Filters help get rid of the following substances and manifestations:
Unfortunately, this method of cleansing is also not ideal; it has features and limitations in use.
Filter device
Features of manufacturing the simplest filters– in multilayers of materials with different cleaning properties. Every new level promotes additional removal of impurities, contaminants or certain properties of water.
To build a filter with your own hands, you can use available fillers and simple devices.
At home, for a homemade filter, the following purifiers will be needed:
As containers for unfiltered and purified water, you can use a plastic or enamel bucket with a lid and a plastic five-liter bottle. The volume of utensils used can be increased or decreased depending on need.
Step by step guide:
The performance and quality of filter cleaning depend on the number of layers and their density. It is considered optimal to purify 2-3 liters of water per hour.
It should be noted that purchased filters essentially have the same cleaning properties, even if ground coconut shells that have undergone pyrolysis are used instead of carbon filler.
You can make your own charcoal by calcining hardwood wood placed in a metal container in a fire. Ephedras cannot be used due to large quantity the resins they contain. Birch logs are ideal for making activated carbon.
The filtration layers should fill approximately 2/3 of the total volume of the bottle, leaving 1/3 for unfiltered water.
Manufacturingpossible provided that water is supplied at a certain and stable pressure. The main purpose of such installations is to remove chlorine odors, additional cleaning and disinfection.
To assemble the structure, you will need three flasks of the same size, filler and ¼-inch nipple adapters, marked with the direction of the media. The filter material can be carbon.
The flasks must be connected in series, the middle one must be filled with filter material. TO plumbing system the filter is connected with a tee. Connections are carefully sealed to avoid leaks.
It should be remembered that over time the filters themselves also become dirty. Cloth, cotton and paper cleaners should be replaced as they wear out. The sand can be washed with a reverse water flow until the water is completely transparent.
The carbon layer must be replaced due to bacterial contamination. The maximum filtration period for sand is 3 months, and for coal - 1 month.
Water purification is carried out through porous layers of materials that can be replaced as needed or in connection with the assigned tasks. To determine the quality level of filtration, water must be sent for laboratory analysis. Sometimes it is enough to visually feel the difference between the original and purified water in terms of taste characteristics.
The main list of filtration materials is traditional: cotton wool, gauze, cotton fabrics, pebbles, coal. But sometimes the question arises, what to prefer and why?
For the purpose of mechanical purification of water from impurities and contaminants, sand is used. Quartz is considered the most suitable due to the suitable shape of its grains and mineral purity. The angularity of the particles resists sticking, a property important for filtration. Quartz sand is finely dispersed, which enhances the quality of water purification.
The use of coal is associated with the removal of pesticides, traces of chlorine, ozone, and organic matter through the adsorption process. Efficiency is achieved provided the structure is porous.
If the charcoal was produced in a factory method, then technology ensures that the charcoal has pores. Making coal yourself does not lead to the desired stage, although there will still be some porosity.
The best cleansing structure of charcoal is achieved by charring coconut shells or pits of plums, apricots or peaches.
An additional filter component that has recently appeared on the modern market. The presence of special polypropylene fibers in it ensures high-quality cleaning from impurities and substances harmful to humans.
Operating principle of a reverse osmosis system
Water passes through several layers of filter and is sequentially released from various contaminants. The more levels, the higher the degree of purification. Fillers can be different, each with its own filtration features and capabilities.
First stage of cleaning- this is the mechanical screening through porous materials of particles of rust, sand, clay, and any debris that may be contained in water. In this way, transparency is achieved, giving the appearance of cleanliness.
Subsequent filters can change the color, taste, smell of water, and change its chemical composition.
The following are used as cleaning layers:
To effectively filter water, you need to know its features and composition. This information helps in selecting filters. For example, when receiving water from an artesian well, a lot of iron and hardness salts enter during the drilling process. Accordingly, cleaning should be aimed at removing iron content with a selected reagent.
Cleaning structures made independently from improvised means and materials are quite inexpensive, convenient and accessible. This is their great advantage over purchased filters and installations that country houses, do not take root at all in dachas due to cost and unacceptable conditions for use.
Any average person can make a simple and at the same time effective filter using household tools and accessories: knife, plastic bottle, bucket, fabric and other materials.
