Via Afrigadget, a visual explanation of how to disinfect water with just a PET plastic bottle. The diagram, developed by Unicef, pretty much speaks for itself. Too much gunk in the water? Let it settle and filter through some cloth. At least six hours of sunlight will be enough UV to kill bad buggies. Using solar water disinfection, or “SODIS”, replaces the need to boil water, thus reducing deforestation to supply fire wood.
Obviously, this is not a long term solution. Drinking water out of heated plastic bottles can’t be a good thing. But in a pinch . . .
More info here.
I suppose when it is the difference between not having anything to drink and having some, I’d take the plastic bottle!
Does this work for those big glass jars I have, I wonder?
Also wondering if it would work the same in glass.
My guess is no, glass tends to filter out UV.
From the site:
“Glass: Also glass bottles can be used for SODIS. But it is not possible to construct shallow, large containers using ordinary window glass, as window glass does not transmit UV-radiation adequately.”
Maybe a Mason/Kerr/Ball jar? How does one know what glass filters UV and what doesn’t?
This could come in handy. Thanks for posting!
I am glad you posted this. I read a great article about a device called Solaqua, invented by a college student in Australia, that provides up to 10 l. per day.
He designed it to be either carried on the head or by two folks, and particularly for sub-Saharan Africa.
The article I read was called “Solar Saves Lives” found at http://economicefficiency.blogspot.com/2009/06/solar-saves-lives.html
Do you know what they call people who depend on this for safe water???
Patients!