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Purifying Water with a Natural Filter — Charcoal, Sand & Gravel
Build a three-layer water filter from charcoal, sand, and gravel. Important: always boil filtered water for 1 minute — filtration alone does not kill all pathogens.
Beginner
30-45 minutes
Instructions
1
1
Filter Layer Diagram
Filter Layer Diagram
Water flows top to bottom through three layers: charcoal (chemical filtration) → sand (physical filtration) → gravel (structural support). Always boil after filtering.
Flow
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2
2
Make Charcoal
Make Charcoal
Burn hardwood until fully black. Smother with sand to stop combustion. Cool, then crush to pea-sized pieces. ~2 cups needed.
Tools needed:
Fire Starter
Utility Knife3
3
Assemble Filter
Assemble Filter
Container (bark cone, hollow log, or cut bottle). Grass plug at drain. Layer: 5-8cm gravel, 8-10cm sand, 5-8cm charcoal, thin gravel cap on top.
Design
Cross-section: labeled layers with measurements
Materials for this step:
Container1 piece
Tinder Bundle1 handful
Gravel2 cups
Fine Sand3 cupsCharcoal (Crushed)2 cups
4
4
Filter & Boil
Filter & Boil
Pour water slowly. Discard first dark batch (charcoal dust). By third pass, water runs clear. ALWAYS boil 1 minute before drinking.
Tools needed:
Fire StarterMaterials
5- 1 handfulPlaceholder
Tools Required
2- Placeholder
- Placeholder
Required Equipment
Equipment this kind of build typically needs — buy from any maker below.
- RecommendedDust Mask / Respirator·
Full-Face Gas Mask (ABEK multi-gas cartridge)
Dust Mask
Venetian Mask Blank (Papier-Mache)
Full-Face Respirator
Respirator Fit Test Kit
Respirator with Acid Gas Cartridge - RecommendedSafety Glasses·
Splash-Proof Safety Goggles
Reflective Safety Vest Kit (DIY)
Chemical Splash Goggles
Safety Netting for Rockfall
Steel-Toed Safety Boots
Clear Safety Glasses - RecommendedWork Gloves·
Boxing Gloves (Training)
Leather Gauntlet Gloves
Cotton Gloves
Welding Gloves
Heavy-Duty Gloves
Leather Work Gloves - OptionalFire Extinguisher·
Fire Extinguisher
ABC Fire Extinguisher - OptionalFirst Aid Kit·
First Aid Kit
Mountain First Aid Kit (Altitude)
Workshop First Aid Kit
Bow Release Aid
You can swap these in
Can't get one of the materials? Swap it for an equivalent — these work just as well.
- Instead of Fire Starter, try:
Solar Panel Starter Kit (100W) - Instead of Tinder Bundle, try:
Chino Fabric Bundle - Instead of Fine Sand, try:
Casting Sand - Instead of Utility Knife, try:
Gilder's Knife
Knife
Blunt Collection Knife
Sharp Knife (faca)
Small Trimming Knife - Instead of Charcoal (Crushed), try:
Activated Charcoal Powder - Instead of Container, try:
Tin Container (Round)
Heat-Proof Container
Large Retting Container
Recommended for this build
Products makers often use with builds like this one.
WaterFrequently used with this build's materials
Forge TongsFrequently used with this build's materials
Crucible (Metalwork)Frequently used with this build's materials
Bellows (Blacksmith / Forge)Frequently used with this build's materials
Wild ClayFrequently used with this build's materials
ClayFrequently used with this build's materials
ForgeFrequently used with this build's materials
AnvilFrequently used with this build's materialsCC0 Public Domain
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