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Emergency Water Procurement
Amount of bleach to use when purifying water
- Emergency water should be already part of your home storage program.
- Water can be found in most homes and offices in the hot water tank or boiler. There is usually a drain plug at the bottom of the tank. Be sure to turn off the gas or electricity to the unit and not turn it back on again with out water in it.
- Water can also be drained out of the plumbing system by shutting off the main valve to seal the water already in the system (and avoid contamination) then opening all the faucets in the upper part of the building to allow air to enter the pipes and allowing the remaining water to drain to lowest faucet in the building.
- Water for sanitary purposes can be stored in 2 liter soda pop bottles, Mylar bags, nylon containers, or other hard or heavy plastic containers (not milk jugs, they deteriorate with time). Water storage containers should be rotated regularly (at least every year if not every 6 months). Glass containers work well for water storage but are very susceptible to breakage, so pack cardboard around them. Water can be “canned” in caning bottles or jars and processed for 20 minutes. Avoid using any kind of non-treated metal container. The containers you use should have been designated, preferably by the FDA, for food or beverage at one time. 55 gallon water storage drums are ideal but weigh about 440 lbs. when filled, so do not forget a pump or spigot to get the water out.
- Water can also be found in canned foods, soda pop, other canned or bottled beverages.
- Water can also be obtained from the toilet tank reservoir, not the bowl. If you use toilet bowl cleansers that you put into the tank only use the water for sanitary purposes and not consumption.
- Water can also be taken from outside snow, rainwater canals, streams, lakes, rivers, swimming pools, wells, water beds, solar panels and collectors, solar stills, melting ice cubes, fish tanks, etc. for sanitary purposes. It should be treated thoroughly before using for human consumption. Water taken from swimming pools should not be used for consumption due to the very high content of chlorine already in the water.
- When water is mixed with radioactive fallout contaminated particles should then be filtered extensively and never boiled before it is used. Most government agencies claim that water with 0.9 r. of radiation level is safe to drink. Personal discretion should be used. The author of this booklet does not recommend the consumption of any radioactive particles in contaminated water no matter what the radiation level is.
- In the event of an earthquake, floods, civil disturbance, or war, wells, rivers, streams, public water systems, lakes, etc. are frequently poisoned or contaminated. It is best not to use these water sources until they have been checked out. All contaminated water should be treated thoroughly before using for human consumption.
- Water can be drained off a roof into a clean garbage can or cistern and then left to settle, skimmed and then filtered, before using.
- After treating water by any method, it is best to let it stand for up to one half an hour after it is extensively filtered and then skim off any floating particles and do not consume any particles that have settled to the bottom.
- You can survive several weeks without eating food. You can only survive several days without water. The human body uses about one-half gallon per day under normal circumstances but can survive on as little as one quart per day (two quarts per day if it is hot) without total exhaustion and dehydration.
- Fish tank charcoal filters work great for filtering water for human consumption.
- In an emergency situation never ration water, rather consume the required amount (at least one quart a day with food, preferable two) and then look for more tomorrow. You can conserve your water best by minimizing your activities, salt intake, and staying cool.
- Do not store water in empty bleach containers. This increases the possibility of accidentally drinking full strength bleach. Also, after time the water stored in bleach containers becomes toxic.
- When choosing a liquid bleach to purify your water look for one that states that it contains 5.25% sodium hypochlorite as its only active ingredient and no soap. Seal all water containers tight and store them in a cool, dark dry, well ventilated place. For water bed water storage place two ounces of bleach per 100 gallons.
Dig a hole about 18 inches deep and 3 feet wide. Put a large can in the bottom with a plastic tube or hose from the can out of the hole. Place vegetation in the bottom of the hole to induce moisture. Cover the hole with clear plastic mounding dirt on the sides of the hole to hold the plastic in place. Place a small rock in the middle of the hole, over the can, on top of the plastic so that the condensation that will form in the hole on the underside of the plastic will run towards the middle and drip into the can. Check every several hours during the heat of the day for water in the can.
