Clean drinking water is an essential component of off-grid living and survival.
Without access to clean drinking water, people would be unable to sustain their health and become dehydrated.
Water is not only crucial for basic hydration, but it is also essential for keeping people alive, healthy, and thriving.
Access to a reliable source of clean drinking water is critical for prepping and survival enthusiasts, as it will enable them to stay safe and healthy in an emergency.
Basic Container Hygiene
Clean water is essential for survival, and it is vital to ensure water safety. One way to do this is to ensure that water bottles and containers are kept clean and free from bacteria by regularly washing them with hot, soapy water and giving them a thorough rinse afterward.
It is also essential to ensure the bottles are completely dry before storing them away, as dampness can create an environment where bacteria can thrive. By taking these simple steps, you can ensure that your equipment does not contaminate your water supply.
But what about the water itself?
Bacteria can be present in water at its source, introducing bacteria into your equipment.
Silver As Water Preservation Agent
Silver is known for its anti-bacterial properties, as it can kill bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. Silver ions penetrate bacterial cells when released into liquids and surfaces and disrupt the metabolic processes that allow them to survive.
Silver ions bind to the bacteria’s cell membranes, blocking the cells from receiving nutrients and causing them to die. Silver is an excellent tool for preppers and survival enthusiasts looking to stay off-grid and live a more sustainable lifestyle.
Silver can be used to treat water, preventing the growth of bacteria that can make it undrinkable. It can also create anti-bacterial surfaces, providing hygiene and protection from disease.
Is Silver Safe?
Silver has long proven to be an effective tool for water purification. Silver is non-toxic and can purify large volumes of water quickly and easily.
Additionally, silver is more affordable than many other water purification methods, making it an ideal choice for preppers and homesteaders.
Related: Easy DIY Water Purification System For Under $20
Silver has been used since antiquity as a natural antimicrobial agent, and by placing a solid silver coin into a water bottle, you can help to kill any bacteria that may try to form.
In addition, silver coins are a lightweight and cost-effective way to ensure that the water you have with you is always safe to drink, and it’s a great way to stay prepared for any situation.
The silver from a silver coin will not contaminate the water in the bottle; instead, it will remain safe for human consumption. Therefore, water with a silver coin in it will remain safe from microbial contamination and will remain safe for drinking.
Only The Real McCoy Will Do
Knowing if a coin is solid silver or merely silver-plated is vital for preppers. Silver-plated coins could lose their plating, which can release other metals into the water.
Therefore, it is essential to use a solid pure silver coin. To test the authenticity of a coin, you can use a magnet. If the coin is attracted to the magnet, it is not pure silver, as silver is not magnetic.
Additionally, you can use a nitric acid test to see if a coin is a silver or merely silver-plated.
This test involves rubbing a small drop of nitric acid onto the coin. If the coin is silver, the acid will not react, and the coin will remain unchanged.
Related: What Happens If You Put Silver In Milk?
However, the acid will create a dull spot or discolor if the coin is silver-plated.
Getting Hold Of Real Silver
Preppers and survival enthusiasts looking to acquire solid silver coins can find them in many places. Online retailers often offer a wide selection of silver coins in various sizes, denominations, and styles.
Coin dealers and pawn shops are also great places to buy silver coins, as they often have a good selection of rare and collectible coins.
Additionally, many banks and credit unions offer silver coins, making them an excellent and easily accessible choice for those looking to purchase them.
Lastly, many local coin shows and conventions provide a wide selection of silver coins, allowing preppers to find the perfect ones for their needs.
Other Silver Options
Silver coins were traditionally used to purify water, but several other options are available to preppers and survival enthusiasts. For example, silver metal drops, also known as colloidal silver, can kill bacteria in water.
This method is relatively easy to use and requires only a few drops of silver in a water container. However, colloidal silver can be expensive and must be used carefully, as it can cause water discoloration if too much silver is added.
Another option for purifying water is to use silver wire.
Silver wire has been used for centuries to purify drinking water and can be fashioned into a wide range of shapes and sizes. In addition, silver wire is relatively easy to use and can be fashioned into various shapes to suit the user’s needs.
Finally, silver-lined water bottles are an excellent option for purifying water. This method requires a special water bottle with an interior silver lining. The silver kills the bacteria in the water and makes it safe to drink.
Silver-lined water bottles are easy to use and do not require any additional equipment. Regardless of your chosen method, it is essential to remember that silver effectively purifies water.