The disadvantages of homemade designs for traditional filtration are:
Quality water in modern conditions, especially drinking, is very a rare event. If several decades ago there were still clean springs and wells, now they are very rare even in rural areas. Agricultural companies pollute the soil no less than industry and herbicides. Mineral fertilizers inevitably penetrate into the sources. Water filtration has become a necessity.
Jug-type installations have become frequent guests in kitchens in the city and in the country. They are effective for small volumes of liquid. But if you need to clean tens or hundreds of liters, such devices are unsuitable. When there is a well, borehole, or swimming pool on the property, water filters are necessary. You can buy ones designed for these purposes, but those made by yourself are always cheaper.
Purified from harmful chemical and bacteriological impurities life-giving moisture is considered accessible to people only after filtering. In cities, due to the wear and tear of communications, it reaches consumers with rust, lime deposits and other additives. In such conditions, even an aquarium needs to purify the water, otherwise the fish will not survive.
If the house is connected to the water supply, the owners use washing machines, dishwashers, which react even more sensitively to water quality. Manufacturers equip their products with mesh filters, which provide rough cleaning, but fine particles up to 5 µm are skipped. This is harmful for many household devices; they require additional fine filtration.
Simple household filters for the home
Industrial units are produced separately for cold and hot water, it is unacceptable to use them for other purposes. In addition, a pressure regulator is required if pressure drops are observed in the pipes. All such installations have one or more cartridges plus a settling tank in the form of a flask or glass. The quality of water depends on the material used and the cell sizes of the working elements.
All of them require periodic replacement, because harmful impurities accumulate. The cost, depending on the design, is sometimes very impressive. A DIY water filter allows you to get rid of unnecessary financial expenses, and the quality of cleaning can exceed some industrial designs.
A simple homemade device
The dacha of an ordinary citizen often does not have a centralized water supply, so all kinds of sources are used: wells, boreholes and even ponds. In modern conditions, none of them can guarantee the quality of vital moisture. Even in areas remote from industrial centers, there is a danger of bacteriological contamination of water. Any filter, including a homemade one, will eliminate the risk of poisoning human body.
The working container is selected so that all the necessary filling fits into it. A variety of components are used for absorption: artificial and natural. The latter have higher filtration capabilities. These include:
For initial rough cleaning, cotton fabric materials or even paper are usually used. According to hygienic requirements, they are very impractical: they are constantly in a humid environment, subject to rotting, and an unpleasant odor appears. The very structure of such filters contributes to almost instant contamination, which requires frequent replacement.
The best material for filtration is activated carbon
Artificial materials have the best performance in this regard. One of the most preferred is lutrasil. It is not afraid of moisture, dirt accumulates to a lesser extent than on cotton. Of the other fabric filters, the synthetic one used in coffee machines is the cheapest.
Of the natural minerals that cost pennies, quartz sand, purified from clay and dirt, deserves attention. It perfectly captures small particles and heavy chemical compounds. Gravel is inferior in this regard - it copes better with large inclusions.
Zeolite is also a mineral, but has a disproportionately greater filtration effect. It cuts off metal and salt impurities - everything that comes into the water from the agricultural industry: pesticides, herbicides, mineral fertilizers.
Zeolite used in homemade structures
Activated carbon has found the most widespread use in homemade devices. It retains mineral formations and toxic substances with equal quality. Another advantage is that water becomes transparent after passing through it, eliminating unpleasant odors, microorganisms.
Such filtration material is available to consumers. Both a special one and one intended for picnics, as well as one made with one’s own hands, are used. The structure is decisive for the quality of cleaning. If the absorbent looks like a powder, it will go away with water, and a coarse one will not provide good cleaning.
Cooking charcoal yourself is not particularly difficult. Wood of any species is used, except coniferous. Birch has the best qualities. Firewood is loaded into a metal container, which is placed on the fire, ideally in a stove. When they are red hot, stop heating and allow to cool. If you overdo it, valuable filtration properties are lost.
You can clean dirty liquid at home with homemade filters. The resulting product does not always satisfy all requirements. Only the use of high-quality elements allows you to achieve the expected results. They retain mechanical, chemical and bacteriological impurities.
At the dacha they use several types of homemade filters:
A homemade system is used when it is necessary to coarsely filter water from a well, well, or rainwater. Fine cleaning is used to eliminate odors caused by the presence of bacteria.
The best absorbent for homemade device than activated carbon, no. It does not allow mechanical impurities to pass through, as well as many toxins and bacteriological harmful substances. For production, dishes with a sealed lid and plastic pipes are used. For a small aquarium, disposable syringes are suitable.
