water distillation

Submitted: Saturday, Jun 09, 2007 at 06:47
ThreadID: 46450 Views:2495 Replies:2 FollowUps:5
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just watched a dvd from keith adans....northern safari....remarkable treck,he goes on a boat trip and takes a pressure cooker that can be used to make drinkable water from salt water,anyone know how to make fresh water this way could be handy to know....thankyou
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Reply By: Grungle - Saturday, Jun 09, 2007 at 08:34

Saturday, Jun 09, 2007 at 08:34
Hi tdf,

Many years ago when I was in the Army we were given a few things for making potable water (when posted in the Territory) which I carry in the back of the car to this day.

One is a large plastic bag with plastic tube and a very small tap that you can put leaves in to extract water. Packs down to absolutely nothing. This is actually a presold pack so has all the instructions on them.

The other - and my favourite - is a large blow up vessle that you can put pretty much any liquid in (urine, salt water, contaminated water, blood etc) and through evapouration catches water and directs it to an outlet that you can decant and drink. Its about the size of a half deflated wine cask bag so takes up little room but can supply an endless supply of water (from an endless supply of liquid).

I also carry a water purification bag which is standard issue, Puritabs and lastly a jar of Condies Crystals (potassium permanganate) if really desperate. There is enough to sterlise a small lake but it is very useful stuff.

Found a good link a while ago that people may be interested in - www.police.wa.gov.au/RecruitingandTheAcademy/pdf/aids22.pdf - Talks about Aids to Survival.

Regards
David
AnswerID: 245735

Follow Up By: ev700 - Saturday, Jun 09, 2007 at 09:45

Saturday, Jun 09, 2007 at 09:45
Maybe the Queensland Water Commission could have sent the bags to SEQld householders instead of the shower water timers and patronising letter it spent $$ on.

A Brisbane resident was telling me last night that he had received a 30 page 'please explain' questionnaire about his family's personal ablution habits after they allegedly used 11 litres a week more than 'permitted'. All accompanied by a threatening letter to deny water service - I can imagine that lawyers could have a field day with that.

By coincidence, SEQld is the home of Big Brother - although having seen the CEO of the Water Commission on tele maybe that should be Big Sister in its respect.

EV
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Follow Up By: pepper2 - Saturday, Jun 09, 2007 at 10:19

Saturday, Jun 09, 2007 at 10:19
grungle is your favourite blow up vessel available to the public if so where ???????
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Follow Up By: Grungle - Sunday, Jun 10, 2007 at 08:42

Sunday, Jun 10, 2007 at 08:42
Hi Pepper2,

I don't know if you can buy them but I took some photos and uploaded them to my members page. They are made in the UK by 'Airbourne Industries Ltd' in 'Leigh-On-Sea, Essex'. They are originally designed for life rafts but can be used anywhere.

Inflatable solar still:

!MPG:19!

!MPG:20!

And a piccy of the basic still I have:

!MPG:18!

Regards
David
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Reply By: obee - Saturday, Jun 09, 2007 at 18:13

Saturday, Jun 09, 2007 at 18:13
I distilled some alcohol once with a pressure cooker by plugging a plastic hose onto the outlet where the weight would sit. It's not rocket science. Just dont try to hurry it and use plenty of tube so it doesnt heat up. If a bit of steam still getting through try putting the end of the tube into a large plastic bag. Vapour will condense on the walls of the bag.

oh the alcohol was crap but.

I saw a show once this guy in a canoe puts one end of tube in the ocean and the other in his mouth. In between was something resembling a grease gun and he pumped away drinking as he went. I would like to know where to get one of those but not got around to checking it out.

In one of Hector Holthouse's or Ion Idriess's books mention was made of a miner who brewed up fruit and boiled the result under a sheet of sloping iron. the alcohol condensed on the iron and ran down into a catcher.

Owen
AnswerID: 245776

Follow Up By: Member - Warren R- Karratha WA - Sunday, Jun 10, 2007 at 00:25

Sunday, Jun 10, 2007 at 00:25
G'day Owen. Outback type camping stores sell the pump type water purifiers. Really only for small quantities though
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Follow Up By: Grungle - Sunday, Jun 10, 2007 at 08:39

Sunday, Jun 10, 2007 at 08:39
Hi Owen,

The pumps are called a "Reverse Osmosis Pump" and it works by sucking non-potable water (salt water for example) and forcing it through a membrane which seperates al impurities from the water and allows only pure water through.

We had these as part of a survival kit in life rafts and they work very well but are extremely hard to pump. They also cost quite a bit (well the Army ones were around $5k each).

Regards
David
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