Each of the above methods has its benefits and drawbacks, so it is vital to research each option before deciding which one is best for your survival needs.
How Much To Use
In terms of quantity, the amount of silver needed to keep a given amount of water pure can vary depending on the application. For general use, an approximate guideline is that 2 grams per gallon is sufficient for keeping bacteria and other contaminants at bay.
Silver can also be used in reservoirs, but it is essential to remember that silver is not a filter and should be combined with other filtration methods to ensure the water is entirely free of contaminants.
You can learn here how to build a rainwater harvesting and purification system that will give you an endless supply of clean water to drink and cook with.
Is One Coin Enough?
A silver coin can keep water fresh for an extended period, but the amount of silver needed depends on how much water you want to stay fresh. Generally, 3 liters of water would require around 3-6 grams of silver.
Therefore, if using a silver coin, you will want to choose a coin that is at least one ounce in weight, or 28.35 grams.
When Not To Use A Coin
Silver coins are not recommended for camelbacks since they can be difficult to remove and may damage the material.
Instead, you can use a silver wire or silver mesh. Silver wire is a thin strand of silver that can be woven into a mesh and placed in the water container to keep it fresh.
Silver mesh is a more durable option and can be reused. Both silver wire and silver mesh can be purchased from various online retailers.
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I’ve been making my own colloidal silver for years now. It has a lot of healing properties.
Can not say I would use this as a primary method, but how long would it take for the silver to clear a gallon container of bacteria? Would it be minutes, hours, days??
Hi
The amount of time it takes for silver to purify water will depend on the level of contamination in the water and the concentration of silver used.
Generally, it can take anywhere from several minutes to several hours for silver to effectively purify the water.
A gallon container is relatively large, and a silver penny is rather small. So I guess it would take some time, possibly more than a day.
It would also depend on how much bacteria was in the water in the first place and how much movement or convection there is in the container. If the container is perfectly still, it will take longer, but if the water is stirred, it will take shorter.
If you are taking water from a puddle that has been stagnant for a long time, it would be best to boil the water and then add a penny.
Multiple studies have been done on the quality of water in personal water bottles that people bring to work or children take to school, and all these studies have found that dangerous levels of bacteria occur in many personal drinking bottles.
This study recommended against the use of personal water bottles for school children.
This study found that personal water bottles have high levels of rapid bacterial growth.
The main idea behind that silver penny in your personal drinking bottles is to counter the occurrence and growth of bacteria.
Larger containers can also benefit from this.
Silver pennies alone, as a primary method of purification for contaminated water, would be time-consuming and unproductive but is theoretically possible, so it can be viewed as a “go-to” when you have no other choice.
This study, shows that a silver lined water container purified water that was deliberately infected with life-threatening strains of bacteria and how the containers killed the bacteria. It contains the best formula I have come across for determining a correlation between “how much silver” kills “how much bacteria”. Keep in mind that this is when the whole interior of the container is silver. A silver penny would have the same effect but slower due to a reduced contact surface.
Lastly, this study mentions that a lot of silver coins are only silver in appearance; for example, some silver coins are actually, “a 75/25 (copper/nickel) alloy which has a “silver” appearance and a 92/6/2 (copper/aluminium/nickel)”
Always use your common sense to determine water quality, by smell, visual evaluation, and rational consideration.
When in doubt, use more that one.
Might be best to toss the coin in and let sit all night while you sleep.
Hard to find a silver penny. But you can get 1/10th ounce of .9999 fine silver rounds.
Premiums is what kills you on the price though.
Might also be better to use several smaller coins/rounds than one large one. More surface area.
I kept waiting for this question to be answered too. How long does it take to make water safe?
wow
been an electrician, electrical eng all my life ,had extensive training from HV to micro electronics
never heard of this
have to research and find if true
It’s TRUE …. Research must be sourced from RELIABLE HONEST sources ….
All alphabet letter agencies are CRIMINAL, DECEITFUL beyond measure !
You will be shocked to truly know how evil these people [beings] are which obv. makes it a sure task to find any valid correct information.
I do know via my journey on HOLISTIC HEALING for the last 10 years
( 4 diseases – I have learned much along the way w/so much more to come )
SILVER KILLS BACTERIA, PARASITES, etc., period.
Colloidal Silver ( quality – high ppm is best from trusted source ) even KILLS MRSA.
