water filtration options

[brianut]

I have been readingthrough some threads and have seen a lot of people store water in pretty large quantities.
I have a family of four and would need to store pretty large amounts for everyone.
That got me thinking more along the lines of filtration.
I have water nearby the house and my sump pit always has water in it so i was thinking of getting a good filter system that i could use for the pond water, ground water from sump or rain runoof from roof.

It seems that Berkey filter systems are widely regarded as the best but man they are pricey.
Anybody have sources for other systems that filter equally well but wont cost as much for a hope to never need it item?

thx

[Wulf202]

buy the filters and use buckets.

edit to expand. buy the burkey filter you like and a 5 gal food grade bucket. install the filter in the bucket.

go to a brewer store and buy a 7 gal tall bucket with lid and spigot. cut a hole in the lid that matches where the filter comes out at.

store them nested. put the lids on and stack them to use.

[hatidua]

I've been in several instances (hurricanes in FL, typhoons in Asia) when stored water or a good filter were a very valuable thing to have had. In those situations, food is nice but not critical. Water, is worth whatever the filter or large plastic barrels cost.

A Berkey, Katadyn Pocket, or similar filter costs less than a case of ammo and is infinitely more useful in a disaster.

[brianut]

I just no more than 5 minutes ago picked up a set of the berkey filters.
I will find me some food grade buckets and a spout to make my own.

I was looking at the SS travel size(1.5 gallons) for $235.
not too bad but for $120 I got the filters , I know you can get them cheaper online but I like supporting the local guy,and no CC or shipping.

I figure I can get a couple of buckets with more capacity than the berkey (travel) and be at least $90 ahead to spend on other stuff.

thanks for the idea wulf, sometimes I am amazed how I can't see simple solutions.

Ideas for cheap food grade buckets?
I think I have heard of hitting up the bakery in grocery stores and such, might even get some for free.time to scavenge.

[jason303]

Buckets can be had from grocery stores, maybe in their bakeries. They use food grade buckets for ingredients like frosting for donuts. There used to be a guy that came around here that runs a container business up in Longmont if you want bigger containers. Search Colorado Zero Waste and you should find him. Good luck!

[rocktot]

Its also good to get the flouride filters, another $50.00-make sure they match the filters!! There are 2 different types.

I have 2 white ceramic berkeys I would let go for -25.00 off cost(whatever they are on ebay), as mine takes the blacks. I just cleaned em out with about 5 gallons tapwater. Free shipping also, good deal.

[Wulf202]

burkey filters are interchangable ceramic or charcoal.

[rocktot]

Yea, but the fluoride filters are different.

[BigNick73]

If you want small pick up a first need XL ($100) and cartridges. I use one of them now and was using some Katadyn bottles when fishing, but got tired of the iodine taste (screw carrying water when you're next to a stream/river/pond) and haven't gotten sick. It's just 2 of us so I figure a small hand filter will be good enough for drinking and cooking.



For volume you might consider the pur packets. They cost about $15 for a 6 pack (30 gallons). It's cheap if you don't want to spend the money on something you think you might never use, but after living in some hurricane areas I think everyone should at least have a couple of the small hand pumps if nothing else.

BTW the white buckets and home depot/lowes/walmart are usually food grade. Also ask the deli/bakery when you go grocery shopping you might can score some free ones.

[Wulf202]

If you want small pick up a first need XL ($100) and cartridges. I use one of them now and was using some Katadyn bottles when fishing, but got tired of the iodine taste (screw carrying water when you're next to a stream/river/pond) and haven't gotten sick.

BTW the white buckets and home depot/lowes/walmart are usually food grade. Also ask the deli/bakery when you go grocery shopping you might can score some free ones.
vitamin c. read my cheat sheet thread.

depot and Lowes ruin the food grade by allowing them near chemicals

[brianut]

picked up 2- 3.5 gallon buckets with lids from the grocery bakery on the way home yesterday.
donut glaze was in one and chocolate frosting in the other.
that was a tough drive home trying to resist shlurping the residue out of those buckets. [Tooth]

[10mm-man]

Anyone have pictures of finished product? I like the ingenuity and am inspired to do the same...

[Vanniek71]

I just use a Katadyn filter. Mine is rated for 10,000 litres of filtered water which for me seems pretty good. I also have a Steri-pen that I use when I am filtering river/pond/lake water as a double safe. So far have not gotten sick, and the water all tastes good.

I do also have the purification chemical just in case, but I don't ever use that. That would be a last ditch thing for me considering the other system I use.

[Wulf202]

Anyone have pictures of finished product? I like the ingenuity and am inspired to do the same...

just google "burkey bucket filter"

[Great-Kazoo]

I've been socking away bags of the hardwood charcoal, unscented, no match light, just basic charcoal. With labor day around the corner stores may be discounting their seasonal supplies.
We used containers of it along with sand for DI water systems. It never hurts to have some laying around, space permitting.

http://www.ehow.com/way_5564887_uses-used-charcoal-briquettes.html