Muddy water filtering

**Carlo QC** · 05-20-2013, 04:24 PM

In my woods there is no stream, etc. only very, very muddy pools, so if I wanted to get water I would have to get it from these pools. I know I would have to boil it to get rid of the bacteria, etc. But I heard that to get rid of the mud you have to filter it through charcoal, etc, and could you please tell me how to make this filter, and how to make the charcoal for it? Thanks.

**kyratshooter** · 05-20-2013, 05:24 PM

If you have a means of boiling the water do not worry about charcoal.

Filter the water through a tee shirt or anything you can find. You can cut the bottom out of a 2 liter bottle, stuff the tee shirt in the bottle and pour the muddy water into the bottle letting it run out the mouth.

Then boil it.

If the water is real muddy use some kind of fabric that you can rinse out and get the mud out of it. Muddy water will clog a filter real quick.

**Rick** · 05-20-2013, 05:30 PM

Your other option is to collect the water and let the silt settle out of the water. Once the silt has settled carefully pour the water into another contain trying not to disturb the silt. Then strain if necessary and treat to make potable.

**Ken** · 05-20-2013, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by kyratshooter

If the water is real muddy use some kind of fabric that you can rinse out and get the mud out of it. Muddy water will clog a filter real quick.

Umm, if he had water to rinse the fabric out with, why would he be filtering really muddy water to begin with?

**Delta 5168** · 05-20-2013, 06:15 PM

Not trying to hijack the thread C'man, but a secondary question. Will charcoal filtering or Chlor Floc remove dissolved indusrial products that contain nasties like lead, copper,mercury or arsenic?

**Ken** · 05-20-2013, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by Delta 5168

Not trying to hijack the thread C'man, but a secondary question. Will charcoal filtering or Chlor Floc remove dissolved indusrial products that contain nasties like lead, copper,mercury or arsenic?

Here's what ACTIVATED charcoal will remove:

"AC filtration is effective for some contaminants and not effective for others. AC filtration does not remove microbes, sodium, nitrates, fluoride, and hardness. Lead and other heavy metals are removed only by a very specific type of AC filter."

Water Filters with Activated Carbon Cartridges - what they will remove

http://www.thewatersite.com/activate...er_filters.htm

**Delta 5168** · 05-20-2013, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by Carlo QC

In my woods there is no stream, etc. only very, very muddy pools, so if I wanted to get water I would have to get it from these pools. I know I would have to boil it to get rid of the bacteria, etc. But I heard that to get rid of the mud you have to filter it through charcoal, etc, and could you please tell me how to make this filter, and how to make the charcoal for it? Thanks.

Carlo, if you will check around in some of the survival manuals out there on the market, you'll find a diagram for a tripod with 3 levels of filtering; grass, charcoal and sand. Usually made with large handkerchiefs or pieces of fabric. As you noted, you'll still have to boil.

**Delta 5168** · 05-20-2013, 06:32 PM

Thanks Ken. I appreciate the reply. D

**Carlo QC** · 05-21-2013, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

Your other option is to collect the water and let the silt settle out of the water. Once the silt has settled carefully pour the water into another contain trying not to disturb the silt. Then strain if necessary and treat to make potable.

I've tried that, but the silt doesn't settle, not even days afterwards, the water is just a very brown color.

**Carlo QC** · 05-21-2013, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by kyratshooter

If you have a means of boiling the water do not worry about charcoal.

Filter the water through a tee shirt or anything you can find. You can cut the bottom out of a 2 liter bottle, stuff the tee shirt in the bottle and pour the muddy water into the bottle letting it run out the mouth.

Then boil it.

If the water is real muddy use some kind of fabric that you can rinse out and get the mud out of it. Muddy water will clog a filter real quick.

Thanks but I've tried filtering it with a tshirt, but this water is like REALLY brown, and that doesn't work

**hunter63** · 05-21-2013, 12:16 PM

Did you try digging a hole a foot or so away from the pot hole, and let the water seep in?
Might be a tad cleaner....

**RangerXanatos** · 05-21-2013, 12:24 PM

Try taking alum from your kitchen and mixing a little in with the water, shake well and then stir it for several minutes. What should happen is the alum will stick with the silt and floc to make particles that will settle and can be filtered. Getting the right amount of alum is tricky at best.

**Carlo QC** · 05-21-2013, 01:47 PM

Thanks but I mean in a survival situation where all you have is a knife and the clothes on your back? And obviously stuff you can make in the wild.

**hunter63** · 05-21-2013, 02:00 PM

That's always been my goal....if you gotta bring it ....it's camping....I hear ya.

**Carlo QC** · 05-21-2013, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by kyratshooter

You can cut the bottom out of a 2 liter bottle, stuff the tee shirt in the bottle and pour the muddy water into the bottle letting it run out .

I tried that, but the mud is basically dissolved in, so that doesn't work either

**hunter63** · 05-21-2013, 02:40 PM

So you tried filtering it thru the cloth?

**GreatUsername** · 05-21-2013, 02:52 PM

The other thing to recognize is that unless you're using a purpose-made ceramic filter or something similar, these homemade filters are simply never going to produce water as crystal clear and mudless as what comes out of your tap. Part of what comes with filtering this way is accepting that water which is boiled but muddy will not kill you, but it will taste a little silty. Just a fact of some water sources. If you're just looking for a filter you can take camping with you, don't try doing it with homemade methods unless you like a little bit of dirt with your drink, invest in a ceramic filter. For survival purposes too, this will solve a lot of your needs, as such filters can serve a person for months before needing to be replaced, and most survival situations are over within a few months. If TEOTWAWKI happens... learn to enjoy silt, I guess, or find a spring way up the mountains. Nothing any one person does will meet modern tapwater standards, without the proper equipment.

**Carlo QC** · 05-21-2013, 03:57 PM

http://www.instructables.com/id/Lost...ly-over-the-f/ but I mean is it ok to drink water that has been boiled like what's in this picture (this is what mine looks like).