The main thing is that the volume allows you to accommodate the required amount of filter material in several layers. The manufacturing process of the simplest device occurs in the following sequence:
The system has a disadvantage: filtering takes a long time.
It is more convenient to use 2 pieces of pipe, one of which is 4 times longer than the other. The short one is used for rough cleaning. Place the lid tightly on the plastic container in which the hole is made. A mesh is placed on it and the space is filled with pharmaceutical cotton wool or padding polyester. On the other side, the pipe is also covered with a lid and mesh.
One end of the long piece, which serves as a fine filter, is prepared in the same way: a tight lid with a mesh. On the other side is the neck of a plastic container. The filter material is filled in, each layer in turn. Both parts of the structure are connected.
It’s also easy to do water purification for your home aquarium yourself. Required 2 disposable syringe 10 ml with cut off spouts. They are connected to each other, holes are made along the entire length. A tube with a spray at the end is placed inside, and if you add zeolite, the quality of the water will increase - nitrites will be removed. The outside of the device is wrapped with a sponge.
Do-it-yourself sand filters allow you to filter a fairly large tank. They are easy to set up, and their cost is half that of store-bought ones. The structure consists of the following parts:
It requires a plastic reservoir, usually a barrel, at the bottom of which there is a fine mesh with cells smaller than sand. Its fraction is from 0.4 to 0.8 mm. The first one changes after 2 or 3 years. The second one will last 5 years, but its cost is higher. Multilayer media is also used when the filter elements alternate from larger to smaller sizes or gravel is included.
Dirty water is supplied into a sealed container from above, suspended mineral and organic particles remain in the filter, and clean water flows into the pool from below. To operate the device, a pump with a power of 150–300 W is required, which is usually installed in front of the tank. Then he pushes the liquid out. If you place a pump after a container, a vacuum is created in it and water is sucked in. There is no fundamental difference in the two schemes; the procedure is ensured in any case.
For the first option, you need a container with reliable tightness that will withstand the pressure created in it. An expansion tank with a membrane is often used. This is removed and the inside of the body is painted to protect the iron from rust.
Using a plastic barrel with a volume of at least 60 liters for such purposes is also possible. But not every container of this type can withstand pressure: the lid often breaks off or the sides split apart at the joints. In this case, it is advisable to use a pump connection diagram after the filter. The lid is additionally sealed to prevent the slightest air leakage. The master class will show you the details in more detail.
To allow water to flow in and out, fittings are cut into the housing and the connection points are carefully sealed. A coarse filter is installed at the feed: an inexpensive cartridge or bottle neck with a mesh. A plastic pipe with holes is mounted on the back side of the filter tank, covered with non-woven material, through which even fine sand does not penetrate, and clean water flows into the pool.
If a pressure circuit is implemented, be sure to install a pressure gauge on the fitting in the tank lid or between the pump and the filter. It is more reliable to use a manifold that has a pressure sensor, air outlet and safety valves. If the suction principle is used, a tap is cut into the lid. When the system becomes airy, just open it and bleed the air.
A filter with top water intake is placed below the level of the pool mirror. Taps are installed on both pipes to regulate the operation. The discharge and collection sites are located as far away as possible. Before turning on the pump, the tank is filled with liquid manually.
Cleaning problem drinking water becomes relevant not only for city dwellers, but also for residents of rural areas. To make water from a well or borehole suitable for drinking, you can make a water filter with your own hands.
It would seem that what could be purer than well water, sung in ancient Russian epics? Alas, modern reality is not at all like a fairy tale. Water in private wells can be contaminated with a variety of substances, such as:
For the excess of nitrates, i.e. salts of nitric acid, in drinking water, we should “thank” farmers who widely use fertilizers and pesticides when growing agricultural products. Some of these substances inevitably seep into the aquifer.
Bacteria and other dangerous microorganisms appear in wells and boreholes, since sanitary and hygienic standards during the construction of cesspools and manure pits, toilets and other similar structures are often not observed as strictly as they should be.
The simplest filter can be made from a plastic bottle with filler
Poor quality and damage to equipment lead to the fact that the water contains an admixture of rust, sand, etc. Drinking such water is simply unpleasant. Therefore, it is recommended to buy or make at least a simple water filter for your dacha.
