Subject: Do it you self-water filtering notes
Sent 21 April 03


I believe the currently available charcoal filter elements will soon fill up with hydrocarbons after the PS and thus are not cost effective. I plan to let the oil separate from the water in a settling tank (garbage can) then slowly pass water from top to bottom of another garbage can full of crushed wood charcoal to remove hydrocarbons and improve taste before partial filtering.  Before the PS purchase the original type charcoal with no fast lighting hydrocarbons added. Charcoal made from wood has lots of micropores and has a great affinity for hydrocarbons.  Charcoal made from bones has affinity for heavy metals such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, iron, lead, zinc and fluoride. 

Reference to types of charcoal and what they remove see "wood" and "bone char" links under: http://www.waterlink.com/bscarbons/coconut.html

After the PS make both wood and bone charcoal on your own see the following method.

Charcoal making in a primitive environment:
http://www.velvitoil.com/Charmake.htm

Particle filter elements of 5 and 10-micron filters are common and relatively cheep.  If one filters to less than one micron a very high percentage (99.99 is common) of parasitic organisms are removed.  If one filters to .3 micron all the parasitic organisms are removed.  Filter elements can be found (sometimes locally read the fine print on the filters) that go down this low.  One can use 10 then 5 and then 1 micron or smaller in 3 stages in standard 9.75" by 2.5" filter element sizes.  The enclosures for the cartridges are common at most home improvement supply houses. The advantage of building a 3-stage unit is that it will allow more dirty water to flow through it before it pugs up. Ozone bubbled through the result can then be used the kill the very small percentage of what makes it though or drops in from the air on an open tank.  The following are some economical examples of what can be found for the small particle size filter elements.  

.5 micron cleanable (reusable) KX Matrikx Ceramic water filter element #20-250-190-975 at $19.99 per each. 
http://www.waterfiltersonline.com/kx_matrikx_water_filters_10std.asp

Harmsco WB-1-W 1 micron - 9 3/4" L x 2 3/4" D - Polyester pleated cleanable filter for $7.99
http://www.waterfiltersonline.com/harmsco_water_filters.asp