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Water & Off-Grid

Water Purification During an Emergency

Understand why source quality, filtration and disinfection are different steps in emergency water treatment.

Water planning is about redundancy: a safe source, appropriate storage, a way to move water and a treatment method matched to the actual hazard. No single filter or technique solves every problem.

Start with the safest source

Start by identifying the likely source and contaminants. Storage protects an already-safe supply; filtration can remove some particles or organisms depending on the device; disinfection addresses susceptible pathogens; and some chemical contaminants require specialized treatment. Build a backup plan rather than depending on one device.

Clarify vs disinfect

Start by identifying the likely source and contaminants. Storage protects an already-safe supply; filtration can remove some particles or organisms depending on the device; disinfection addresses susceptible pathogens; and some chemical contaminants require specialized treatment. Build a backup plan rather than depending on one device.

Boiling

Start by identifying the likely source and contaminants. Storage protects an already-safe supply; filtration can remove some particles or organisms depending on the device; disinfection addresses susceptible pathogens; and some chemical contaminants require specialized treatment. Build a backup plan rather than depending on one device.

Chemical treatment

Start by identifying the likely source and contaminants. Storage protects an already-safe supply; filtration can remove some particles or organisms depending on the device; disinfection addresses susceptible pathogens; and some chemical contaminants require specialized treatment. Build a backup plan rather than depending on one device.

Filters and limitations

Start by identifying the likely source and contaminants. Storage protects an already-safe supply; filtration can remove some particles or organisms depending on the device; disinfection addresses susceptible pathogens; and some chemical contaminants require specialized treatment. Build a backup plan rather than depending on one device.

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