Water is a key part of our daily lives. When pure water isn’t available, it halts all important tasks and makes us feel miserable. In such situations, emergency mobile water treatment solutions can be helpful. These products, as the name denotes, are designed to be used in emergencies only. They work seamlessly to provide water in any man-made or natural calamities, or they can come in handy when there is a shortage of pure water in the area. This comprehensive guide to emergency mobile water treatment by Ampac USA is enough to know everything there is to know about such systems.
The Need for Emergency Mobile Water Treatment Systems in the Short Term
The need for Emergency Water Treatment systems can often be for the short term. It can either be for a few days or a few weeks. An example of such a situation could be when you get a boil water advisory from the local authorities. Usually, the boil water situation occurs if it is predicted that the water might have some bacterial contamination.
In such a situation, you will need an RO Emergency Water Treatment system to make contaminated water safe by removing all the bacteria. As such a filter would have membranes that the bacteria cannot pass through, you can be assured that bacteria will be trapped in the membrane and other impurities to ensure that you get pure and 100% contamination-free water.
The Need for Emergency Water Treatment Systems in the Long Term
The Emergency Water Treatment systems also come in handy when pure water is needed for the long term. An example of such a situation could be a water shortage. If there is a water shortage in your vicinity, there will likely be no water available for cooking, cleaning, bathing, washing clothes, and other uses. Moreover, there could be a few reasons for the water shortage, like the loss of electricity. For example, if there is no electricity, water distribution might not be possible due to a lack of pressure to push the water.
Types of Impurities Treated by Emergency Water Treatment Systems
Emergency Water Treatment systems treat several types of impurities. Some of them are listed over here.
- Microbes
One of the common impurities found in water is microbial contaminants. If not filtered out on time, they can cause disease and make a person very ill. There are several types of microbial contaminants like cysts and bacteria. Earlier, they were removed with the help of ceramic filters or chlorine use. With time, they have grown in size and can be strained with the help of RO membranes.
- Chemicals
Another category of contaminants is chemicals. They were earlier removed with the help of ceramic filters with carbon filters, but now, more and more people trust the RO process to filter them out.
- TDS
The amount of TDS in water is rising with time. The most reliable way to eliminate the TDS or reduce it to acceptable levels is to use a reverse osmosis emergency water treatment system.
- pH Levels
An RO-based emergency water treatment system can also help improve the pH levels of water and bring them to an acceptable level.
- Other Impurities and Imperfections
RO process can make water 99% contamination-free and ensure that water is truly tasteless, colorless, odorless, and healthy to drink.
The Usefulness of Emergency Mobile Water Treatment for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Over time, outdoor enthusiasts like hikers, camping lovers, and nature lovers have also realized the importance of having pure water with them all the time. So, they switch to RO-based Emergency Mobile Water Treatment systems that can transform any water source into pure water and ensure that the water is safe and contamination-free.
The Need for Pure Water for Outdoor Enthusiasts
If you plan to go on an outdoor trip, either solo or with friends/family, you need to know that even the most pristine-looking water can be very unhealthy and make you sick. The color is no guarantee of water purity. Suppose you are taking water form a natural stream like a river, lake, or other such water bodies that livestock, humans, or wildlife can access. In that case, you must know that the water can have contaminants transmitted either via the saliva of other living beings or their fecal matter. The wilder the surroundings are, the higher would be the probability that you will consume impure water from natural water bodies. So, your best bet is to choose an Emergency Mobile Water Treatment system that will help make water from any source contamination-free by trapping all sorts of contaminants.
Ways to Make Water Safe in Emergencies
- Use Chemicals
There are many ways to purify water. The use of chemicals is a traditional approach where a person uses water neutralizing tablets that are effective against bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and other harmful elements that might be present in water. You can add them to any water you have collected and wait for them to do their magic. The chemicals are usually in a pill or drops form and are usually chlorine or iodine-based. Though this method is cheap, easy to use, and can be an amazing backup if your water treatment system fails, it is not the best option.
This method is not ideal as there is a wait time when it shows results, and you can’t have the water till that time. Also, the products with iodine in them give water a chemical taste that can only be countered if you have any taste neutralizer tablets. Also, iodine-based products are not very effective when it comes to Cryptosporidium. Some groups of people like those with a thyroid condition and pregnant women cannot use the iodine products with confidence as they might harm their health.
- Boil the Water
One of the most used water purification methods available across the globe, boiling water is a good way to purify water. All you need is a stove, fuel, and pot to eliminate biological pathogens from your water. The process is simple. After adding the water to the pot, boil it for a few minutes. Even one minute is okay. This method is simple and works effectively even on the murky water. It also doesn’t require much effort and can eliminate viruses, parasites, and bacteria, among other disease-causing organisms.
