Water

TREX
You are assuming correctly. I remember my 4th grade teacher making the whole class giggle when she explained what happens when you “assume”. Anyway, This would be an shtf or emergency situation to use as drinking water, otherwise using as gray water would be no big deal. I was looking for a better answer but looks like there is not just one answer. a lot would depend on which chemicals were used and the concentration levels.

Statistics: Posted by BigOrange75 — Wed Jun 21, 2017 9:30 am

i clicked the link for the video…and there’s something about a virus..

Statistics: Posted by jimLE — Tue Jun 20, 2017 10:15 am

i clicked the link for the video…and there’s something about a virus..

Statistics: Posted by jimLE — Tue Jun 20, 2017 10:15 am

Be very careful and test every filter. Every Black Berkey filter I have used (eight), have separated at the base plate! Swamp

Statistics: Posted by daaswampman — Sat Jun 17, 2017 10:25 pm

Be very careful and test every filter. Every Black Berkey filter I have used (eight), have separated at the base plate! Swamp

Statistics: Posted by daaswampman — Sat Jun 17, 2017 10:25 pm

Thanks trex, I’ll check out those links. I was just being paranoid and trying to say that pool water would be my last choice for a water source not that I’d tell people to not use it if that’s all you have.

Statistics: Posted by dmwalsh568 — Sat Jun 17, 2017 7:36 pm

Thanks trex, I’ll check out those links. I was just being paranoid and trying to say that pool water would be my last choice for a water source not that I’d tell people to not use it if that’s all you have.

Statistics: Posted by dmwalsh568 — Sat Jun 17, 2017 7:36 pm

dmwalsh568 wrote:
My opinion is that most folks use algicides as well as bleach to keep their pools from turning green and I’m not sure I’d trust any filters to remove the algicides. …

The one thing I do know for sure about the black Berkey filters is that they aren’t just filled with activated charcoal like some filters (like the Brita filters.) Here is part of a FAQ I found on the filters:

http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/he … urces/faq/

What are the Black Berkey elements made out of and how do they work?
…
So while it’s probably safe to drink pool water filtered by a black Berkey filter, since it’s not listed I’m not willing to risk it in all but the worst circumstances. I’ve got access to a river and other water sources that aren’t treated at all that I do trust the black Berkey filters to work with.

But if the pool water is your only source then you have to weigh the risks unless someone can find information that it will remove the algicides, or that there is another filter that says it definitely will remove them.

Well, I was making the assumption that the inquiry was discussing using pool water in an emergency, and I guess I am to be faulted for making an assumption…

That said, I have some basic chemistry background (on par with a year of normal college chemistry) and some dealings with public policy. Based on the fact that these algaecides are approved to use in pools and that most pools get drained into the environment, the chemicals are not likely to be too dangerous.

I did a bit more research, and found this:
http://www.poolproducts.com/blog/pet-po … icals-pets

Algaecides, Antifreeze and clarifiers are not considered harmful when they are properly diluted in the pool water. When they are not diluted or broken down into the water they are corrosive and dangerous.

The article is discussing pet safety around pools, and while they warn several times about the chlorine, this is saying that algaecides are not dangerous in moderate amounts. OTOH, if you are drinking out of a pool for several days, you are ingesting a lot of this water.
Hmmm.
There is a good resource (for a lot of stuff about water) here:
https://omegamanjournal.wordpress.com/
you can see his qualifications here:
https://omegamanjournal.wordpress.com/2 … ink-about/
(Note the HTTPS in his address – this guy seems “kinda serious”)

The author specifically addresses pool water here:
https://omegamanjournal.wordpress.com/2 … ing-water/
and there are links from that article to several other of his articles.
If you plan to use pool water as a primary back up, I would recommend reading all of the linked articles too. (Frankly, I plan to read all of them, just because water is such an important subject.)

Statistics: Posted by TRex2 — Sat Jun 17, 2017 8:01 am

Like many others here, I have various different filtration systems, big burky, lifestraw, alexapourpro, sawyer, etc.. But here’s one run by solar panels, but is very expensive:

https://www.treehugger.com/solar-techno … rator.html

Statistics: Posted by rickdun — Fri Jun 16, 2017 4:15 pm

Like many others here, I have various different filtration systems, big burky, lifestraw, alexapourpro, sawyer, etc.. But here’s one run by solar panels, but is very expensive:

https://www.treehugger.com/solar-techno … rator.html

Statistics: Posted by rickdun — Fri Jun 16, 2017 4:15 pm

TRex2 wrote:

dmwalsh568 wrote:My opinion is that most folks use algicides as well as bleach to keep their pools from turning green and I’m not sure I’d trust any filters to remove the algicides. Maybe the high end filters like Berkey black filters, but personally I’d either distill it before drinking it, or just use it as gray water for plants or to stop sewer gasses from coming out of empty toilet or sink traps.

