How to use a Millbank Bag

[TheBrook]

Hi Everyone at BUK

When I mention Millbank bags, people seem to glaze over and have no idea what I am talking about.

Have you ever wanted to know what exactly a Millbank Bag is and how exactly it can make wild water safer for you to drink?

This video will show you how to use a the Millbank Bag, talk you through making the water you collect safe to drink and also offer some great hints and tips:

[video=youtube;ECzUOzE9jv8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECzUOzE9jv8[/video]

Would love any feedback, or if you have any other tips for using a Millbank bag, do share them

Until the next video, take care everyone,

Brook

 

[bilmo-p5]

Here you go ...

 

[rik_uk3]

There is no need to boil for four minutes, once above 70c the water is sterile. If your below 2000m to be on the safe side just bring it up to a rolling boil and thats it, job done. If your above around 2000m then rolling boil for about three minutes.

 

[samharber]

There is no need to boil for four minutes, once above 70c the water is sterile.

You could chuck some eggs in. 4 minutes should be enough for that fine line between soft and hard boiled.

 

[Ruud]

I never heard of millbank bags before I had to use them on a Frontier Bushcraft-course. It was a great way to go and collect water in a nearby stream and purify it while doing other tasks. Great video.

 

[Dark Horse Dave]

And there's this as well, from the ever-reliable Paul Kirtley of Frontier Bushcraft

 

[bilmo-p5]

... and if all else fails, you can always look here.

 

[Idleknight]

My brown filer Milbank bag has the instructions on and its easy to google instructions too. However as with learning any skill the more times and ways you see it the more likely you are to learn. I tend to watch videos like this in the morning while having my coffee and porrage, so like the short formats. Good video.

 

[mrcharly]

If the only water around is gunky, what do you use to soak the bag?

 

[Fraxinus]

If the only water around is gunky, what do you use to soak the bag?

If the water is too badly sedimented dig a hole two to three feet away from the edge and let it fill with water, discard first filling use second. That would be my approach anyway.

Rob.

 

[Folcwigga]

There is no need to boil for four minutes, once above 70c the water is sterile. If your below 2000m to be on the safe side just bring it up to a rolling boil and thats it, job done. If your above around 2000m then rolling boil for about three minutes.

Good point. It's something i hear repeated often but just seems wasteful of time and water. Other than that, nice video.

 

[bobnewboy]

Great video. I too got to use one on my Frontier Bushcraft course. Only thing I would add is: 1. dont leave the wet bag in a plastic ziplock bag - it will rot. Get it out as soon as you reasonably can and ensure it is well cleaned out and dried; 2. process a little more water than you immediately need. You might only want a cuppa, but for barely any more work & time you could have a canteen full of potable water for later.

 

[bambodoggy]

Would love any feedback, or if you have any other tips for using a Millbank bag, do share them

Another great video Brook and seeing as you ask for tips, could I suggest that when you stir up all the sediment in an area of water when pre wetting your bag that you either then collect from another undisturbed area of water or wait a while for the sediment to settle before filling.
By not collecting the extra sediment you should find your bag filters better, lasts longer and maybe works faster.

(I do appriciate you may have done this on purpose to show how well the bag works with silty water in your video)

Thanks for sharing,

Bam

 

[sargey]

There is no need to boil for four minutes, once above 70c the water is sterile. If your below 2000m to be on the safe side just bring it up to a rolling boil and thats it, job done. If your above around 2000m then rolling boil for about three minutes.

well the water won't be "sterile", but you will have effectively pasturised your water. so most of the bugs will be dead.

like you say, boiling water, a good rolling boil: big bubbles = no troubles

cheers, and.

 

[Ruud]

haha, just won a Millbank Bag through the Facebook-giveaway competition of Bushcraft and Survival skills magazine! What are the odds!

 

[Idleknight]

Congrats, I keep entering all the facebook competitions for anything bushcrafty, but haven't won anything yet..

 

[Ruud]

never won anything before either, just keep going at it

 

[Quixoticgeek]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the use of chemical treatments to treat the water after it's been through the mill bank bag? I picked up a load of Oasis puri tabs, the same as the ones issued to uk squaddies, but haven't used them on millbank bag (or billbank bag) treated water.

Julia

 

[Retired Member southey]

The millbank and puritab go together like monkeys and typewriters, just give the correct contact time, which is 15 mins for the issue chlorine based tabs. One tab to one litre of filtered water. Rember always use two processes either filter and chemically treat or filter and boil.

 

[British Red]

What Southey said. Chemical tablets are a valid alternative to boiling (instead, not as well). The bag removes larger particulates that can isolate pathogens from the chemical or insulate the pathogen from the heat rendering either treatment more effective