Can black coals substitute as natural water purifiers?

Question

I used to remember our old water purifier from the early '80's. When I opened it, I discovered that our water filter contained black coals? So if I wanted to shovel snow in front of the driveway and place the shovelled snow in a barrel for water conservation purposes, can the snow be filtered (went it melts) if I dumped black coals in a barrel and poured the snow over it or would it be wiser to use the cholorox purifying method instead?

Answer 1

Boy, I hope you have a LOT of snow!! Cause it takes an awful lot of snow to make an appreciable amount of water. Also, it is not COAL that is used for filtering, it is CHARCOAL (and activated, at that), which is totally different.

From Ask A Scientist:

"I do not think coal is used for water filtration. However, activated charcoal (AC) is used and it is excellent in that respect. In fact, AC, because the tiny particles have such a large surface area, is sometimes administered to patients who have ingested certain kinds of poisons. AC works by adsorbing materials and rendering them immobile on the charcoal particle surface and within their interstitial pores. That's why it is so good at water purification -- particularly so for improving the taste and odor of the water. By the way, good as it is, it does not destroy pathogens. That requires material like chlorine, ozone, or UV light."

Maybe you should just reserve this water for watering plants and washing the dog & car?

Answer 2

Both methods. The Coal may have its own poisons added to it now, so carefull there. Sand makes an ok Filter. But they dont tell us that cause then we wouldnt buy the Charcoal Activated junk.
A water filter, about $89, Replacement Filter, about the same.
Look into Reverse Osmosis or something fancy like that, its basic science, the bad water will push the good water away. Or the Diffusion of Charcoal will cleanse the water.
But dont collect or drink Rainwater, there is something poison in that now. or so they say.

Answer 3

I very own a Pureit classic, its been precisely 4 months because i offered it. it works wonderful i think of. these days however the water isn't filling up, it purely maintains to be on the best chamber. So i'm unsure what to do with it. i could in all possibility ought to replace its germ kit thingy.

Answer 4

I don't know about snow, but rain is clean enough for every use except drinking.
Perhaps fresh fallen snow doesn't need this purification.

Answer 5

not sure - usually you use charcoal.