Reference: http://www.berkeyfilters.com/berkey-ans … fications/

Well, that was part of the reason I said that, for drinking,
you should use a quality filter.
I can’t find any definite statement, but I would bet,
the Berkey filters use charcoal, or something like charcoal.

None of the chemicals listed as algicides in the wikpedia entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algaecide were listed on the black Berkey filter spec page I linked above. That makes me concerned.

The one thing I do know for sure about the black Berkey filters is that they aren’t just filled with activated charcoal like some filters (like the Brita filters.) Here is part of a FAQ I found on the filters:

http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/he … urces/faq/

What are the Black Berkey elements made out of and how do they work?

Without getting too complex, several methodologies are utilized by the Black Berkey purification elements. The elements are composed of a formulation of more than a half dozen different media types constructed into a very fine matrix creating millions of micro-fine pores. The pores are so small that pathogenic bacteria, cysts, parasites, sediment and sedimentary minerals are not able to pass through them. The media formulation both “absorbs” some contaminates and “adsorbs” other contaminates. Next, heavy metals ions (mineral molecules) are extracted through an Ion exchange process where they are essentially electrically bonded to the media. Finally, our filter elements are designed such that each water molecule can take several minutes to pass through the filter elements whereas these molecules passing through other filtration systems pass through those filters in literally microseconds. The longer the water molecules are in contact with any media, the greater the removal of the various contaminates.

So while it’s probably safe to drink pool water filtered by a black Berkey filter, since it’s not listed I’m not willing to risk it in all but the worst circumstances. I’ve got access to a river and other water sources that aren’t treated at all that I do trust the black Berkey filters to work with.

But if the pool water is your only source then you have to weigh the risks unless someone can find information that it will remove the algicides, or that there is another filter that says it definitely will remove them.

Statistics: Posted by dmwalsh568 — Fri Jun 16, 2017 2:01 pm

TRex2 wrote:

dmwalsh568 wrote:My opinion is that most folks use algicides as well as bleach to keep their pools from turning green and I’m not sure I’d trust any filters to remove the algicides. Maybe the high end filters like Berkey black filters, but personally I’d either distill it before drinking it, or just use it as gray water for plants or to stop sewer gasses from coming out of empty toilet or sink traps.

Reference: http://www.berkeyfilters.com/berkey-ans … fications/

Well, that was part of the reason I said that, for drinking,
you should use a quality filter.
I can’t find any definite statement, but I would bet,
the Berkey filters use charcoal, or something like charcoal.

None of the chemicals listed as algicides in the wikpedia entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algaecide were listed on the black Berkey filter spec page I linked above. That makes me concerned.

The one thing I do know for sure about the black Berkey filters is that they aren’t just filled with activated charcoal like some filters (like the Brita filters.) Here is part of a FAQ I found on the filters:

http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/he … urces/faq/

What are the Black Berkey elements made out of and how do they work?

Without getting too complex, several methodologies are utilized by the Black Berkey purification elements. The elements are composed of a formulation of more than a half dozen different media types constructed into a very fine matrix creating millions of micro-fine pores. The pores are so small that pathogenic bacteria, cysts, parasites, sediment and sedimentary minerals are not able to pass through them. The media formulation both “absorbs” some contaminates and “adsorbs” other contaminates. Next, heavy metals ions (mineral molecules) are extracted through an Ion exchange process where they are essentially electrically bonded to the media. Finally, our filter elements are designed such that each water molecule can take several minutes to pass through the filter elements whereas these molecules passing through other filtration systems pass through those filters in literally microseconds. The longer the water molecules are in contact with any media, the greater the removal of the various contaminates.

So while it’s probably safe to drink pool water filtered by a black Berkey filter, since it’s not listed I’m not willing to risk it in all but the worst circumstances. I’ve got access to a river and other water sources that aren’t treated at all that I do trust the black Berkey filters to work with.

But if the pool water is your only source then you have to weigh the risks unless someone can find information that it will remove the algicides, or that there is another filter that says it definitely will remove them.

