In spite of minimum standards for city water, many have opted to filter their drinking water anyway. After all, just because water tastes all right and does not have an odor doesn't mean it is pure. Of course, the safest way to know if you water is safe is to take a sample to a testing center. But even if it passes this test, you still may want to filter it, just to be sure.

Why spend a lot on a filter unit when you can make one yourself? Below is an inexpensive plan for making a carbon water filter that will guarantee to make most drinking water safer.

Step one is to acquire the needed supplies. You will need a piece of vinyl hose and a drill and bit the size of the outside hose diameter. You will also need a length of 2 1/2 inch PVC pipe, a cap and a can of sealant. Finally, you will need a paper coffee filter.

Now you are ready for the construction. First, drill a hole in the cap and insert the piece of vinyl tubing. Seal it as necessary so that water will not leak around it. Then insert the cap onto one end of the PVC pipe and seal this as needed. Finally, fold the paper coffee filter so that it fits into the PVC pipe and push it down so that it covers the hole where the vinyl tubing is inserted.

Add the carbon to the open end of the PVC and pour water over it until it is full. Point the vinyl hose into a container where the filtered water can collect. You may want to discard the first batch of filtered water since it might have washed out contaminants from the project.

You will want to attach the PVC pipe to something so that it can work while you are doing other things. A simple stand can be made using two 4 inch squares of pine, a base and upright longer than the PVC. Attach the upright piece to the base. Then drill a hole in each 4 inch square large enough for the PVC. Attach these supports to the upright, insert the PVC filter, and secure it with a setscrew.

Your unit is ready to use. Remember, the more carbon you have in your PVC pipe, the more filtering takes place. Thus, the longer it is, the better. Also, be sure to replace the carbon periodically and to clean out the inside of the PVC while it is empty. The frequency will depend on how much water you filter through the unit.

This unit has obvious limitations. It is not designed to produce a great quantity of water. But if you keep the PVC full and store the filtered water, it will surely provide sufficient drinking water for several people.