspx, accessed Jan 2012

Singapore - (154 L per capita per day/1000*365 = 56.21 per capita p.a.), Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, http://app.mewr.gov.sg/web/Contents/Contents.aspx?ContId=682, accessed Jan 2012

3 Beijing and Shanghai - China Statistical Yearbook 2010

Hong Kong - (3,350 million L/1,000 *365 = annual cubic meters consumed. Divide that by population of Hong Kong 7.1 million = 172.1 m³ per capita p.a.), 3,350 million L as quoted in Hong Kong Water Supplies Department Annual Report 2010, http://www.wsd.gov.hk/en/education/water_conservation/digital_resources_for_students/annual_report/index.html, accessed Jan 2012

5 Hong Kong Water Supplies Department Key Facts Aug 2011

10 Hong Konw Water Supplies Department, (applicable for the abstraction for human consumption in first class protection area) in the "Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water GB3838-2002″. http://www.wsd.gov.hk/en/water_resources/raw_water_sources/dongjiang_raw_water/index.html , accessed Jan 2012

About China Water Risk

We believe regardless of whether we care for the environment that water risks affect us all - as investors, businesses and individuals. Water risks are fundamental to future decision making and growth patterns in global economies. Water scarcity has emerged as a critical sustainability issue for China's economy and since water powers the economy, we aim to highlight these risks inherent in each sector. In addition, we write about current trends in the global water industry, analyze changes occurring both regionally and globally, as well as providing explanations on the new technologies that are revolutionizing this industry.

Read more from China Water Risk →

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8 Things You Should Know About Hong Kong Water | China Water Risk

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Written by China Water Risk January 12, 2012 Highlights -Hong Kong uses more water and pays less for it than most other major cities.-Hong Kong water is good to drink from the tap provided that the building's plumbing are well maintained -70-80% of Hong Kong's water supply is from Guangdong In Hong Kong, water is taken for granted because it's readily available, of good quality, and very cheap.

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Hong Kong uses 21 per cent more water than global average

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City relies on Dongjiang in mainland China for 80 per cent of its water, with a price that has progressively increased in last decade, currently paying HK$4.22 billion a year regardless of how much gets used

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View Slideshow

Venice has historically had a problem with too much water inundating its canals, but thanks to a combination of low tides and a lack of rain over the last few weeks, the sinking city's waterways have turned into channels of mud. Indeed, unusual weather patterns have caused Venice's water levels to plummet by more than two feet (60cm), rendering a number of channels completely unusable. And with no way to move through the city, many locals have left their boats and gondolas to languish in the muck.

The Independent reports that dip in water is the direct result of low tides caused by the super blue blood moon paired with unseasonably dry weather.

This, however, is not the first time the Italian city has seen its canals go dry; in 2016, water levels fell by 2.16 feet (66cm), and in 2008 and 1989 levels dropped by 2.95 feet (90cm). The canals are expected to return to normal when the rain returns.
Related: Italy is giving away hundreds of historic castles and villas for free
While the phenomenon is surely alarming, flooding remains the biggest threat to the city. Quarternary International published a report last year forecasting that Venice could disappear by the end of the century as a result of rising sea levels caused by climate change. The Mediterranean Sea is in fact predicted to rise by 4.59 feet (140cm) before 2100. The city itself is also sinking at a rate of about 1-2mm a year.

Via Independent UK
Images via Wiki Commons and Flickr

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Venice's canals go dry following weeks without rain

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View Slideshow Venice has historically had a problem with too much water inundating its canals, but thanks to a combination of low tides and a lack of rain over the last few weeks, the sinking city's waterways have turned into channels of mud.

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You've heard it before: when disaster strikes, you need access to clean water.

But where do you find it and what do you do if all the water around you has become, cloudy, muddy, or turbid?

Unless you've been thrust into a survival situation before, you probably don't know just how crucial clean water can be, and how rare it is to have it at your disposal after a disaster.

