Photo: Screenshot from Reddit
Throughout the history of humankind, people have had to make do with their resources as a means of survival. This led to the creation of techniques to maximize food or take care of their health—which now look archaic when compared to contemporary solutions. A good example of this is water filtration. Despite sounding like a modern concept, a Mayan water filtration system from hundreds of years ago was recently uncovered. Now, a viral TikTok video has spotlighted an old filtration technique from the desert regions of the Middle East.
The video was first shared by blogger Muhammad Al Hussainan. The original caption describes the process as water extraction after the rain and sets the stage for the fascinating filtration process that is depicted in the footage.
While a puddle of dirty rainwater in the middle of the desert sounds like a less-than-ideal source of water, one of the men in the video suggests that it can be used to make coffee and proceeds to explain how the soil is a natural filter. He then goes on to pour the water outside of the original puddle and let it flow back in, explaining that it works as having a little cistern. This way, the sediments catch the particles mixed in the water.
Slowly but surely, the man gathers the dirty water using a bottle. As the recycled liquids start coming through again, it appears increasingly clean, ending up with a pool of crystal clear water. “Who would have that this was the dirty water looking like this? Now we can make coffee” reacts the man taking the video. “You can get coffee or make anything else,” replies another.
Although the water seems ready to go, the fact they are making coffee seems to suggest an additional boiling process to get rid of bacteria. However, the fact that plain rainwater can be filtered in the middle of the desert is a resourceful—and life-saving—piece of knowledge. It has likely helped many people over time, especially in one of the warmest regions on the planet, where temperatures of up to 130 º F have been recorded.
A video shared by blogger Muhammad Al Hussainan has spotlighted an old filtration technique from the desert regions of the Middle East.
Photo: Screenshot from Reddit
You can watch the video with English subtitles below.
h/t: [Reddit]
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