How to Create a Water Filter with Activated Charcoal

by

Quck answer

Activated charcoal water filters are a simple and effective way to improve the quality of your drinking water. To make one, start by gathering the necessary materials: a clean plastic bottle, activated charcoal, and a coffee filter or fine mesh cloth. Cut the bottom off the bottle and secure the coffee filter or cloth over the opening. Fill the bottle with activated charcoal, making sure to pack it tightly. Place the filter over a glass or pitcher, and pour water through it. The activated charcoal will remove impurities, chemicals, and odors, leaving you with cleaner and better-tasting water.

Whether you’re going on an outdoor adventure or dealing with contaminated water, using an activated charcoal filter can purify and make your water safer to drink. You can easily make your own filter and it’s a great way to repurpose empty plastic drink bottles. You can create an activated charcoal water filter at home and take it with you on your next trip. However, if you prefer to travel light, you can simply carry activated charcoal in your backpack and make a filter using leaves or tree bark.

Avoid Using Charcoal for Grilling

When making your own water filter, it’s crucial to use activated charcoal instead of grilling charcoal. These two substances are not the same. Activated charcoal is much more porous and absorbent compared to the charcoal briquettes used for grilling. Activated charcoal is thoroughly cleaned and its pores are flushed out during the manufacturing process. On the other hand, grilling charcoal can contain impurities and added chemicals like lighter fluid or binding agents.

However, in a survival situation, the rules may change. For instance, if you’re lost in the woods during a hike, you might come across an old campsite with charcoal in the fire pit. In this case, you can use this charcoal to make a water filter. Keep in mind that the water won’t be as clean and there is a risk of exposure to chemicals from the charcoal. Nevertheless, this may be a better option than using grilling charcoal or contaminated water.

Materials You’ll Need

  • Empty plastic 2-liter bottle

  • Razor knife

  • Dish soap

  • Water collection bottle or bucket

  • Activated charcoal

  • 1 coffee filter

  • Sand

  • Gravel

  • Water purification tablets

How to Create an Activated Charcoal Water Filter

Step 1: Clean and Prepare

In a survival situation, you may not have the luxury of cleaning the components for your charcoal filter. However, if you’re making the filter at home, it’s recommended to clean all the parts. There’s no point in filtering water through a dirty filter if you can avoid it.

  1. Create a funnel by cutting off the bottom of an empty plastic 2-liter bottle using a razor knife.
  2. Thoroughly wash the funnel with dish soap. Also, clean the container where you’ll collect the filtered water.
  3. If you’re using activated charcoal that isn’t already granulated, crush it into small pieces.
  4. Rinse the charcoal thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris and spread it out in a single layer to dry.

Step 2: Assemble the Filter

Activated charcoal can effectively work as a water filter on its own. However, you can enhance the filtration by adding additional layers. It’s important to add the layers in the correct order for optimal filtration.

  1. Take your funnel and place a coffee filter at the bottom to cover the opening. This will prevent small particles of charcoal or sand from getting into the water.
  2. Add a generous amount of activated charcoal on top of the filter. This is the most important part of the filter, so make sure to add enough charcoal while still leaving some space for other filter ingredients.
  3. Put a layer of sand on top of the charcoal.
  4. Follow the sand layer with some pebbles or gravel. If necessary, you can use crushed-up brick or even grass as the top layer of the filter.

Step 3: Fill the Filter With Water

Now that your filter is prepared, it’s time to use it. However, keep in mind that the filtered water may still not be completely safe to drink. While an activated charcoal filter removes many impurities, viruses, and parasites, it cannot remove all of them. It is recommended to boil the water or use water purification tablets before consuming it, if possible. Additionally, it’s important to filter the water in advance, as it takes time for the water to pass through the filter.

  1. Pour water into the top part of the filter.
  2. Secure the filter in an upright position over a clean container to collect the filtered water. The activated charcoal filter relies on gravity and will not work properly if it falls over sideways.

Leave a Comment