People living in urban environments are essentially at the mercy of their utility companies. You must rely on the power company, the gas company and you have to trust that your local water treatment plant is properly treating your drinking water making it safe for you and your family. You need a certain amount of hydration every day, up to two quarts, on average, to survive. You probably do not give it much thought as you go about your daily routine, but what happens when the power company fails or the water treatment plant has a malfunction, can you get the proper amount of hydration when your faucets run dry?
Surface water can be rivers, streams, lakes, and city reservoirs. Manmade sources include hot tubs, backyard and public swimming pools, backyard water features and public fountains. Before any water can be consumed it must be filtered and purified to remove and destroy harmful contaminates.
Boiling and chemical treatments using bleach and two percent liquid iodine are very common and effective methods and most urban homes would have the means to purify water using these techniques. Household bleach is typically manufactured with sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine) as its active ingredient. The bleach should contain at least 5% sodium hypochlorite and not have any fragrances or other additives. Surface water must also be filtered before purification by using coffee filters, sand, cloth, gravel and charcoal. Use any container as a filtering device such as a clean food service can with a hole in the bottom.
Water collected from sources other than your faucets must be filtered. You can use sand, coffee filters, cheesecloth, cotton cloth, charcoal and gravel. Ideally, you will layer all filtering mediums in a container with a hole(s) in the bottom.
After you have filtered the water into a container, the water must come to a rolling boil for one minute and for three minutes if you are well above sea level. There is less air pressure at higher elevations, which means that water boils at a lower temperature. Therefore, it must boil longer to destroy any bacteria, pathogens and parasites in the water.
The most conventional and accurate method of measuring bleach for water purification is by using an eyedropper. It is also recommended that you use to containers when chemically treating water. The container used to collect a possibly contaminated water source will have contaminates around the cap and threads. Filter from the collection vessel into a clean water bottle or other container. Using the dropper add 2 drops of chlorine bleach to a one-quart/liter bottle of water. Shake well and wait at least 30 minutes before consuming. After 30 minutes check for a chlorine smell, which indicates you have added the correct amount and strength and if you cannot smell any chlorine, double the drops to four and wait another 30 minutes. Do not add more than four drops per quart of water.
Use the two-container method described, to collect and filter the water source. Add five drops of iodine to a one quart/liter container of water or 20 drops per gallon. Seal, shake well and allow 30 minutes before drinking.
Caution: Do not use Betadine (topical antiseptic) which has the generic name 10% Povidone-iodine to purify water. Even though it is iodine once it is added to water, there is no way to calculate the actual amount of free iodine present. It is recommended that you do not consume iodine treated water for more than two weeks at a time. You should not drink iodine treated water if you have thyroid issues or are pregnant or nursing. These methods are for informational purposes only and this information should not be considered medical advice.
Surface water can be rivers, streams, lakes, and city reservoirs. Manmade sources include hot tubs, backyard and public swimming pools, backyard water features and public fountains. Before any water can be consumed it must be filtered and purified to remove and destroy harmful contaminates.
Boiling and chemical treatments using bleach and two percent liquid iodine are very common and effective methods and most urban homes would have the means to purify water using these techniques. Household bleach is typically manufactured with sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine) as its active ingredient. The bleach should contain at least 5% sodium hypochlorite and not have any fragrances or other additives. Surface water must also be filtered before purification by using coffee filters, sand, cloth, gravel and charcoal. Use any container as a filtering device such as a clean food service can with a hole in the bottom.
Water collected from sources other than your faucets must be filtered. You can use sand, coffee filters, cheesecloth, cotton cloth, charcoal and gravel. Ideally, you will layer all filtering mediums in a container with a hole(s) in the bottom.
After you have filtered the water into a container, the water must come to a rolling boil for one minute and for three minutes if you are well above sea level. There is less air pressure at higher elevations, which means that water boils at a lower temperature. Therefore, it must boil longer to destroy any bacteria, pathogens and parasites in the water.
The most conventional and accurate method of measuring bleach for water purification is by using an eyedropper. It is also recommended that you use to containers when chemically treating water. The container used to collect a possibly contaminated water source will have contaminates around the cap and threads. Filter from the collection vessel into a clean water bottle or other container. Using the dropper add 2 drops of chlorine bleach to a one-quart/liter bottle of water. Shake well and wait at least 30 minutes before consuming. After 30 minutes check for a chlorine smell, which indicates you have added the correct amount and strength and if you cannot smell any chlorine, double the drops to four and wait another 30 minutes. Do not add more than four drops per quart of water.
Use the two-container method described, to collect and filter the water source. Add five drops of iodine to a one quart/liter container of water or 20 drops per gallon. Seal, shake well and allow 30 minutes before drinking.
Caution: Do not use Betadine (topical antiseptic) which has the generic name 10% Povidone-iodine to purify water. Even though it is iodine once it is added to water, there is no way to calculate the actual amount of free iodine present. It is recommended that you do not consume iodine treated water for more than two weeks at a time. You should not drink iodine treated water if you have thyroid issues or are pregnant or nursing. These methods are for informational purposes only and this information should not be considered medical advice.
About the Author:
Preppers should take their water purification and storage demands seriously. By prepping today, you can help make certain your family's safety during an emergency.