Even if you keep plenty of bottled water in your emergency stash, when a natural disaster strikes you could be on the move, which means you won't be able to tote around more than you can carry.

Combine this with the fact that during natural disasters, water treatment can shut down and clean water often becomes contaminated. This means even if you are in the comfort of your home, simply turning on the tap doesn't guarantee the water coming out of it is safe for drinking.

Plus, natural disasters all affect water differently. An earthquake can break water supply lines contaminating a whole city's water source. Floods can destroy household plumbing and water storage tanks. Even rivers and streams-known for being clean due to their moving nature-often become contaminated or at the very least dirty and turbid.

All of this is to say... you can last weeks without food, but without water? You're at risk of dying in days.

Which is why you need to know how to purify muddy and turbid water, no matter where you are and what type of emergency situation you find yourself in.

Unfortunately, using any standard water filter or purifier doesn't work with turbid water. In fact, you'll simply clog up your filter and ruin it if you don't start with practically clear water before trying to run it through your filter.

So whether you're dealing with dirty or muddy water, you need a method to clear the water before drinking it or passing it through your filter.
Lucky for you, I've got four incredibly simple methods to purify turbid water. Each one uses different supplies so you can figure out which one is easiest for you given the materials you have and the situation you're facing.
Let's get started.

Method #1: Cloth + Two Jars

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love survival hacks that don't require obscure equipment. The best thing about this method is it uses only three items, and these are things you can find almost anywhere: in your pantry, in the dumpster, at a gas station, etc...

All you need are two jars and a piece of cloth (such as a strip of tee-shirt) and you'll be well on your way to purifying turbid water in no time.

Step #1: Put dirty water in one jar

While your jars don't necessarily need to be transparent, it can only help. The goal here is to filter the water from one glass to another while using the cloth to absorb the dirt and mud, so a clear glass helps you see how much of the mud your cloth absorbed.

To start, place the muddy/turbid water in one jar, and set the empty jar next to it.

Step #2: Run the cloth from the muddy jar to the empty jar

Don't get hung up on "cloth". You can use something as simple as a strip of a tee-shirt for this method. However, do know the cloth should be narrow and long enough to run from one jar into the other.

Take your piece of cloth and insert one end into the jar with the muddy water. Then, take the other end and put it into the empty glass.

Step #3: Wait for the water to move from one jar to another

After you insert the cloth, the water will begin to move from the muddy jar to the empty jar. The cloth will absorb the mud and dirt and filter the clean water into your empty glass. It should only take a short while (depending on your jar size) before you have clear, muck-free water!

Step #4: Purify and Enjoy!

Even though the water looks clear and has gone through one stage of filtration, boil or filter the water to kill and remove any remaining germs and parasites .

Method #2: Bottle, Rocks, Sand, Cloth, & Charcoal

This method requires a few more inputs than the first, but they're simple to get your hands on plus it purifies the water so you get more bang for your buck .

Soldiers use this method to purify water in emergencies because almost anywhere you are, you can get your hands on a bottle, rocks, sand, cloth, and charcoal.

And like I mentioned, the great thing about this method is it removes harmful elements such as copper and chlorine without having to boil the water or use a special filter.

Step #1: Cut the bottom of the bottle and make four to five holes in the bottle cap.

The bottle acts as your main filter. You'll be stuffing it with other materials, so whether you use scissors or the knife from your bug out bag, it's important to make sure you cut the bottom of the bottle off so you can put the sand, cloth, and charcoal inside.

After cutting off the bottom of the bottle, you'll want to punch four or five holes in the bottle cap. Use a sharp edge, jagged rock, or even a pen to punch smalls holes. The key is to create an opening large enough to let the water drain through without letting dirt or particles through. So be sure to keep your holes on the smaller side.

Step #2: Place cloth inside to act as a filter

Once your bottle is prepped, it's time to place cloth inside to act as a particle filter.