Statistics: Posted by dmwalsh568 — Fri Jun 16, 2017 2:01 pm

My opinion is that most folks use algicides as well as bleach to keep their pools from turning green and I’m not sure I’d trust any filters to remove the algicides. Maybe the high end filters like Berkey black filters, but personally I’d either distill it before drinking it, or just use it as gray water for plants or to stop sewer gasses from coming out of empty toilet or sink traps.

Reference: http://www.berkeyfilters.com/berkey-ans … fications/

Statistics: Posted by dmwalsh568 — Fri Jun 16, 2017 10:20 am

For flushing or washing, any charcoal filter will suffice. For drinking also, if it is a good quality charcoal filter. If the pool was recently filled and treated, you could drink it straight, although that isn’t the most healthy thing in the long run. By “day thirty” you will be dealing with a lot more contamination. Do you have a strategy for replenishing it? If you are collecting dew/rain from the roof, all you need is a good sub-micron ceramic or hollow fiber membrane filter like the ones used in the Berkey system (those aren’t the only choice, just an example).

Statistics: Posted by TRex2 — Thu Jun 15, 2017 4:23 pm

For flushing or washing, any charcoal filter will suffice. For drinking also, if it is a good quality charcoal filter. If the pool was recently filled and treated, you could drink it straight, although that isn’t the most healthy thing in the long run. By “day thirty” you will be dealing with a lot more contamination. Do you have a strategy for replenishing it? If you are collecting dew/rain from the roof, all you need is a good sub-micron ceramic or hollow fiber membrane filter like the ones used in the Berkey system (those aren’t the only choice, just an example).

Statistics: Posted by TRex2 — Thu Jun 15, 2017 4:23 pm

What about swimming pool water? is there a good filter for it? What information I have found is all over the map. Everything from it normally has too much chemical to be removed easily to you could almost drink it straight. When the day comes my main plan is to use the pool water for the toilets and maybe as wash water and such. But have been trying to get some reliable info to use as potable water. Anybody have an opinion?

Statistics: Posted by BigOrange75 — Thu Jun 15, 2017 3:25 pm

What about swimming pool water? is there a good filter for it? What information I have found is all over the map. Everything from it normally has too much chemical to be removed easily to you could almost drink it straight. When the day comes my main plan is to use the pool water for the toilets and maybe as wash water and such. But have been trying to get some reliable info to use as potable water. Anybody have an opinion?

Statistics: Posted by BigOrange75 — Thu Jun 15, 2017 3:25 pm

Gunns wrote:
The previous posts are all trolls.

They have been removed.

Statistics: Posted by IceFire — Wed Jun 14, 2017 7:52 pm

Gunns wrote:
The previous posts are all trolls.

They have been removed.

Statistics: Posted by IceFire — Wed Jun 14, 2017 7:52 pm

The previous posts are all trolls.

Statistics: Posted by Gunns — Wed Jun 14, 2017 11:45 am

Hi These are all good suggestions, But i would like to grab your attention for the industrial reverse osmosis(RO) water, Like Ferraro Rocher Big brand of Chocolate, using the RO system from AMPAC USA. Which provides the ultra pure water to make the chocolate.https://www.ampac1.com/reverse-osmosis

Statistics: Posted by ampacusa — Wed Jun 14, 2017 8:13 am

Statistics: Posted by DR1VENbyKNOWLEDGE — Wed May 24, 2017 8:57 am

DIY Self Contained 5 Gallon Bucket Sink
http://www.iseeidoimake.com/diy-self-co … cket-sink/

Instructions to make it are at link, above!

Statistics: Posted by ReadyMom — Tue May 23, 2017 10:16 am

I have a young neighbor, 25 years old. She has a whole house water filter and I have a Berkey. Her husband is an electrical engineer.
I don’t think she even thinks about the water stopping to her house.
Anyway, I motioned to the bleach in the grocery bag and told her I don’t use for laundry, but add a few drops to my water when I refill it…and she said…EWWWW!!
Oh, yes she did!!!

Statistics: Posted by JayJay — Fri May 19, 2017 10:07 pm

I have a young neighbor, 25 years old. She has a whole house water filter and I have a Berkey. Her husband is an electrical engineer.
I don’t think she even thinks about the water stopping to her house.
Anyway, I motioned to the bleach in the grocery bag and told her I don’t use for laundry, but add a few drops to my water when I refill it…and she said…EWWWW!!
Oh, yes she did!!!