The principle of operation of the filter is simple and well known to everyone. It is necessary to pass water through a layer of filtration material. The filler can be different:
Filters made from gauze, cotton wool, paper napkins, fabric and other similar materials are quite effective, but short-lived. They need to be changed quite often. However, they are quite suitable as a temporary option.
You can buy charcoal in a store or make it yourself
For regular use, other materials are used, mainly charcoal. It is laid in layers, alternating with sand, gravel, grass, etc. Lutraxil is a synthetic material made from polypropylene fibers.
Tip: You can make your own charcoal. To do this, it is enough to heat the pieces of wood in a metal container. Coniferous wood is not suitable for this. Ready-made charcoal is sold in stores, in picnic departments.
The use of ordinary household filters for a small garden is rarely convenient. Such devices require the supply of water from a water supply system under a certain pressure, and not every dacha has a water supply system with suitable characteristics. Pitcher filters purify water too slowly.
In addition, you will have to constantly change cartridges. Therefore, a homemade water filter made from a plastic bottle and a bucket with a plastic lid may be the most acceptable option.
A homemade water filter can be made from a regular plastic bottle.
This filter uses carbon and ordinary fabric napkins as a filler.
The simplest filter for a summer house is made as follows:
1. The bottom of a plastic bottle needs to be cut off.
2. Cut a suitable hole in the plastic lid of the bucket.
3. Insert the bottle into the hole with the neck down.
4. Fill the filter with filler.
Tip: It is important to ensure that the bottle is tightly attached to the edges of the hole made in the lid of the bucket. To do this, sand the edges of the hole with sandpaper and use a rubber gasket.
Using the same principle, you can make a more convenient filtration installation. A plastic canister or tank with a capacity of approximately 20 liters is used as a receiving container. You need to make a hole at the bottom and insert a small tap into it, through which purified water will flow.
On top of the receiving container you need to place a 10-liter plastic bottle with a filler hole in the bottom. To make a filter, you can use a 40 mm piece of polypropylene pipe. The top and bottom of the pipe are covered with pieces of perforated plastic, which is recommended to be fixed with hot glue. The pipe is filled with charcoal.
Such a homemade filter should fit tightly into the neck of a standard ten-liter bottle. All that remains is to connect the receiving tank with the filter and the bottle. You can immediately fill the installation with a full bucket of well water, which will be filtered after a few hours. This way there will always be a supply of clean drinking water in the house.
Please note: The carbon filter must be rinsed before use. To do this, several liters of water are passed through it, which is immediately drained. This will remove small particles of coal that can contaminate the water.
Happy owners of a full-fledged water supply in a private house can make a three-flask homemade filter for water purification. To do this you need:
Filter cartridges are very diverse and allow you to eliminate a wide variety of water contaminants. It is worth noting that the cost of such a DIY design may not be much lower than an inexpensive filtration unit from the manufacturer.
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IN Lately The problem of clean water is of great interest to the population of the entire planet. Demand wastewater treatment plants is growing every year. Moreover, the most popular means is a regular household filter. If previously only city residents needed it, now residents of villages and towns also actively use it. Not everyone can afford to purchase new filters on a regular basis (which are not cheap), so the question of how to make water filters with your own hands is extremely relevant.
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At first glance, the water from the tap appears clean. In fact, it contains a lot of dissolved compounds. A water filter is designed to “retain” these substances: chlorine compounds, iron, etc. Their excess can lead to the development of various diseases, as well as affect the general condition of the body.
What about well water? Many people believe that it does not require cleaning, and they would be wrong. It may contain nitrates, a large number of bacteria, and pesticides (leak through the treated soil). Also, the structure of the well can be subject to corrosion. All this affects the taste and useful qualities water.
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It is not necessary to buy expensive store-bought devices - a homemade water filter is capable of good cleaning.
Of course, if you want to get crystal clean water, it's better to buy modern system after some time. This is due not so much to wear of parts, but to lower absorption and cleaning ability in relation to bacteria.
In homemade designs there is no function for selecting a suitable mineral composition for equipment. And this must be taken into account to ensure the sterility of the water. For this reason, the filtrate should be boiled after each filtration process.
Water pressure also plays a huge role during cleaning. Unsuitable pressure intensity in relation to the filter system reduces performance.
When choosing a container for a filter, you need to take into account that it will contain several layers of filler. The material of the tank must be resistant to external aggressive influences. If you need a home household filter for drinking water, then you need to choose high-quality polymer materials, suitable for storing food for a long time.