Since you're using additional material to filter the water, you can also use tissues or napkins in this step. But make sure you use enough to thoroughly pad the bottom of the bottle near the bottle cap.

The point is for the cloth/tissue to servie as the final particle filter for the water, so it needs to be strong enough to not break or allow dirt particles through once the water hits it.

Step #3: Add a small amount of clean sand/gravel into the bottle.

Next, you'll want to add a small amount of sand/gravel to the bottle. When you put the sand and gravel mixture into the bottle, make sure it stays below the tissue/cloth filter. You don't want it to overflow, or get underneath the filter and leak into your clean water.

Step #4: Add small pieces of charcoal to help with filtration

Charcoal is great for helping to purify water. In fact, many water filters are packed with charcoal, since active charcoal absorbs turbid substances from gases and liquids (like water).

For this filter, you'll need smaller pieces of carbon. If you have large pieces, break them against concrete to make them smaller and wash it to remove black residue, so it doesn't leak into your water. Then, place the smaller pieces of charcoal on top of the sand/gravel mixture.

You're aiming for about 150-200 grams, so don't be worried if the charcoal rises above your tissue filter.

Step #5: Add more sand/gravel and tissue/cloth on top of the charcoal

Once you've got your charcoal in the bottle, you'll want to add a bit more sand/gravel to the mix. Then, add more tissue/cloth to top off your filter. These two layers will act as a pre-filter for the water you pass through the bottle.

The goal is to catch dirt/mud right off the bat, then treat it with charcoal, then catch any remaining substances in the sand/gravel and tissues layers at the bottom of your bottle.

Step #6: Place a clean container under the water filter and let it rest in the sun

Whether you're filling a water bottle, hydration sack, or just a plain old jar, you need something to catch the clean water. You can place this directly under your bottle filter, like this:

Then, pour turbid water into the top of your filter. The water will pass through the various layers and trickle out the holes you punched in the bottle cap.

You're almost in the clear at this point. To make sure it's safe, run it through your water filter, boil it, or leave it in sunlight for 2-3 hours. The UV rays will act as yet another filtration device.

After that, it's ready to drink!

Method #3: P&G Water Packets

P&G Water Purification Packets Separate Dirt and Purify Water

This method takes minimal supplies and a short amount of time, making it one of the easiest ways to treat and purify turbid water... if you've got the right equipment in your bug out bag or emergency kit. All you need is a container to hold water and a P&G water packet .

Step #1: Fill a large container with water

The great thing about this water purification method is a single P&G water packet treats 2.5 gallons of water. This makes this method excellent for those who need to treat a large amount of water in a short amount of time.

As you may have guessed, the first step here is to fill a large container with water. If you're using just one packet, shoot for 2.5 gallons or less. Many buckets will mark how many liters or gallons they hold, but if you find yourself without one, you can think of this in terms of a small fish tank or a couple of milk jugs.

Step #2: Place the P&G Packet in the container and stir for 5 minutes

Once you've got your container filled, empty one P&G packet into the container for every 2.5 gallons of water. Then, use a clean device (such as a spoon, knife, or even a rinsed stick), to stir the water for five minutes.

Step #3: Let water sit for 25 minutes before enjoying!

The During this time period, the floc will settle to the bottom of the water container. P&G water packet takes 25 minutes to fully purify the water, so you'll need to let it rest for this duration of time.

Once the 25 minutes are up, carefully transfer the water to a clean container (without floc) by pouring it into a separate container. If you can use a cloth to strain the water and ensure none of the floc gets into the clean container that's best, but so long as you pour carefully the floc that settled at the bottom will stay put.

Method #4: DayOne Waterbag + P&G Purification Packets

A lot of survival tricks use gear that goes hand in hand. This is one of those tricks. This method uses the same P&G water packets from the purification method above, but with a different container for your water: the DayOne waterbag .

