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Water Purification
This answer as to whether you need to purify water (disinfect / add chemicals) depends on the source of your drinking water, which probably comes from a public water supply, bottled water, or an untested source such as a private well or spring. Purify any untested source or any source you're unsure about to make sure it is safe to drink. Read further for instructions to purify water.Boiling Boiling is the safest method of purifying water. Bring water to a rolling boil for 3-5 minutes, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate. Let the water cool before drinking. Boiled water will taste better if you put oxygen back into it by pouring the water back and forth between two clean containers. This will also improve the taste of stored water.
Liquid household bleach that contains sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) will purify water. It's important to know, however, that not all bleaches are the same for purifying water. To be safe and most effective, use "regular" full-strength bleach containing 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite (read the label). Do not use scented bleach; it isn't 5.25 percent strength, plus it's more likely to have an off taste. Use the following table as a guide for adding bleach. Stir to mix completely.
The amount of 5.25 percent bleach to add to treat different amounts of clear and cloudy water are shown below.
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Amount of Bleach |
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| Amount of Water | Clear Water | Cloudy Water | |
| 2 litres | 4 drops | 1/8 teaspoon | |
| 5 litres | 1/8 teaspoon | 1/4 teaspoon | |
| 20 litres | 1/2 teaspoon | 1 teaspoon |
Let the water stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight chlorine odor. If it does not, add the same amount of bleach again and let the water stand for 15 minutes more.
These tablets are iodine based and are specifically made to purify water. They're available at camping and sporting goods stores, military surplus stores, and some large department or drug stores. Carefully follow directions on the package. Purification tablets are for emergency use only, not everyday use. Unopened tablets have a shelf life of several years. Some tablet kits include an additive to help the off-taste and color created by iodine.
Iodine
In an emergency, iodine in a medicine kit will purify water. Use 2 percent U.S.P.-strength iodine (read the label). Using a medicine dropper, add 3 drops per litre to clear water and 6 drops per litre to cloudy water. Mix completely by stirring or shaking in a clean container. Allow the water to stand at least 30 minutes before using. Iodine is an antiseptic and is poisonous, so use and store it safely.
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Tip |
If water is polluted, strain through paper towels, paper coffee filters, or several layers of clean cloth into a container to remove any sediment or flaking material. Then boil the water vigorously for 10 minutes, as this will usually make it safe to drink. Add one additional minute for each 10,000 feet of altitude, depending on the area you live in. | |
| Tip | Another method of purification is to strain the water as described above, and then to chemically purify it by adding liquid bleach eg Janola, or tincture of iodine. Do not use granular forms of household bleach as they are poisonous. | |
| Tip | For clear water, use two drops of bleach or three drops of tincture of iodine per litre. If the water is cloudy then these amounts should be doubled. Store an eye dropper with your emergency supplies, to be used only for this purpose. | |
| Tip |
Mix thoroughly by stirring or shaking water in a container. Let the water stand for 30 minutes. A slight chlorine odour should be detectable. If not then the dosage should be repeated and the water allowed to stand for an additional 15 minutes. | |
| Tip |
Do not drink for at least 30 minutes after disinfecting |
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| Tip | For storage of emergency water, fill each cube / bottle with tap water until it overflows. Add five drops of household bleach, eg, Janola, per litre of water and put in storage. (Half a teaspoon (2.5ml) per 10 litres of water) | |
| Tip | Liquid bleach loses strength over time. For this reason I mark each bleach container with the current date. If the bleach is one-year-old, double the amount. Two-year-old bleach should not be used. | |
| Tip | Water purification tablets will purify one litre of water. The tablets have a shelf life of two years and lose their effectiveness if they get damp. Purify enough water to last a maximum of 48 hours. Water allowed ‘to sit’ for longer than this may become re-contaminated. |