Water Filtration Systems have a set lifespan. After a while the filters just get worn out. You can use coffee filters to extend the life of your water filter.
Zack and I did a quick demonstration of this system in Mason jars to show how effective it can be. (Click for larger pictures)
Pre-filtering water through coffee filters removes all of the larger debris and a lot of dirt too. This can go a long way towards extending the life of your water filter because it doesn’t have to work nearly as hard.
Not to mention coffee filters are small and light enough for your Bug Out Bag
Dirty Water
Dirty Water
Standing rain water from outside the house. We added some dirt to emphasize the effects. In a survival situation you may have to rely on whatever water you can find and chances are in won’t be very clean.
Filtering
Filtering
The easiest way to get water to drain through the water filter was to push it down into the container and let gravity do it’s thing. It takes a few seconds for the water to drain.
Results
Results
Here is a before and after shot of the coffee filtered water that is ready to put through your water purification system.
Filters
Leftovers
We only used regular old coffee filters for this, but I poked around and found these Micro-Filters that are for espresso makers.
The description says: “The Micro-filter removes grit, unlike other press-type coffee makers” So I am assuming the filter is even more fine.
It might take longer for the water to work through, but they could be that much better for filtering out tiny grains of dirt. Find them here on Amazon: Micro Coffee Filters.
If a reader wants to test them please let me know and we’ll publish your results.
Save your Bottles
In a survival situation you might only have a few bottles. Don’t contaminate them with dirty water. Use a collapsible bucket to collect water, then coffee filter, then really filter. 6 Great Uses for a Backpacking Bucket
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My name is Lucas and I run SurvivalCache along with the help of several great contributing authors. You can read more on the
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My Mr. Coffee came with a fine wire mesh permanent filter It is supported by a plastic frame. I am sure I have seen these sold seperately at Wal Mart. It could be carried and protected in a pack by placing it a Tupperware and the void space in the filter could be used to nestle other items so as to not waste space.
aj,
That sounds pretty cool, like a permanent reusable filter. I wonder if the mesh is really as fine as a paper filter though? or if it even matters?
If you give the pre-filter system a try with it let me know how it works out.
I want to throw my "worst case scenario" butt-saver out there. All survivors know the "RULE of 3's". In the worst case where all you can get is water (no food what so ever) You can still have an edge! I call this edge my "lyte-paks". I make these with this formula: 7 potassium tablet/ 3.5 teaspoon salt/ 7 Tablespoon sugar. This will suffice for a weeks worth of 1-day supplies. I crush the tabs and mix it all together (this will make a 7 day electrolyte supply). I divide it out into 7 equal parts, then vac-seal. In an emergency where you cant get food, you can dump 1 of these per day in drinking water and replace vital supplements or just eat it dry. You can drink all the water you want but without the sodium and potassium the muscles will quickly get fatigued. After a few days without food and electrolytes you mental capacity, heart, an other muscles will be effected. Its the poor mans gator-aid. REMEMBER the brain runs on sugars, but the muscles/heart MUST have sodium and potassium for electrical function.