To create a filter mixture, combinations of some of the following fillers are used:
All of the above fillers have slightly different properties, so they are located in the filter at different levels when combined. However, you can select and use only one of them. Next, we will analyze the properties of the most suitable materials.
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Let's figure out how quartz sand differs from river sand:
However, river sand has a significant advantage as a filtration media - the high strength of sand grains. That is, it is more durable.
Sand is used at the stage of filtering heavy metals and small particles. Most often, the choice of quartz is made when constructing a filter for a pool, because quartz sand is capable of providing filtration for a fairly large water reservoir.
It will not be difficult to build such a unit, because it has a simple structure. The savings compared to an industrial filter are approximately 50%.
The quartz sand fraction should be in the range of 0.4 to 0.8 mm. You can make a multi-layer version, where the layers are arranged according to the size of the fraction - from largest to smallest, or where each layer is any other filler. It is important to find a middle ground here. A sand fraction that is too small will clog the mesh and the system will stop working, while a sand fraction that is too large will negatively affect the quality of cleaning.
Coconut shell carbon (activated) is obtained as a result of thermal and chemical treatment of the original raw materials. Sold in 3 types: pressed, loose and granular. For the water treatment system, it is the latter that is purchased. Pressed and bulk types of activated carbon are not suitable as an adsorbent. The particles of the first are too large and therefore do not provide optimal cleaning, and the particles of the second will end up in the water.
Most industrial filters are made based on activated carbon. In order not to overpay, you can make a carbon water filter with your own hands. The only expense left is the periodic purchase of fresh coal. Due to the water passing through the filler (charcoal) many times, it changes its consistency and becomes more like a black thick slime. This substance is a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria.
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If we talk about industrial products, silver ions, known for their antibacterial properties, are usually added to them, which helps extend the life of the carbon filter. It is clear that when assembling a homemade filter, no one will engage in silver ionization. You need to remember this and change the filter with sufficient frequency - as soon as it becomes noticeable that the water is being filtered more slowly.
When making charcoal yourself, you need to carefully calculate the degree of “roasting”. If this degree is strong, then the coal will quickly lose its ability. Deciduous trees are most suitable, especially birch. Conifers- Not the best option, since the resin can give the water a corresponding aroma.
The production of charcoal is extremely simple. All you need to do is place the wood in a metal container and heat it red hot over an open fire or oven. After this, the material is removed and cooled in air.
These synthetic materials consist of polypropylene fibers. Essentially, it is agrofibre. It is often used in crop production to cover the soil in the fight against weeds, due to its ability to allow water and air to pass through it well. Lutrasil and spunbond differ in color and density. Lutrasil is slightly thinner than spunbond and has a white color, while spunbond, on the contrary, is black and denser fabric.
To create filters, lutrasil is often chosen because it is easier to determine the degree of contamination of the filter, and it also passes water through it faster due to its lower density, which is especially important if the filter has more than one layer.
We remind you that this is more of a “hiking option” and is not entirely suitable for daily use, as it requires frequent replacement. However, for those who do not have the opportunity to regularly buy a cartridge, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the method of producing a homemade device. It can be used in the countryside, since it does not require running water (filtration as in a jug mechanism).
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A DIY water purification filter does not have to be small. At home, it is quite possible to make a system of relatively large volume. For example, as a loading capacity we take plastic barrel volume 10 l. It has a wide neck, so the filler will spill out easily. In this case, the cartridge is made differently.
All that remains is to insert the filter cartridge into the neck of the upper container (into which we pour untreated water). We chose a 4 cm pipe because this diameter is ideal for a standard 10 liter barrel; no additional sealing is needed.
The more dissolved substances there are in the water, the shorter the device will last (this applies to both homemade and purchased filters). As already mentioned, soaked coal is a breeding ground for bacteria. Therefore, the service life of this material not long in any case. On average, you need to add a new portion every 3 days. But this is only if the water quality has not deteriorated.
An important point: when using charcoal, the water must be drained after the first filtration. If coconut shell charcoal is used as a filler, this is not necessary - it is completely safe.
There is nothing special about commercial water purifiers - you can get the same, or even more good result using available means. The question is: will it be convenient to change the filler every 3-4 days? If yes, then you can safely use a homemade filter, if not, then the best choice- industrial product.
