In spite of minimum standards for city water, many have opted to filter their drinking water anyway. After all, just because water tastes all right and does not have an odor doesn't mean it is pure. Of course, the safest way to know if you water is safe is to take a sample to a testing center. But even if it passes this test, you still may want to filter it, just to be sure.
Why spend a lot on a filter unit when you can make one yourself? Below is an inexpensive plan for making a carbon water filter that will guarantee to make most drinking water safer.
To begin this project, obtain these items: a twelve inch length of 2 1/2 inch PVC pipe, a 2 1/2 inch cap, a quantity of activated carbon, a piece of vinyl hose, and a paper coffee filter. You will also need a drill and bit the size of the outside diameter of the vinyl hose.
Drill a hole in the center of the PVC cap. Insert the vinyl hose into the hole, making sure it fits tightly. If it leaks, silicone sealant should be used. Push the cap onto the PVC pipe and, if needed, seal it with PVC sealer. Next, fold the piece of filter paper and push it into the PVC pipe so that it covers the hole in the cap.
Add the carbon to the open end of the PVC and pour water over it until it is full. Point the vinyl hose into a container where the filtered water can collect. You may want to discard the first batch of filtered water since it might have washed out contaminants from the project.
Of course, you don't want to stand there holding this unit every time you want water. A simple stand can be made with two 4 inch squares of 3/4 inch pine, a wood base and an upright piece of wood, taller than the PVC pipe. Drill a hole in the center of each of the 4 inch square pieces large enough for the PVC to go through. Then fasten these pieces to the upright attached to the base and insert your filter. A setscrew may be used to keep the PVC from sliding.
Your unit is ready to use. Remember, the more carbon you have in your PVC pipe, the more filtering takes place. Thus, the longer it is, the better. Also, be sure to replace the carbon periodically and to clean out the inside of the PVC while it is empty. The frequency will depend on how much water you filter through the unit.
You may not get a great quantity of water using this inexpensive method, but it will be enough to drink and, if the container is refilled regularly, you can store the purified water for future use.
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