I offered my knowledge & actual; C.Silver Liquid & C.Silver Gel to someone
I know whom was covered in open, weeping wounds as a result of MRSA coursing through her body for quite a while.
She ( covered head to toe ) was MRSA FREE -via- within weeks !
Drinking daily: C. Silver ( and NO, You do NOT TURN BLUE – This is a RARITY
only occurring if low quality or possibly homemade-yielding high/large particles
…. and …. ingested daily over YEARS, then one’s skin can turn blue, but rare ) !
Another FACT:
No-one has to or should die from MRSA …. EVER …. and …. the hospitals
know this …. Heck the majority of them sterilize the small surgical tools, etc.
in silver !! All the while, know that silver KILLS BACTERIA !!!!
C. Silver is a staple in; My family, friends & my own lives’ …. using
C.Silver liquid & C.Silver Gel has saved us all so much in illness, infections, etc.
I apply the liquid to a multitude of issues; from ear infections, eye/mouth infections-pretty much EVERYTHING that’s not in balance as s/b, whether it be infection or otherwise ( wounds [ open ] ) colds and so much more )
With CENSORSHIP @ an all time time as THE TRUTH IS A THREAT to the powers that were [D.S.] …. their power grabs and money making schemes are coming to an end – The People are finally seeing right through their deceit. I say all this-which is intended to reference back to = The IMPORTANCE of finding correct, shared info/intel from the right, honest, well researched sources and not …. them !
They have kept us from the truth for millenia w/the last one = the worst 🙁
SO YES, SILVER ( solid 100% ) – silver coinage absolutely will
disinfect/kill all bacteria in water & more ….
Best of Luck
@ Christopher
I left a comment re; Your research and the truth
I just want you to be aware & check it out
hope it helps
As well, IDK if I can list sources/links to excellent products
etc., but if interested – LMK
Go to F.Bk. & leave me a message on messenger ….
Have a Great Day !
I asked chatCPT this question: “how long would it take for 3 grams of pure silver to clear a gallon of water of bacteria. please cite your source”
and this was the answer:
I’m sorry, but I cannot provide a specific answer to your question as it depends on various factors such as the type and concentration of bacteria present in the water, the method of silver application, and the purity of the silver used.
However, silver has been known for its antimicrobial properties, and it has been used for centuries to purify water. A study published in the Journal of Water and Health found that silver nanoparticles could effectively remove Escherichia coli (E. coli) from water within 30 minutes of exposure.
It is worth noting that the concentration of silver required for water purification is regulated by various agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States. The EPA sets the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for silver in drinking water at 0.1 milligrams per liter (mg/L).
Therefore, while silver may be effective at removing bacteria from water, it is important to follow the guidelines set by regulatory agencies to ensure safe and effective use.
Isn’t ChatCPT fun? I try to ask questions to stump it and every now and then I do.
No its a government controlled program .
Don’t know about others but as for me…I will usually not use something approved by governmental regulatory agencies. Because they have proven themselves over and over again to error toward whoever pays them the most. Like most government agencies.
Absolutely. FDA/ Governmental recommendations are always made considering the amount of “green” in the deal.
We are all wise to do our own research.
Colloidal silver, made by using a 99% pure silver rod (or silver coins), is a valid use of silver to help remove impurities and assist the immune system.
Ever heard the saying: “Born with a silver spoon in their mouth”? It comes from our ancestors knowing that silver removes germs and helps us stay healthy. Newborns were given silver eyedrops when first born to prevent infections.
Colloidal Silver Benefits, 10 Uses of Colloidal Silver
There are more posts online about colloidal silver.
You must be careful if you make your own C.S., as taking too much can cause your skin to turn blue.
Most of the ‘negative’ posts about it are from sources that would be put out of business if natural solutions are made available for us to keep ourselves healthy, and widely used.
A very honest and detailed response…
however, not as helpful as many of us would have hoped….
Thank you for your time & expertise, nonetheless?.
It is not so simple for a struggling person today
even to HAVE ownership of a few “pure silver” coins!!!
btw: 40 years ago, I inherited $80,000 and yes, it was indeed ….MONEY!.
This year ?
I am in line to inherit another $80,000, but it feels much like $4,000 (in comparable value to 1983)……. ergo, would actually LOSE more ACCEPTING this year’s inheritance – than just rejecting it outright….
Very troubled era we are in….
