Emergency Desalinator

[Foswick]

Can anyone recommend a solution for desalinating an emergency supply of drinking water for 2-3 people? I do not want/need a dedicated watermaker. I doubt I would ever rely on a watermaker as my primary/only choice for drinking water. But, I would not mind having something like a Katadyn Survivor 06 as a backup. At this point, this is mostly just something that would get stored and nearly forgotten. So, paying $1300-$1400 for one isn't super appealing. It might be that there isn't really a good/reliable option for less, though.

I know about distillation, as an option, but to me, that is an absolute last resort. It takes considerable space and/or energy to produce enough volume. And, the point of an emergency supply is that things have not gone according to plan. So, I can't be assured that I will have a stable place to run such a still.

Am I looking for a magic solution that doesn't exist?

 

[Rich Stidger]

Years ago I saw a hand-held and operated desalinator. It's output was low, in the pints per hour range. I think it was designed and marketed for life-rafts. Try a search for "life-raft desalinator".

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Am I looking for a magic solution that doesn't exist?

Since you have ruled out distillation - Yes.

 

[dLj]

Steve Callahan used solar stills. They were part of his life raft. They use no energy other than the sun.

dj

 

[colemj]

You are asking about forward osmosis, where a hyperosmotic solution draws water into it across a membrane. They make emergency kits like this: https://www.amazon.com/OTS-Osmo-Sea...nements=p_89:OTS&sr=8-1&srs=120914532011&th=1

The downside is it takes a long time, and you get a flavored sweet water solution, not pure water. Also, they are one-time use.

Otherwise, most people carry emergency water in ditch bags. This can be in the form of bottles bought at the grocery store.

Mark

 

[Foswick]

Years ago I saw a hand-held and operated desalinator. It's output was low, in the pints per hour range. I think it was designed and marketed for life-rafts. Try a search for "life-raft desalinator".

Yeah, that's what products like that Katadyn Survivor 06 are marketed as. And, it might be that it will just cost well over $1000 for what I am looking for. I am just not very informed about the technology, in general, and less so about what solutions have been successfully used in the field. I know a guy who has a bigger manual Katadyn desalinator that he uses as his main water supply on the boat - keeping just a few gallons in reserve. He loves it, but it also seems like he is always fussing with it.

 

[Foswick]

They make emergency kits like this: https://www.amazon.com/OTS-Osmo-Seal-desalination-preparedness/dp/B0BSLPDJ3Y/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.B92zr06Q3a5-EO5JRamCsg.H74Ga0luqPkANwrTHrXr_ps_6qjsyE9aSZBu11qepPI&dib_tag=se&qid=1750633793&refinements=p_89:OTS&sr=8-1&srs=120914532011&th=1
[...]
Otherwise, most people carry emergency water in ditch bags. This can be in the form of bottles bought at the grocery store.

Thanks. That is an interesting option. My ditch bag and med kit have an electrolyte solution rather than plain water, as it also helps in the case of fluid loss from vomiting and diarrhea, more than plain water. Of course, you can't really clean wounds with it. (Though, I should look into what the medical implications of that would be. Might not be a huge problem and better than any of a number of nasty marine infections.) I carry a limited amount of sterile saline for that purpose anyway.

The only real drawback to these pouches is that they expire. So, it is something I would need to think about every year - not my strong suit. But, you can't beat the price. At that price, the thing to do is simply put them in the water well before needed. If they end up not being needed, you are only out a few bucks. I'm going to read up on these and probably grab a few to have on-hand.

 

[Richard19068]

Does anybody know anything about these?

Portable Seawater Desalination Device

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