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General water purification |
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Water Purification and Storage
Drinking water is disinfected to kill disease-causing micro-organisms (bacteria, viruses and parasites) which may be in it.
Many different diseases are spread by drinking water contaminated by
micro-organisms, including Campylobacter, cholera, amoebic dysentery,
beaver fever (Giardia) [Note: giardia is spread by any four-legged
animal] and Cryptosporidia. These organisms usually get into drinking
water supplies when source waters (i.e.. lakes, streams) or community
water supply pipes or storage reservoirs are contaminated by animal
wastes or human sewage.
In general, surface waters such as streams and lakes are more likely to
contain disease-causing organisms than groundwater. Deep wells are
safer than shallow wells. In fact, shallow dug wells are often as
contaminated as lakes or streams.
You should disinfect your drinking water if:
1. your community has been issued a boil water advisory;
2. you are using water directly from a stream, lake or shallow well;
3. lab tests of your water show that it contains "fecal coliforms";
4. an earthquake or other disaster has disrupted your community water supply;
5. you are traveling in an area where water is not well treated (third world countries); or
6. you have a weakened immune system (in which case you should disinfect all of
your drinking water).
Methods for long term storage of tap water:
1.) Boiling
Bring water to a rolling boil for 5 to 10 minutes. Boiling is the best way to kill bacteria, viruses and parasites.
NOTE: This is not appropriate for water that is obviously heavily polluted, or subject to chemical contamination.
To remove the flat taste of boiled water, leave the boiled water in a
clean covered container for a few hours or pour the cooled boiled water
back and forth from one clean container to another.
2.) Chlorine Bleach
Household bleach can be used. This should contain a 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite without soap additives or phosphates.
Use 1/8 teaspoon (about 5-8 drops) per gallon of water. Use only 5.25%
sodium hypochlorite, such as Clorox bleach -- not scented or colorsafe.
4 drops regular liquid bleach per quart of water
16 drops regular liquid bleach per gallon of water
1 teaspoon regular liquid bleach per 5 gallons of water.
( for you non-metrics out there, like my humble self ! )
Amount of Water Amount of 5% Bleach to Add
1 gal. (4.5 litres), 2 drops (0.18 mL)
2-1/2 gal. (10 litres), 5 drops (0.4 mL)
5 gal. (23 litres), 11 drops (0.9 mL)
10 gal. (45 litres), 22 drops (1.8 mL)
22 gal. (100 litres), 3/4 teaspoon (4 mL)
45 gal. (205 litres), 1-1/2 teaspoons (8 mL)
50 gal. (230 litres), 1-3/4 teaspoons (9 mL)
100 gal. (450 litres), 3-1/2 teaspoons (18 mL)
220 gal. (1000 litres), 8 teaspoons (40 mL)
500 gal. (2200 litres), 6 tablespoons (90 mL)
1000 gal. (4550 litres), 6-1/2 ounces or 12 tablespoons (180 mL)
Mix well; wait 30 minutes. Water should have a slight bleach odor. If
not, repeat and wait 15 more minutes. Disinfection using bleach works
best with warm water. The disinfection action of bleach depends as much
on the waiting time after mixing as to the amount used. The longer the
water is left to stand after adding bleach, the more effective the
disinfection process will be.
CAUTION: Bleach does not work well in killing off beaver fever
(Giardia) or Cryptosporidium parasites. When the water is not heavily
polluted, or when beaver fever (Giardia) or cryptosporidiosis are not a
concern the use of unscented household bleach (5% chlorine) is
recommended. The amount of bleach needed to kill these parasites makes
the water almost impossible to drink. If beaver fever (Giardia) or
Cryptosporidium are in your water, boiling is the best way to ensure
safe drinking water.
CAUTION: If you are treating water from a lake, stream or shallow well,
use twice as much household (5%) bleach as indicated in the chart below
and wait twice as long before drinking it because it is more likely to
contain chlorine-resistant parasites from animal droppings. Let the
water stand for at least an hour after adding the bleach before you
start drinking it.
CAUTION: If the water is colder than 10°C or has a pH higher than 8, let the water stand for at least two hours before drinking.
CAUTION: product must contain 5.25% sodium hypochlorite without soap or phosphates.
CAUTION: If bleach is more than one year old, it loses approximately
50% strength. In this case, the amount of bleach should be doubled.
After treating with chlorine, mix well and allow water to stand 30
minutes before using. Use this eyedropper for no other purpose. If the
bleach is not dated, at time of purchase, note the date on the bottle
with a permanent marker
3.) Chlorine Tablets
Follow the manufacturers' directions. When instructions are not
available, One or two tablets will purify one quart or one litre of
water depending on contamination of water and length of time allowed
for treated water to stand. Follow instructions on the package.
