Homeowner seeks way to turn swimming pool water into emergency drinking supply

A disaster prepper hoping to turn pool water into an emergency drinking supply encountered an unexpected obstacle when their preferred filter was on back order.

Here's what to know

In a Reddit post in r/Preppers, the original poster described having an above-ground pool and a nearby pond. They explained that they had planned to purchase a LifeStraw community filter but that it was out of stock.

The OP then asked, "What are your suggestions for something similar that I could filter pool water to drink?"

"Pool water is sketchy and could run the gamut of various levels. I would definitely have 20 pounds or so of baking soda on hand," one person chimed in.

The same commenter wrote that the "Katadyn TRK drop filter is what you're looking for. We have used Katadyn products for decades, they are the gold standard in water filtration. Our drip filters got a lot of use during Hurricane Helene when the solar well output was low. We filtered rainwater from the catchment tanks."

Another Redditor suggested a "Sawyer filter kit …. The starter kit used to come with a Mylar bag you can use to collect water and filter out portably. I also carry purification tabs, iodine crystals, and extra Mylar pouch in my BoB. … It's better to collect and filter water now and use the pool/pond as a secondary/longer term source."

Where can I learn more?

Choosing an emergency water filter means looking at where the water will come from and what the filter can remove. 

• A desert prepper exploring condensation collection received advice favoring gravity filters over dry air.

• A West Coast cabin owner sought potable rainwater on a budget, prompting debate over UV treatment.

• Reddit commenters suggested a $30 replacement membrane might fix a homeowner's aging reverse-osmosis system.

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