Before I get berated: already searched the Outdoor Forum, and Youtube, and haven't found what I'm looking for.

Looking for a link to a good intro/tutorial on mass water filtration (not survival straws). I've heard of of carbon filters, ceramic filters, etc, but don't know enough or understand their application.

I'm hoping to rely on filtration for major emergency. My BOL has multiple large sources of fresh water, and I do not have the ability to store water there, so a filtration system and hand pump only makes sense.

I do have (5) 5 gallon cans filled at my apt, but thats just until I get where I need to be and get everything going.

Thanks.

Good place to start:


https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/water-treatment-backcountry.html



If you are looking at doing water for several people, I would look at the gravity feed systems.  You can also build your own gravity system with a hydration bladder, a sawyer filter and some tubing.

Here is a link to my experience:



http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_17/687770_Haiti-Hurricane-Matthew-AAR.html



In Kenya I have used these with success, filtering water for a family of 5 for two months:

http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/berkey-water-filters.html/


If you are looking at longer term or larger groups, you want a system you can fill up, then ignore while gravity does the work.

Here is another cheaper option:

https://sawyer.com/products/sawyer-point-zerotwo-bucket-purifier-assembly-kit/


You supply the buckets.  I have been happy with my experience with sawyer thus far.  We gave out hundreds of the bucket kits in Haiti.


Pay attention to what you are buying, sawyer has both a filter (point one) and purifier (point zero two) for buckets:

Purifier:  http://www.moontrail.com/sawyer-point-zero-two-purifier.php


Filter:  http://www.cabelas.com/product/Sawyer-reg-Point-One-Emergency-Water-Filtration-Kit/1209249.uts?productVariantId=2819285&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03092132&rid=20&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI26Ko5fzo1QIVDYhpCh1LhQQIEAQYASABEgJwpvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

The only downside to the sawyers is you can't let them freeze.

Can't go wrong with either Berkey or Sawyer.  Both will flow enough to serve your purposes.  Berkey is easier to setup and use, Sawyer is more portable.

I have two Katadyn Combi systems with extra filters for home and bug out bags.  I have some small ones, Katadyn Hiker, for the car get home bags.  I have Big Berkey black filters for dedicated home use.

For larger scale filtration I have a couple of these stashed away:

Ceramic Water Filter

You add your own buckets and lids.

My Berkey saved my fam from an every 4 week Colon Cleansing (our well was making us sick-we didn't know).  Best Money we'd spent for a potential emergency-still use it Every day!

iirc the larger Katadyn pump filter (think about bicycle air pump size, not a pocket filter) and British Berkefeld gravity systems have been used with very good results in third world areas for a long time (particularly the Berkefeld Doulton ceramic filters) for larger groups.  I think the Berkey filter is an American licensed version of the Berkefeld filter (don't quote me on that though) and that group developed the Black Berkey filter which I think is basically their version of the Sterasyl Ceramic filter element with extra activated carbon.  Anyway pretty much everyone agrees that it makes good water. And the Katadyn is rated highly also.

Short term SHTF I would use one of the Sawyer systems set up as a gravity filter.
Generally speaking your home under counter filter filters to 0.5 microns.
The Sawyer systems generally down to 0.1 microns that are not rated to filter out viruses and one that will go down to 0.02 microns that will filter out most viruses.
For larger groups you might consider a gravity system like a Berkey filter with the Black Berkey filters (or build your own); some claim they will filter out viruses; others claim they don't filter out viruses.  I plan to boil the water for 5 minutes to kill any viruses, let it cool down; then run it through a filter.

Long term SHTF or for the BOL I would plan to build a BioSand filter or slow sand filter and have that water stored in a cistern.  Then I think I would run it through a Berkey filter before using it.
The home size is basically 1 ft. x 1ft. x 3-4 ft. tall made of concrete.
iirc I saw a village size one basically 3-4 ft. x 3-4 ft. x 4 ft. tall.  

EMAS cisterns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icLOgAkofUk&list=PL9v91TA8WG-bNNQR2TKqxdi3zTrCGEa0U  
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSN24sOUXbvLWlJcvm-F_2w    
http://slowsandfilter.org/index.html  
http://slowsandfilter.org/cistern_page.shtml
http://akvopedia.org/wiki/Concrete_Biosand_Filter

Another option is a steel roof on your BOL housing or build a utility shed or a sloping steel roof over a shipping container and use rainwater going to your cistern or 55 gallon drums (shield these from sunlight to reduce algae growth).  Try to not build or set any new structures under trees to reduce contamination.

my Sawyer .1 micron filter attachment for a 5 gal bucket is very transportable...able to be back flushed with a simple syringe... for a virus threat I plan on using titrated pool chlorine