This kit comes with an integrated filtration system and 60 P&G water packets to treat even the most turbid water without ruining filters. If you're looking for the absolute best purification system for any emergency, this is the combination for you.

Step #1: Collect water in pack

The great thing about using the DayOne Waterbag is you can collect water directly in the pack itself. No containers, bottles, or jars needed. Before you start filling the bag, make sure the clamp on the tube, which serves as the filtration device, is closed. It should look something like this:

Scoop water into directly into the bag and fill it to the 10L (or 2.5 gallon) mark.

Step #2: Pour one P&G packet into the bag and mix for 5 minutes

Once you've filled your bag to the 10L mark, it's time to add the The P&G packet. Again, I can't emphasize how great this method is for including everything you need. DayOne Waterbag even comes with a shoulder strap cutting tool that you can use to slice open the P&G water packet - way better than using your teeth, right?

Once you've got the packet open, go ahead and add it to the bag. Just like the previous method, you'll want to mix the water and the packet for five minutes. To do this with the bag, close it by folding down the top closure three times, releasing excess air, and buckling the clasp. Then, twist the bag back and forth to mix the contents.

You can hang the bag on a tree branch so you can mix it with both hands, or you can hold it with one hand while twisting it with the other if you're not near a tree, or can't find a sturdy branch.

As you're mixing, the water will become colored. Don't be alarmed - this means the packet is working!

Step #3: Let water sit for 25 minutes

This method also requires you to let the water sit for 25 minutes before it's ready to drink. If you don't have a place to hang the bag, you can wear it as a backpack during the rest period.

However, you'll want to make sure you don't move around too much. The whole point here is to give the dirt particles time to settle at the bottom of the pack.

Toward the end of the 25 minutes, you'll notice the water becomes clear above the outlet of the bag. The dirt will settle below it. If the dirt gets caught on the walls of the bag, feel free to tap it to help it settle at the bottom.

Step #4: Drain water into clean container

Now for the fun part! After waiting those 25 minutes, your water is finally ready to drink. It's time to release the shut-off clamp and dispense the water into a clean container or water bottle.

You'll notice that the water is clean only above the outlet port. This means you should not dispense the water below that port. The P&G packet helps the floc settle at the bottom, leaving the clean water above that point. Dirt has settled below it, so only drain the bag up until that point.

It's also worth noting that if after this process the water remains colored, yellow, or cloudy, you shouldn't drink it. Instead, mix it again and wait another 25 minutes. If the water is still colored or dirty after a second attempt, discard it.

You'll also want to drink the water within 24 hours of treating it. Water not drunk within that time may run the risk of being too dirty for human consumption, but can be used for cooking, washing, or even watering your animals.

And last, but certainly not least, clean the bag after each use! You can use the remaining water below to port to gather any sediment in the bag and discard it, preferably in a latrine or below ground. Then, wipe the bag with a cloth to get rid of any remaining sediment. One of the greatest things about this method is your container can be used over and over again - you just have to make sure it's fit to do so.

Conclusion

Water is crucial to survival in emergencies, which is why I outlined these four simple ways to purify dirty or muddy water no matter the situation you find yourself in . The goal with these methods is to find an easy purifying solution that works for you and the materials you have on hand.

Take some time and practice these methods. Whichever solution works best for you, make sure you keep the materials for it in your emergency supplies so you're ready to go .

If you have any questions on the methods I listed above, or have a favorite way to purify water, I'd love to hear about it in the comments .

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You've heard it before: when disaster strikes, you need access to clean water. But where do you find it and what do you do if all the water around you has become, cloudy, muddy, or turbid?

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Hongkongers use twice as much water as rest of world: Dutch envoy

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Special envoy for international water affairs Henk Ovink says city must face up to coming challenges

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Why Cape Town Is Running Out of Water, and Who's Next - National Geographic

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The South African city plans to shut off the taps to 4 million people. But it's just one of many cities around the world facing a future with too little water.