If you live on a homestead, finding a way to purify water is one of the biggest challenges you’ll have to face. This will be even more of a challenge if you’re off the grid. This is because you’ll have to look for non-electric purifying options.
Whether it’s for crops, cleaning and hygiene, cooking and drinking, or livestock. You need to make sure that your water is properly purified to prevent the spread of pathogens and potentially deadly bacteria. Let’s take a look at how you can purify water for homesteading.
Examine the Water Source
You should first know that the source of the water will have a direct impact on how much work it will take to have it purified. Ground and deep water like the type you find in streams and wells are considered the safest. While surface water like the type you find in creeks will usually be harder to clear.
Deep well water is considered to be the best water source for homesteads. You will still have to test it. You probably won’t have to do anything to the water. But you have to check it as it could contain dangerous levels of nitrates from fertilising agents, parasites, and pathogens.
What makes surface water so bad is the fact that it’s not protected and can easily be contaminated. So, unless you have no choice, we would recommend that you stay away from surface water completely.
Self-Testing vs Lab Testing
When it comes to testing, you have two options. You can either purchase a water test kit or get a lab test. Self-testing is a good option if you’re getting the water from a reliable source. If you’re getting your water from surface water or a downstream source, then we would suggest that you go for a more comprehensive lab test.
Use Distillation
Distillation is one of the most efficient purification methods you can use. The only issue with distillers is that they require electricity to work most of the time. This makes them not the best option for off-the-grid homesteaders. But they’re regarded as the best way to remove most pathogens and harmful agents from water.
Use Water Restructuring Technology
Many homesteads have to deal with hard water issues and water restructuring technology can be used to solve them. You have systems that will send a charge through a piping system that will prevent minerals from bonding and precipitating when the water runs through. This is a simple, non-intrusive solution that requires little energy, which makes it perfect for all types of homesteads. For more information, visit https://www.sidonwater.com.
Countertop Filtering Systems
Then you have countertop filters. Not only are they great for cleaning drinking water but many of them use gravity for filtering and don’t need electricity to work. You have to make sure that you check how much water the filters on these systems can last before you have to replace them, however, and how much water they can filter per day.
These are all things that you can do to keep the water in your homestead clean. Research all of these methods closely and consider asking other homesteaders how they managed their water situation.