Donate to your favorite charity and maybe the write off will be more palatable.
Prepper! Please answer the above questions if you want to be taken seriously
Silver coin used as a purifying agent goes back to ships of immigrants coming from Europe to United States. I have read about this how that water would become contaminated and the accidental dropping of silver coins in a water barrel. It was then realized that they didn’t become sick from this water. The conclusion was that silver removed bacteria.
Also, in the middle ages nobility used silver cutlery to eat with as they knew that silver kept food safe.
Interesting thought, that nitric acid will not react with a coin that is pure silver all the way through, and yet it will react with plated pure silver, because it somehow knows that there is a base metal hidden somewhere underneath. By the way, nitric acid does in fact dissolve pure silver, as well as copper and many other metals.
A surer test is to check the coin in a carefully graded container of water for its displacement, and then to weigh the coin. From that, calculate whether its volume matches the mass it should have if it is pure silver. Also, easiest of all, is to use a coin that is sold reputably as .999 pure silver, or that is a pre-1965 US silver coin (90% silver). Also, silver rings much like aluminum when it is dropped on a hard surface, and it has a similar white sheen, but its weight is much more. It is hard to counterfeit the weight/volume nature of silver, especially in combination with its other characteristics.
Settlers on their way out west used to toss in a silver dollar in their milk storage containers.
It kept the milk from spoiling.
Cowboys also tossed a silver coin into their coffee pots.
The release rate of the silver must somehow be tied to water temperature, time, and hardness.
To get that roughly 3 grams of silver in a gallon of water, a 1/10th ounce of ,999 fine silver round seems to be the right amount.
Warning about silver though – make sure there is the least amount of salt in whatever liquid you are trying to preserve.
Silver + salt over time can permanently turn your skin blue.
Canadian silver is the finest at .9999 – moreso than US .999
Thanks. Just bought 25 silver Canadian silver dollars.
Silver colloidal water works real good for a food poisoning or stomach ache. I have used it for that many times.
Not sure about a silver coin. Regular old US coins were made with 90% silver and 10% copper. Now days they have a lot of copper and maybe zinc too with just a thin dusting of silver on the outside. You can buy .9999% pure silver wire that has no copper.
Numismatic coins are generally Not pure silver. This means that you will have other minerals going into your water. Use bullion silver coins which generally are 0.999% pure.
Some one above said settlers came West putting in a silver dollar in milk, I had read a decade ago, they stored water in silver containers to keep the water pure. I have a gravity water filter on my kitchen for my well water with pure silver coins in the top and bottom parts – once you know it becomes common sense. These are Canadian pure silver coins.
Why doesn’t the prepper answer this question? Because he doesn’t know if it really works. He’s probably just a content writer. Do at your own risk
Hey Chuck,
Lighten up. Churches and elites have used silver chalices for Communion for well over a millennia. The act of wiping the chalice and swirling the wine over the silver only supports what has been stated here.
Lots of talk about silver and its benefits.I have had my own ( colloidal silver generator) from The Silver Edge,for many years. Steve Barwick is the owner.At 74 years old I have many testimonies of how great and useful colloidal silver is and encourage everyone ( especially preppers ) to research getting your own generator,you will not be disappointed.
Potassium permanganate is also a great chemical for making water safe to drink. Check it out. pz
I came upon colloidal silver years ago and have been taking about 5 ml per day ever since.
Covid did not touch me.
I bought a device to make – a power supply and two pieces of rod silver – the rods last for years -making your own is very inexpensive.
Ian S.- I eat matches so I can fart flames and covid didn’t touch me, either.
Colloidal silver cleansing (and aloe vera moisturizing)
helped to naturally facilitate healing of my infected 2nd degree scalding burns..
.(Also: without scarring)
without my going to the emergency room, or an M.D. office during the onset of the CV execution pandemic..
Where can I find a silver-lined water bottle? I found one called “S’well, Silver Lining” but that appears to just be related to the color of the bottle, not an actual lining of silver. I found a link to an inventor in Santa Clarita that made one, but couldn’t find an actual bottle to buy.
Anyone know or have a link?
This is off topic, but has anyone tried the Air Fountain? There is a link on here about turning air into fresh water and was wondering if anyone has done this and how it went building it and how well it works.
Thanks for any feedback.
Banana, most of those “water from air” devices are just various forms of dehumidifiers, and usually at much higher cost than just buying a household dehumidifier and setting it up on an elevated table, counter, or shelf, and running the water discharge hose into a container to collect the condensed water, and you might not get nearly as much water as needed for your situation.
