--- title: Wood Cleanses Bacteria from Drinking Water, Study Finds description: Scientists discover a sophisticated filtration system underneath the bark of a pine tree canonical: https://time.com/13754/need-clean-drinking-water-just-add-wood/ author: Dan Kedmey article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-03-06T10:05:56.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-21T06:36:40.029Z article:section: Science og:title: Wood Cleanses Bacteria from Drinking Water, Study Finds og:description: Scientists discover a sophisticated filtration system underneath the bark of a pine tree og:url: https://time.com/13754/need-clean-drinking-water-just-add-wood/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt35f8ce52eb03905e/69868422361760510790ac47/476877973.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5760 og:image:height: 3240 og:image:alt: A forest and lake og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Wood Cleanses Bacteria from Drinking Water, Study Finds twitter:description: Scientists discover a sophisticated filtration system underneath the bark of a pine tree twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt35f8ce52eb03905e/69868422361760510790ac47/476877973.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Need Clean Drinking Water? Just Add Wood > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Future Proof: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Future Proof is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Making sense of the climate and energy economy. Future Proof examines the forces transforming energy and climate, and what those changes mean for business, technology, policy and the global economy. Senior correspondent Justin Worland goes beyond traditional climate coverage to connect the energy transition to the bigger decisions reshaping companies, markets and society. 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Future Proof is TIME's weekly climate and energy newsletter, written by senior correspondent Justin Worland. It connects the energy transition to the decisions reshaping business, technology, policy and markets. #### Where can I follow the energy transition as a business story? Future Proof covers climate and energy as an economic and business story rather than only an environmental one. It publishes every Friday and is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who writes Future Proof? Justin Worland, a senior correspondent at TIME and an award-winning climate journalist, writes Future Proof. #### Is Future Proof free? Yes. Future Proof is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-futureproof-2026q3/newsletters?i=ca9f2f4f-b047-4b50-8e5f-dfb6530c7679&cr=time-nl-futureproof-2026q3-v1)  by [Dan Kedmey](https://time.com/author/dan-kedmey/)  ## Dan Kedmey Mar 6, 2014 10:05 AM UTC  Austria, Upper Austria, Salzkammergut, Gruenau, Alm valley, Lake Almsee Austria, Upper Austria, Salzkammergut, Gruenau, Alm valley, Lake Almsee Getty Images  by [Dan Kedmey](https://time.com/author/dan-kedmey/)  ## Dan Kedmey Mar 6, 2014 10:05 AM UTC One way to clean harmful bacteria from river water is to pump it through costly man-made filters. But scientists may have discovered much more affordable technology, fully developed and ready for use, beneath the bark of an ordinary tree. NPR [reports](http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/03/05/286215962/to-clean-drinking-water-all-you-need-is-a-stick?ft=1&f=1007) that MIT scientist Rohit Karnik strained water through the sapwood of a pine branch. The branch’s vascular system contains membranes designed to filter out microscopic air bubbles. Karnik found that those same membranes could filter out harmful bacteria as well, apparently as much as 99.9%. The remaining iota could still pose a serious public health risk, skeptics caution. For the moment, though, it’s an intriguing proof of concept and also evidence that sometimes invention is just catching a ride on nature’s coattails. \[[NPR](http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/03/05/286215962/to-clean-drinking-water-all-you-need-is-a-stick?ft=1&f=1007)\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/13754/need-clean-drinking-water-just-add-wood/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/13754/need-clean-drinking-water-just-add-wood/"},"headline":"Need Clean Drinking Water? 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