By Michael, on March 5th, 2013 
Water purifiers are common kitchen devices used to remove traces of chemicals and contaminants from tap water. Most people agree the systems make water taste cleaner. Typical purifiers are based on the use of activated carbon filtering systems. This type of water filter system can easily be created as an improvised homemade project – in other words, you can purify water yourself.
However, it should be noted that this type of DIY activated carbon water filtration process will not work to remove bacteriological contaminations. Therefore, if such problems exist, it will be necessary to also use other treatments, such as boiling dirty water or treating it with chlorine or iodine.
What’s hiding in your drinking water?
Things Needed for Homemade Water Purifier
-Large plastic bottle, sharp knife, dishwashing liquid, water, fine grid wire mesh strainer, wood charcoal, gravel, mortar and pestle, cotton balls, sand, fine wire or fishing line
How to Make Water Purifier
Step 1:
Thoroughly wash the plastic bottle with dishwashing liquid and water. Rinse well.
Step 2:Using the knife, cut off and discard the bottom part of the bottle. The bottom will actually be the top portion of the water purifier.
Step 3:Use the mortar and pestle to grind the charcoal into a powder.
Step 4:Wash gravel – ensure the pieces are larger than the "mouth end" of the container. Add about ½ cup gravel to the purifier.
Step 5:Add cotton balls to the filter system – a two-inch layer is sufficient.
Step 6:Add two inches of sand to the purifier.
Step 7:A three-inch layer of charcoal powder should be added.
Step 8: Layers of cotton balls, sand, and ground charcoal should be alternated. Ideally, the purifier will have at least two or more sets of these layers.
Step 9: Add wire mesh strainer. Punch holes through the plastic and use wire or fishing line to attach the strainer to the bottle.
The purifier should be placed above a large container such as a pitcher, bucket, or jug that will be used to catch or collect the clean, filtered water. When positioning the purifier, it is important to have the small "mouth end" pointing downward and the larger end upward. Dirty water will enter through the mesh strainer and then travel downward.
The idea is that the mesh will remove any large particles. The water then enters the filtering system that works to remove both organic and chemical contaminates. In addition, small particles are eliminated by the cotton and sand filters. The clean water travels out of the purifier as the gravel works as a natural stopper.
Making this DIY water purifier is an easy and inexpensive way to create a water filtering system at home. It can also be improvised to be used in emergency situations.
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Debbie Allen is a freelance writer who often writes about unique things like how to manage a doctor's reputation online.