- (1 quart) 2 drops for clear water / 4 drops for cloudy water
- (1 gallon) 8 drops for clear water / 16 drops for cloudy water
- (5 gallons) ½ teaspoon for clear water / 1 teaspoon for cloudy water
- (55 gallons) 5 ½ teaspoons for clear water / 11 teaspoons for cloudy water
METHODS OF EMERGENCY DISINFECTION AND PURIFICATION
Boiling: Vigorous boiling for ten minutes will kill any disease-causing microorganisms present in water. The flat taste of boiled water can be improved by pouring it back and forth from one container to another (called aeration), by allowing it to stand for a few hours, or by adding a small pinch of salt for each quart of water boiled. Adding Kool-Aid, tea or some other instant drink mix will also help improve taste. Water can also be filtered through layers of clean linen, nylon, cheesecloth or coffee filters.
Chemical treatment: When boiling is not practical, chemical disinfection should be used. The two chemicals commonly used are chlorine and iodine. Chlorine and iodine are somewhat effective in protecting against exposure to Giardia, but may not be effective in controlling Cryptosporidium. Therefore, use iodine or chlorine only to disinfect well water (as opposed to surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, and springs), because well water is unlikely to contain these disease causing organisms. Chlorine is generally more effective than iodine in controlling Giardia, and both disinfectants work much better in warmer water.
Chlorine Methods:
CHLORINE BLEACH:
Common household bleach contains a chlorine compound that will disinfect water. The procedure to be followed is usually written on the label. When the necessary procedure is not given, find the percentage of available chlorine on the label and use the information in the following tabulation as a guide.
Available Chlorine (Drops per Quart of Clear Water)
1% -- (10)
4-6% -- (2)
7-10% -- (1)
(If strength is unknown, add ten drops per quart of water. Double amount of chlorine for cloudy or colored water)
The treated water should be mixed thoroughly and allowed to stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight chlorine odor; if not, repeat the dosage and allow the water to stand for an additional 15 minutes. If the treated water has too strong a chlorine taste, it can be made more pleasing by allowing the water to stand exposed to the air for a few hours or by pouring it from one clean container to another several times.
GRANULAR CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE - (SWIMMING POOL CHLORINE)
Add and dissolve one heaping teaspoon of high-test granular calcium hypochlorite (approximately ¼ ounce) for each two gallons of water. The mixture will produce a stock chlorine solution of approximately 500 mg/L, since the calcium hypochlorite has an available chlorine equal to 70 percent of its weight. To disinfect water, add the chlorine solution in the ratio of one part of chlorine solution to each 100 parts of water to be treated. This is roughly equal to adding 1 pint (16 oz.) of stock chlorine to each 12.5 gallons of water to be disinfected. To remove any objectionable chlorine odor, aerate the water as described above.
CHLORINE TABLETS
Chlorine tablets containing the necessary dosage for drinking water disinfection can be purchased in a commercially prepared form. These tablets are available from drug and sporting goods stores and should be used as stated in the instructions. When instructions are not available, use one tablet for each quart of water to be purified.
TINCTURE OF IODINE
Common household iodine from the medicine chest or first aid kit may be used to disinfect water. Add five drops of 2 percent United States Pharmacopeia (U.S.P.) Tincture of iodine to each quart of clear water. For cloudy water add ten drops and let the solution stand for at least 30 minutes.
IODINE TABLETS
Commercially prepared iodine tablets containing the necessary dosage for drinking water disinfection can be purchased at drug and sporting goods stores. They should be used as stated. When instructions are not available, use one tablet for each quart of water to be purified.
WATER TO BE USED FOR DRINKING, COOKING, MAKING ANY PREPARED DRINK, OR BRUSHING TEETH SHOULD BE PROPERLY DISINFECTED.
This information was taken by permission from the author of, "Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response" by Kenneth Moravec. This booklet (very highly recommended) can be purchased for a very low cost by contacting the author at: Kenneth Moravec - MoravecKennethB@aol.com - (801) 492-9029
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Originally Posted by fiveseven
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