But like chemicals, it also has some limitations. First, you will need to carry fuel and a pot with you everywhere you go or buy them locally. Second, the time and effort needed to boil water can be a concern. Third, you need to wait for the water to cool down before you can consume it. Finally, the taste of boiled water also needs to be improved by adding a pinch of salt to each quart you boil.
When trying to clean cloudy water via boiling, you should filter it via a paper towel, a clean cloth, or even a coffee filter. After that, collect the clear water, boil it for a few minutes, let it cool, and store it in a cleaned, sanitized container and has tight covers. Then, if the water seems clear, you can skip the filtration process and follow the next steps.
- Use Disinfectants
Suppose you can’t carry the stuff required to boil water or don’t have access to chlorine or iodine-based chemicals that can be added to water. In that case, you should consider using disinfectants like unscented household chlorine bleach. Most disinfectants kill many viruses and bacteria effectively, but they can’t get rid of resistant organisms like parasites Cryptosporidium and Giardia. You should also know that adding a disinfectant would be pretty useless if water is contaminated with a chemical.
To clean water with a disinfectant, you need to filter it through a paper towel, coffee filter, or a clean cloth (if it’s cloudy). Then, you need to take the clear water and follow the instructions present on the bleach label you have bought. Usually, you will be asked to add the right amount of bleach, stir the mixture well, let it stand for 30 minutes, and store it in a clean container. The amount of bleach required could be more if the water is colored, murky, or very cold.
In addition to disinfection powder, disinfection tablets are also available. Tablets that have chlorine dioxide can be effective against hard to eliminate Cryptosporidium. If you want to disinfect water by using disinfecting tablets, you will need to collect water and then follow the manufacturer’s instructions available on the package. Also, read what the tablets are made of, as iodine-containing tablets are not good for long-term use (like more than a few weeks).
- Choose Portable Filters
One of the best options to clean water effectively no matter what part of the world you are in is to use a portable filter or an emergency mobile water treatment system. It will ensure that the water is as pure as it can get. When looking for a filter, please choose a product that can remove hard to eliminate parasites like Giardia and Cryptosporidium. It is also a smart idea to pick a filter that you can carry in your vehicle, and that’s easy to move. It would also be wise to choose a multi-stage filter to don’t need to use chemicals, disinfectants, and other products to purify the water after it is passed through the filter. A reverse osmosis filter is ideal for people seeking a reliable portable filter that effectively eliminates impurities and produces colorless, odorless, and tasteless water.
Where to Get the Right Emergency Mobile Water Treatment System- AMPAC USA
AMPAC USA provides the best-in-class emergency mobile water treatment systems that can meet any requirement. Our products serve a wide range of scenarios, from the smallest capacity desalination system available (150 gallons/ 570 liters per day) to modular trailers that can provide 250,000 gallons (946,250 liters) per day. We have every product you might want or need. The latter is enough to supply the drinking needs of 430,000 people. Modules are combined for larger requirements.
AMPAC USA’s outstanding performance and reliability are vital in responding to survival, emergencies such as surges in freshwater demand, the sudden shortfall in supply, failure of existing water systems due to natural or man-made disasters, social/ armed conflicts, and other such challenges.
You can also trust us to provide efficient Emergency Portable Seawater Desalination and Emergency Mobile Water Treatment systems designed for faster disaster deployment and small boats from AMPAC USA. They are ideal for small and huge disasters that you or your community might face. Some of our most popular products that are worthy of consideration are Portable Emergency Seawater Desalination Watermaker 150GPD | 560LPD, Mobile Seawater Desalination Watermaker System | SW100K-LX that’s ideal for ships, boats, and other vessels, Mobile Seawater Desalination Reverse Osmosis Watermaker 80,0002 GPD (300m3/day), Mobile Seawater Desalination Plant | SW80K-LXC – that is a shipping container and Mobile Seawater Desalination Plant | SW100K-LXC that is a Turnkey System.
Get in Touch to Get the Best- Ampac USA
To know more about which of our emergency mobile water treatment systems are suitable for which scenario, get in touch with one of our experts and let them guide you in the right direction. No matter what the situation is, you can be sure that we will offer multiple products you can choose from. They will also be ready to ship so that you don’t have to wait precious time during a water crisis. You should also know that if you are buying an emergency mobile water treatment system as a precaution and you have the time, you can ask for customizations in any of our products. We’ll modify the systems to ensure that your specific water purification challenges are met. For instance, if you need water in an area where power supply is a cause of concern, you can trust our engineers to provide you with a solar-powered system that doesn’t require much electricity to function effectively. Call 909-548-4900 or visit us here.
References
https://www.ampac1.com/products/seawater-desalination-watermakers/emergency-portable-watermakers
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/making-water-safe.html
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/water-treatment-backcountry.html
https://www.purewaterproducts.com/articles/emergency-water-filters