According to scientists involved in studying the ecological state of the Earth, pollution of the soil and atmosphere today, alas, has already become something of a norm. It is difficult to find a territory on the planet where everything would be fine. Even if they are far from industrial centers, pollution is transferred over vast distances, and you can’t vouch for anything.
Various chemicals spread with wind, precipitation and, of course, end up in water bodies and groundwater. In this regard, purification, if water is planned to be used for food purposes, is an extremely important issue. To do this, it is recommended to use high-quality filter units, preferably permanently located. But sometimes circumstances develop in such a way that cleaning is required in conditions where the filter industrial production for one reason or another is unavailable. What should I do? It turns out that you can sometimes make a water filter with your own hands at home or even on a camping trip, without incurring any special costs.
Today, in almost every kitchen you can find the simplest one in design, made in the form of a transparent jug, inside of which there is a replaceable container (cartridge) with an adsorbent composition.
Water filter jug Aquaphor “Ultra”. These tools are inexpensive and great for cleaning. small quantity water. It would seem - why not a solution for a long trip to the country, where you have to use water from a well or even an open reservoir, and there is no stationary cleaning system?
The jug itself is not that expensive, and is sold complete with a filter cartridge, which must be periodically replaced with a new one as the installed resource becomes dirty. But if you have to purify a large amount of water, then the cartridge will have to be changed often, and, by the way, it costs not so little. That is, you have to take a spare one with you so that you don’t have to return to the city to buy a new one.
It also happens that if not only the water intended for drinking and cooking, but also all the water entering the house must pass through. It is clear that an ordinary jug will not be enough here, since it simply will not cope with such a voluminous task. This is especially important when water is taken from open reservoirs or wells, since it often contains fine particles of clay, sand, organic matter, and waste products of microorganisms. This water is not suitable for drinking.
In addition, various waste from agricultural work accumulates in the soil, from where it inevitably ends up in groundwater over time. Therefore, water that has not been specially purified may contain nitric acids, nitrates, chlorine impurities, sulfates, pesticides and other toxic compounds. And if we add here the proliferating landfills of household waste, industrial emissions and automobile exhausts carried by precipitation, spilled petroleum products...
Filter Barrier
Thus, drinking untreated water from sources that have not been tested at the laboratory level is extremely risky. And cleaning with the help of simple filter jugs is not at all a suitable way to get rid of these compounds dangerous to humans - such devices are, rather, designed for post-purification of tap water that has already undergone a certain preparation cycle.
And yet, even such a jug (with a working cartridge, of course) is better than nothing at all. But what to do if, as they say, “circumstances are pressing,” and there is no way to use the factory filter device? The solution is to try to make, at least temporarily, a filter with your own hands.
The principle of operation of any filter is to pass the purified water through dense layers of various materials, each of which has its own abilities. Some retain solid particles of various fractions suspended in water, others absorb (adsorb) dissolved chemical compounds and unpleasant odors, others have a disinfecting effect, others are able to oxidize and filter iron present in water, and others successfully combat high concentrations of hardness salts. And a very important task when making a filter yourself is correct selection these very layers of water treatment.
To create a filter, scrap materials and simple, readily available fillers and materials can be used. Their role may include, for example, the following:
A plastic or enamel bucket, as well as a five-liter plastic bottle can serve as a container for purified water. The volume is chosen arbitrarily and depends on the need.
The container intended to create a filter must freely accommodate all layers of absorbent materials. It is convenient to use plastic bottles of different sizes for this purpose, depending on how much clean water you plan to receive.
