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Survival 101: 6 Ways to Purify Water in the Wild

Illustration of various household items including safety goggles, a sun, a medicine bottle, bleach, a thermometer, and a vacuum.

Whether you are camping for the first time or you find yourself stranded somewhere due to a natural disaster or zombie apocalypse, it is important to know how to purify water in the wild if you don't have immediate access to store-bought water bottles.

The most reliable method for purifying water is to boil it for 5 to 20 minutes. For other convenient methods, you can carry water purification tablets in your backpack or invest in a commercial water filter, which you would use after drawing water from a clean source—ideally clear, flowing water from a natural spring or stream that is not anywhere near manmade structures.

Don't Miss: How to Collect Safe Drinking Water from the Wilderness

Read below for more methods for purifying water in the wilderness, and general tips for finding the best water source. Click on image to enlarge.

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