The last way humans purify water is the sand method.
This filters water because as the water passes from top to bottom, some of the larger particles get stuck on the top. The smaller particles go through and get eaten by tiny organisms, including bacteria and protozoan. The rest of the clean water continues, which is safe to drink.
The first natural was the earth purifies water is..
When muddy water flows from a plowed field, most of the bacteria gets caught by weeds and grass. There will still be a little mud in the water but it isn't harmful.