Statistics: Posted by JayJay — Fri May 19, 2017 10:07 pm

Run them out to the garden every year and restock

Statistics: Posted by sageprice — Fri May 19, 2017 2:38 pm

We have a supply of water stored in 55 gallon barrels. After disinfecting the inside of the barrels and flushing the bleach out, I set them in place on a north facing wall and fill them with water. I add 1/3 cup liquid bleach and tighten the cap. Hubby throws tarps over them and ties them off. Hopefully the tarps will hide the barrels from view and keep them shaded. We also did this in 1999 for the – then – computer scare of 2000. I’ve forgotten what they called it now, but, six years later when we emptied the barrels we were surprised to see that the water was absolutely crystal clear.

Statistics: Posted by jean11 — Wed May 17, 2017 6:12 pm

We have a supply of water stored in 55 gallon barrels. After disinfecting the inside of the barrels and flushing the bleach out, I set them in place on a north facing wall and fill them with water. I add 1/3 cup liquid bleach and tighten the cap. Hubby throws tarps over them and ties them off. Hopefully the tarps will hide the barrels from view and keep them shaded. We also did this in 1999 for the – then – computer scare of 2000. I’ve forgotten what they called it now, but, six years later when we emptied the barrels we were surprised to see that the water was absolutely crystal clear.

Statistics: Posted by jean11 — Wed May 17, 2017 6:12 pm

Bleach goes neutral in about 3 months. Three drops of bleach supposedly disinfects a gallon of water. Drinking bleach? Are you on a central water system? Then you drink a form of bleach everyday. I would NOT try using bleach in stored water. If you are trying to store drinking water, filter and disinfect before drinking, not in storage.

To have bleach in your preps buy dry bleach in tablets. It will last a year or more.” Evolve” is one brand. Not drinkable though as scented. Do not use scented bleach to disinfect water. Instead be safe and buy water purification tablets.

Statistics: Posted by oldasrocks — Wed May 17, 2017 6:07 am

Bleach goes neutral in about 3 months. Three drops of bleach supposedly disinfects a gallon of water. Drinking bleach? Are you on a central water system? Then you drink a form of bleach everyday. I would NOT try using bleach in stored water. If you are trying to store drinking water, filter and disinfect before drinking, not in storage.

To have bleach in your preps buy dry bleach in tablets. It will last a year or more.” Evolve” is one brand. Not drinkable though as scented. Do not use scented bleach to disinfect water. Instead be safe and buy water purification tablets.

Statistics: Posted by oldasrocks — Wed May 17, 2017 6:07 am

So ive heard diffrent opinions on using bleach to store your water in one of those 55 gal blue drums is either ok or a bad idea. So im a little confused is bleach safe to drink when diluted heavilly or no? Also how long can i store one of those drums in my garage off the floor with bleach in it. Im in southern az so it gets very hot but theres no light in my garage unless i open the door.
Thanks guys.

Statistics: Posted by bruce7267ad — Tue May 16, 2017 10:43 pm

So ive heard diffrent opinions on using bleach to store your water in one of those 55 gal blue drums is either ok or a bad idea. So im a little confused is bleach safe to drink when diluted heavilly or no? Also how long can i store one of those drums in my garage off the floor with bleach in it. Im in southern az so it gets very hot but theres no light in my garage unless i open the door.
Thanks guys.

Statistics: Posted by bruce7267ad — Tue May 16, 2017 10:43 pm

maxwonderdog wrote:

Gunns wrote:http://www.shtfandgo.com/store/emergency-water/14-ceramic-replacement-filter-with-pre-filter-sock.html

Isn’t this the same filter technology the ProPur Big uses, except their filter is 7″ instead of 4″? Has anyone here used the ProPur Big?

I believe Propur’s is 7 inches high and 2.75 inches diameter.

The other is 4 inches by 4 inches.

Statistics: Posted by Gunns — Mon May 15, 2017 10:16 am

Gunns wrote:
http://www.shtfandgo.com/store/emergency-water/14-ceramic-replacement-filter-with-pre-filter-sock.html

Isn’t this the same filter technology the ProPur Big uses, except their filter is 7″ instead of 4″? Has anyone here used the ProPur Big?

Statistics: Posted by maxwonderdog — Mon May 15, 2017 12:16 am

Gunns wrote:
http://www.shtfandgo.com/store/emergency-water/14-ceramic-replacement-filter-with-pre-filter-sock.html

Isn’t this the same filter technology the ProPur Big uses, except their filter is 7″ instead of 4″? Has anyone here used the ProPur Big?

Statistics: Posted by maxwonderdog — Mon May 15, 2017 12:16 am

Gunns wrote:
http://www.shtfandgo.com/store/emergency-water/14-ceramic-replacement-filter-with-pre-filter-sock.html

Isn’t this the same filter technology the ProPur Big uses, except their filter is 7″ instead of 4″? Has anyone here used the ProPur Big?

