Equipped To Survive Equipped To Survive® Presents
The Survival Forum
Where do you want to go on ETS?

Topic Options
#47792 - 08/31/05 09:51 PM Filtering Flood Water
KenK Offline
"Be Prepared"
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 06/26/04
Posts: 2212
Loc: NE Wisconsin
Watching the flooding on the news makes me wonder if a typical water filter used for backpacking can filter urban flood water. A guy on TV said the biggest risk of drinking the water is e-coli, but I worry about the industrial chemicals and petroleum in the water that may not be able to be filtered out.

Also, is Lake Pontchatrain freshwater or saltwater?

Top
#47793 - 08/31/05 09:59 PM Re: Filtering Flood Water
groo Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 11/02/03
Posts: 740
Loc: Florida
Wikipedia entry for Lake Pontchartrain.


Top
#47794 - 09/01/05 02:21 AM Re: Filtering Flood Water
Since2003 Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 01/21/03
Posts: 2205
Filtration is to remove particulates - and even a virus is a particulate (but really really small). However, contamination, in the form of a solution of water and some chemical, is not something that can be filtered out. Even distilling won't clean up dirty water, especially with polar solvents (ethyl alchohol and the like). The process of decontamination of water is a science that is complex, requires extensive equipment and monitoring, and is most certainly NOT the kind of thing your camping water filter can handle.
In the case of NOLA, I'd be using hot water heaters, toilet tanks, even indoor swimming pools if I could find them, as sources of water. If I were stuck in a building, I'd start improvising a rainwater collection system NOW, even if the sky is blue today - because there's thunderstorms in the forecast for tomorrow. A sheet of plastic and a bucket or trash barel can mean the difference between life and death.

Top
#47795 - 09/01/05 02:24 AM Re: Filtering Flood Water
widget Offline
Addict

Registered: 07/06/03
Posts: 550
Don't forget, the water in NO is all salt water. Not an easy way to purify it for consumption, filtered or not.
_________________________
No, I am not Bear Grylls, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night and Bear was there too!

Top
#47796 - 09/01/05 03:04 AM Re: Filtering Flood Water
Anonymous
Unregistered


Distill it all. Set up a big honkin pot, put a fire under it, and a condenser for the steam. It won't get rid of every toxin, but it's better than nothing. Then you run it through a charcoal filter to be sure.

Top



Moderator:  Alan_Romania, Blast, cliff, Hikin_Jim 
October
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
Who's Online
0 registered (), 870 Guests and 95 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
axotugoc, eprep, Aaron_Guinn, israfaceVity, Explorer9
5372 Registered Users
Newest Posts
What did you do today to prepare?
by Eugene
Today at 09:49 PM
Using Grape & Cyprus to Filter Water
by Phaedrus
Today at 08:58 AM
'Fess Up -- Where are you hanging out online?
by dougwalkabout
10/14/25 03:34 AM
MRE Deal
by chaosmagnet
10/07/25 04:09 PM
Newest Images
Tiny knife / wrench
Handmade knives
2"x2" Glass Signal Mirror, Retroreflective Mesh
Trade School Tool Kit
My Pocket Kit
Glossary
Test

WARNING & DISCLAIMER: SELECT AND USE OUTDOORS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TECHNIQUES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Information posted on this forum is not reviewed for accuracy and may not be reliable, use at your own risk. Please review the full WARNING & DISCLAIMER about information on this site.