Table of materials used to create a water filter at home:
| Illustration | Brief description of materials |
|---|---|
 | The lowest layer is usually made of woven or non-woven material - this can be gauze, fabric, cotton wool or artificial material, for example, lutrasila (agricultural fabrics). Natural materials, when exposed to moisture, begin to rot over time and emit unpleasant odors. Therefore, they are not so well suited for long-term installation in water filters. The best option for the bottom layer would be lutrasil - you won’t need much of it, and the cost of the material is low. In any case, the lower fabric layer collects microscopic particles suspended in the water that the higher filter layers could not retain. |
 | Charcoal is used to purify water from chlorine, pesticides, organic substances, nitrogen and other dangerous chemical elements and compounds. The efficiency of adsorption of this material is achieved due to the porous structure of coal. Factory-made material has optimal porosity for filtration. Homemade carbon has lower porosity but can also be used in a filter. Charred pits of apricots, plums and peaches, as well as coconut shells, perfectly adsorb contaminants. |
 | Quartz sand is used for mechanical purification of water from various contaminants of small and large fractions, clay and soil impurities. It is quartz sand that is best suited for water filtration, as it is distinguished by its purity and suitable grain shape. Polygonal particles stick together less when wet, which is very important for filtration. At the same time, the fine sand fraction improves the quality of water purification. |
 | Pebbles (gravel) of small and medium fractions are intended to act as a barrier for large inclusions that fall into the water. T This backfill layer is most often used in filters for purifying water from open sources or long-uncleaned wells, which may contain a lot of large organic matter. |
 | Zeolite is a mineral of volcanic origin, which has a considerable amount beneficial properties. One of the areas of application of this stone is water purification, where it is used as a sorbent. The mineral actively absorbs and retains for a long time harmful compounds and individual substances, which include heavy metals (zinc, lead, chromium, strontium), as well as nitrates, radionuclides, ammonium salts, and various petroleum products. At the same time, the stone carries out the process of dehydration, that is, it releases purified water. In addition, zeolite softens water, increasing its pH. This water is good for human health, it normalizes the alkaline balance and neutralizes free radicals. Based on this mineral, the well-known medical drug “Smecta” is produced, prescribed when it is necessary to remove toxins during food poisoning, as well as when receiving various doses of radiation. |
 | Silver has a bactericidal effect, so it is often also used for water purification at the final stage. To obtain silver water, the best metal is 999 fine. This cleaning method can also be used for regular tap water. However, we must not forget that drinking such water in large quantities is still not recommended. |
The layers in the filter can be stacked from different materials, that is, one of them can be replaced by another. For example, instead of charcoal, zeolite can be used; it will cope with the task no worse than the first. Purification of water with silver is optional and can be used at the request of the user.
If water taken from an open reservoir or a contaminated well is being purified, then after this process, before use, it must be boiled.
There are several options for water purification filters designed for use in different situations. For example, one design is well suited for home use when it is necessary to further purify tap water. The other one is more suitable as a hiking option.
This filter can be called the simplest in design. To make it, you will need to prepare a plastic bottle with a volume of 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 liters and a cartridge for one of the factory products, for example, Aquaphor. One cartridge will be enough to purify approximately 180 liters of water, and then it will need to be replaced.
So, the manufacture of this simple filter involves only four operations, shown in the illustration:
In this case, a bottle with a volume of only 0.5 liters was used. But, as you can understand from the manufacturing process, a bottle of one and a half or two liters is suitable for these purposes, as well as a three-liter jar in combination with part of the bottle - as a collection container for filtered water..
Last option, by the way, will be more convenient, as it will allow you to clean it one time large quantity water for drinking. In addition, the stability of a filter with a can will be much better.
Water is drawn into the funnel or a filter is installed under a small stream released from the tap. Water passes through the cartridge simply under the influence of gravity, without pressure.
When the cartridge has exhausted its cleaning capabilities, it must be replaced with a new one without false pity, since pathogenic microflora can settle in the old one. Therefore, the filter will no longer purify the water, but, on the contrary, will make it harmful to the body.
This cleaning method is partly similar to the option presented above, but a one and a half or two liter plastic bottle with filter filling is already used as a cartridge, and a bucket equipped with a lid with a hole for the bottle neck to fit in is used as a collection container. The same method can be used on vacation to purify water taken from an open reservoir, but with subsequent mandatory boiling.
If on your hike you didn’t have a bucket with a lid in which a hole was made to install the bottle, then you can simply hang the filter bottle over any clean container where the purified water will flow. However, in this case, it is necessary to carefully monitor when pouring dirty water into the filter so that it does not overflow and fall into a clean container.
The manufacture of such a filter is carried out in the following order:
As can be understood from the description of the process, this filter option can be used both at home and in camping conditions. The difference between them will be only in the preparation of filter materials. At home, sand and stone, even if it is clean, can be additionally calcined and thus obtain better cleaning. If unprocessed material is used for the layers, then the water purified using such a filter must be boiled before use. This is due to the fact that a homemade filter will free water from chemical components, relatively large and small debris, but will not be able to clean it from harmful bacteria and microbes. Therefore, boiling it after mechanical cleaning should be carried out for at least 8–10 minutes.
A filter made in this way can purify an average of two to three liters of water per hour. It should be noted that factory filters work on the same principle; they use charcoal or coconut charcoal, as well as zeolite, as an absorbent material.