Statistics: Posted by maxwonderdog — Mon May 15, 2017 12:16 am

daaswampman wrote:

Gunns wrote:I bought Berkey with the black filters. He failed miserably out of the box. The filter seal was leaking and I did a red dye test and it did zero filtering. If I had relied on that filter to save my life I would have been dead.

So I put together my own with buckets and “Ceramic Dome Water Filter Element with Silver for Anti-Bacterial Purification”. I did the red dye test on this and it worked flawlessly. Though I am the paranoid kind so I also have many Sawyer water filters.

Do you have a link to the filters you are using? I have also had issues with the Berkey filters not being properly seated and sealed. During an emergency, is not the time to be testing your toys. Swamp

http://www.shtfandgo.com/store/emergenc … -sock.html

This is what I got. I got two of them. I tested them to make sure that the red dye did not get through to the filtered water.

What really makes me angry about Berkey is they have Zero Honor or Integrity. I called them about the red dye test failure and talked to several people and they said I was nuts that no filter could pass that test. I even took some pictures of the test.

Now, Berkey says they invented the red dye test. Liars liars pants on fire. I will never buy their products.

Not sure where it was invented or who came up with it but I saw a video by another prepper doing it years ago.

I keep a bottle of red dye with each of my filtration systems just so after I put it together, I can test it. If anyone is using a filtration system I recommend testing it with red dye at least after you change the filters. If it isn’t removing the dye, you could die or come seriously sick in SHTF.

Statistics: Posted by Gunns — Thu May 11, 2017 9:25 am

Gunns wrote:
I bought Berkey with the black filters. He failed miserably out of the box. The filter seal was leaking and I did a red dye test and it did zero filtering. If I had relied on that filter to save my life I would have been dead.

So I put together my own with buckets and “Ceramic Dome Water Filter Element with Silver for Anti-Bacterial Purification”. I did the red dye test on this and it worked flawlessly. Though I am the paranoid kind so I also have many Sawyer water filters.

Do you have a link to the filters you are using? I have also had issues with the Berkey filters not being properly seated and sealed. During an emergency, is not the time to be testing your toys. Swamp

Statistics: Posted by daaswampman — Wed May 10, 2017 4:51 pm

I bought Berkey with the black filters. He failed miserably out of the box. The filter seal was leaking and I did a red dye test and it did zero filtering. If I had relied on that filter to save my life I would have been dead.

So I put together my own with buckets and “Ceramic Dome Water Filter Element with Silver for Anti-Bacterial Purification”. I did the red dye test on this and it worked flawlessly. Though I am the paranoid kind so I also have many Sawyer water filters.

Statistics: Posted by Gunns — Tue May 09, 2017 11:41 am

I bought Berkey with the black filters. He failed miserably out of the box. The filter seal was leaking and I did a red dye test and it did zero filtering. If I had relied on that filter to save my life I would have been dead.

So I put together my own with buckets and “Ceramic Dome Water Filter Element with Silver for Anti-Bacterial Purification”. I did the red dye test on this and it worked flawlessly. Though I am the paranoid kind so I also have many Sawyer water filters.

Statistics: Posted by Gunns — Tue May 09, 2017 11:41 am

IIRC, the Berkey Black filters remove 95+% of lead. The PF2 filters are for removing Arsenic and Fluoridation, and I’m pretty sure it further reduces heavy metals, but the black filters do a good job all by themselves. Oops, my bad, looks like the black filters do an amazing job by themselves on lead:

http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/bl … gory/lead/

The Big Berkey range of drinking water filters fitted with Black Berkey filters can reduce lead and other heavy metals by 99.9%+, and can also remove trihalomethanes and many other drinking water contaminants to ensure your family’s safety.

Statistics: Posted by dmwalsh568 — Tue May 09, 2017 6:42 am

maxwonderdog wrote:
rickdun: you are correct, the lifesaver does not filter heavy metals. I looked at the big berkey but for some reason didn’t purchase it. I will have to look back at my notes and see what stopped me, perhaps incorrect information! You have to have the 2nd arsenic/flouride filters with the big berkey to catch the heavy metals don’t you? Aren’t there two filters, the standard black ones and then the 2nd white flouride filters that filters the heavy metals?

The black filter is for heavy metals. Check the alexapure, only 1 filter for all, 5,000 gallons of fresh water. Good luck

Statistics: Posted by rickdun — Mon May 08, 2017 3:58 pm