You should also calculate the cost of running the dehumidifier into how worthwhile it would be to obtain water this way, or how to power a dehumidifier if the Grid fails.
alcohol kills pretty much anything (including you) so be careful experimenting. beer has many preservatives and a good shelf life and it’s easy to stock the way it’s packaged. use Clorox or chlorine to kill the bacteria. wrap charcoal in cheesecloth and drop it in your big containers. charcoal is also a purifier of bacteria. hydrogen peroxide works, too. like anything else, you need to so some experimenting with these products. i only mention these alternatives because of the price of pure silver. i don’t know too many people who can buy and stock pure silver to purify their water. don’t be afraid to find what works for you and your family. a few sips now and then won’t kill you. you may get a small belly ache but these results will lead you to the right combination for YOUR SITUATION. it may not or won’t work for other families. we all have to do what we have to survive. prepare a little if you can but if it came down to drinking water, the whole world will die anyway!
MOST OF OUR 3 LETTER AGENCIES, AS YOU MAY KNOW, HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED. BEEN MAKING CS FOR OVER 15 YEARS. IT IS A NATURAL SUBSTANCE AND SAFE TO CONSUME. I’M GUESSING HERE, BUT 3-4 TABLESPOONS IN A GAL. OF WATER SHOULD DO THE TRICK. GOOD INFO AND HISTORY HERE……https://healthwyze.org/reports/633-making-and-using-genuine-colloidal-silver
Huh, funny….my hair turned silver and here I thought its probably because of my age…. Ya learn something new each day!
When you say silver, is that the same as sterling silver?
The comments regarding “concentration,” of silver needed for purification, and subsequent suggestions to use more than one “silver” coin, are hogwash.
Sadly, so are the comments regarding TESTING material to insure the coin/wire/other are in fact “real silver.”
For the former, any small 90% silver coin will do (such as a pre 1964 US Roosevelt dime). There is no need, WHATEVER, for using more than one for even a relatively large container of water. Surface area, not “concentration,” matters, and whatever silver ions do leach from such a coin will do so at a rate dependent on surface area alone.
Now, for the tests. There are no such thing, other than expensive collectables, as 100% silver coins. Silver bars are too large. Silver wire is expensive. Testing, with nitric acid, a 90% silver coin will discolor the surface, destroy its value numismatically, and lead a naive person to believe the coin is not suitable for the purpose proposed.
Of greater importance even than the above, I must debunk utterly the comments regarding “clearing” bacteriologically dirty water with a single silver coin. Don’t. Drink. This. The bacterial remnants, and any toxins within them, will remain in that water and could well cause illness quite independent of “living” bacteria in the murky solution created.
Always start with fresh, clear, water. Use a purification kit for times when you cannot (be it iodine, bleach, one of the many “purification” straws on the market). The “coin” method is used simply to deter, not obviate, bacterial or algal overgrowth.
Can sterling silver items be used to purify like the coins? I am in FL and have a large dehumidifier to “make” water for non-potable uses. Could I turn this into potable water?
I can just see myself sinking Grandma’s sterling silver teapot into a bucket of water! LOL
Seriously, I have alot of sterling silver tableware, not silverplated.
Any type of leather fabricating clothing has always required a lot of demand. But if this is about Yellowstone Beth Dutton Leather Coat, suede is what we typically see, which is why these coats are always comfy to wear. Long coats have a rich history that dates back to the 1800s when they were only possible to select families and served as a status symbol for the affluent.
Hi. You mention “Silver coins are not recommended for camelbacks”. Are you referring to the backpacks with water pouches (https://www.camelbak.com/)? I don’t use a silver coin in mine (I use colloidal silver), but I don’t see how using a coin would be difficult to remove, nor damage the material. Can you elaborate?
You can buy a pure silver one ounce coin for roughly $30(depending on the current price of silver) from a reputable coin / bullion dealer in every city. Very doable these days, even for someone struggling financially.
Would something that is sterling silver work just as well? I have a bunch of sterling silver souvenir spoons that would be quite easy to use.
I love your website, alot of good info, thanks ronnie
UMMMMMMMMMMMMM….
Nitric Acid reacts with silver and forms silver nitrate. HS Chem 101
Nitric acid does not react with gold, but will eat right into silver.