Another method of making a filter involves using two long pieces of PVC pipe, approximately 400 and 150 mm. In addition to this, you will need two plastic bottles. All containers are connected in series with each other, and the system is connected directly to the water supply system, without requiring the installation of additional communications.
The diameter of the pipe should be such that the bottle cap fits tightly into it.
It is most convenient to connect the structural parts using a ¼-inch nipple adapter. If it is not available, then the neck cut off from the bottle is used for this purpose.
Due to the fact that the connection of the containers must be airtight, when assembling the filter, the threads of the nipple must be wound with Teflon sealing tape.
Lutrasil or synthetic winterizer, as well as charcoal or zeolite are used as filter fillers. These materials will effectively clean tap water from chemical impurities and also prevent the formation of scale in the kettle.
A perforated cap from a plastic bottle is glued inside a 150 mm long pipe, not far from its edge, with the thread facing outward. The holes in the cork should have a small diameter and are drilled with a drill or melted with a heated awl. The stopper is necessary to retain a layer of filter material consisting of artificial fibers in the pipe, as well as to secure the structure to the bottle into which the purified water will flow. This section of pipe is completely filled with lutrasil or padding polyester.
The layer of filter material should be laid tightly enough, but so that it does not interfere with the passage of water.
On the other side of the tube section, on top of the bookmark, another perforated lid is placed. But it is not glued in, since it will have to be removed when replacing the filter material.
The next step is to work on a long piece of pipe. A perforated cover is also first installed at its lower end, onto which two or three layers of cotton fabric or lutrasil are glued on the thread side.
Then the nipple is screwed in. An alternative option is to glue the neck cut off from the bottle onto silicone glue. The nipple thread is wrapped with Teflon sealing tape before screwing in. If the neck is glued in, as in this case, then the outside is additionally secured with insulating tape, pasted in several layers. The neck thread should be on the outside - it will screw into a perforated cap installed on the top side of a short piece of pipe.
On the other side of the tube, a perforated plug is also installed with the thread facing outward; the top bottle with the bottom cut off or a hole made in it will be screwed into it to fill it with tap water.
Finished elements are assembled in single design and are ready to use in the kitchen. Periodically, you will have to change the filler in the filter, as it will accumulate dirt and harmful elements found in tap water.
All this is wonderful, but we cannot fail to mention the disadvantages of self-made filters. And they are quite significant, and they must be remembered when using water for drinking after it has been purified.
Check out our new article on our portal.
Not only water intended for drinking requires purification, but also water that is used in swimming pools or other artificial reservoirs on the site. However, the cost of such filters is quite high, which is why craftsmen are developing their own design options for purification plants. However, it should be noted that making homemade filters is justified only for inflatable pools that are relatively small in size.
Three different types of filters are used to clean swimming pools - using ready-made cartridges, diatomaceous earth and sand.
Is it true, similar models, at a fairly high cost, have outstanding performance. Such filters are only suitable for small pools.
Check out the varieties from our new article on our portal.
In order for the filter unit to have high performance, the filler, that is, sand, must be of high quality. Don't choose too much material fine fraction, that is, less than 0.4 mm. The grains of sand will stick together and clog the mesh of the drainage chamber, causing the filter to stop working properly. If the sand is too coarse, the quality of water purification will significantly decrease.
In addition to sand, to create a sand filter you will need the following materials:
Work on the manufacture of a filter unit is carried out in the following sequence:
It is recommended to make holes in a homemade coarse filter over its entire surface. This factor will contribute to the uniform spraying of incoming water onto the sand. If you use a purchased filter with large cells, then you can attach a mesh with smaller holes to it or stretch nylon fabric.
Cleaning homemade installation is carried out as the sand and coarse filter become contaminated. By the way, this filter can often become clogged after the first procedure if the water is heavily polluted. If the pool is cleaned regularly, it will have to be done less often.
To clear the sand layer, you simply need to swap the hoses and remove the drain outside the walls of the pool. The reverse water pressure will quickly clean the filter of contaminants. To clean the coarse filter, you will need to remove the lid from the container, remove the cloth clogged with debris, replacing it with a clean one.
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Those who have tried a similar pool filter system claim that, compared to factory models, it is somewhat inferior in cleaning efficiency. But it will also cost much less. This option is quite popular among owners of small pools, for which a sand filter is sufficient to clean.
To conclude the publication, here is another option for making your own sand filter for a pool.