CAUTION: While economical and convenient, not every brand of
purification tablet kills Giardia.
4.) Granular Calcium Hypo-chlorite
Add and dissolve one heaping teaspoon of high-test granular calcium
hypochlorite (approximately 1/4 ounce) for each two gallons of water.
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 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 to make the taste more pleasing. Granular Calcium
Hypo-chlorite has the added benefit of extended shelf life. Providing
it is kept dry, cool and in an airtight container, it may be stored up
to 10 years with minimal degradation. If one is wanting to keep
chlorine in larger quantities, this is the item to store as is readily
available at swimming pool supply stores and many hardware and grocery
stores carrying pool items and requires less actual storing space than
its liquid counterpart. . To make your own fresh bleach take 10
tablespoons of powdered 65% calcium hypochlorite (swimming pool
"burn-out" or "shock treatment) must be pure hypochlorite - no
algicides or fungicides to one gallon of water in a VERY well
ventilated area (ie. outside AWAY from the house). That will give you
the same concentration as fresh household bleach, approx. 5.25%. That
gallon will treat 5,000 gallons of clear water or 2,500 gal. of cloudy
water. Water should be stirred and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Use
a 1:10 bleach/water solution for cleaning instruments and surfaces.
Tuberculosis organisms are the only organism that chlorine will not
kill (including you, so don't make bleach indoors unless you are trying
to get rid of insects or rodents the hard way).
Folks, powdered or granulated calcium hypochlorite is REALLY cheap,
stock up on this and help save people's lives. A one gallon container
of 65% CaCl will treat 125,000 gallons of clear water.
5.) 2% Tincture of Iodine
To use this add 12 drops per gallon of water. Whenever possible use
warm water (20 °C) and let stand a minimum of 20 minutes after mixing
and before drinking For cold water (5 - 15°C) increase the waiting time
after mixing to 40 minutes. For cloudy water add ten drops and let the
solution stand for at least 30 minutes.
CAUTION: pregnant or nursing women or people with thyroid problems
should not drink water with iodine as it may have an effect on the
fetus.
CAUTION: Iodine should not be used to disinfect water over long periods of time as prolonged use can cause thyroid problems.
CAUTION: The use of iodine as a means of disinfection may not be
effective in guarding against exposure to Giardia or Cryptosporidium.
Therefore, iodine use should be limited to the disinfection of 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.
6.) Iodine Tablets
Use as stated. When instructions are not available, use one tablet for
each quart of water to be purified. Generically known as halazone
tablets.
CAUTION: The use of iodine as a means of disinfection may not be
effective in guarding against exposure to Giardia or Cryptosporidium.
Therefore, iodine use should be limited to the disinfection of 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. Follow the manufacturer's directions.
CAUTION: Iodine should not be used to disinfect water over long periods
of time as prolonged use can cause thyroid problems. Whenever possible
use warm water (20 °C) and let stand a minimum of 20 minutes after
mixing and before drinking For cold water (5 - 15°C) increase the
waiting time after mixing to 40 minutes.
7.) Stabilized Oxygen
To purify 8 oz. of Giardia-contaminated water, add 5 - 20 drops of
stabilized oxygen. Stabilized oxygen is neither harmful nor has a
taste. Conversely, it has a number of health benefits. Reports from
people that have used this method feel it is more favorable than iodine
and chlorine. Both iodine and chlorine have shown some side effects if
used for an extended period of time and these treatments have a taste
to them. Non-Toxic - tasteless, Approx. 1260 drops per 2 fl oz (70 ml)
bottle, Removes harmful anaerobic bacteria, viruses and chlorine from
water Usage: 5-20 drops per 8 oz of Giardia contaminated water. For
long term water storage use 10 drops per chlorinated gallon and 20
drops per gallon non-chlorinated water. (Treats approx. 63 to 126
gallons of
water at this rate.) To bacterially purify your drinking water, 5 - 20
drops per glass of water will control coliform bacteria. (Treats
approx. 4 - 16 gallons of possible contaminated water at this rate.)
Widely used in all of North America. United States FDA - Mexico and
Guatemala approved for water purification. Kills anaerobic infectious
bacteria like: Salmonella, Cholera, Achillea, Giardia Lamblia. Sustains
aerobic organisms - Does not harm the beneficial bacteria needed for
good health.
Ionized or stabilized Oxygen: This is the most high tech way of
purifying water that I know of in the field. It is also good for you!
The others generally cause at least some stress on your system. Dollar
for dollar, ionized water will purify the same amount of water as the
water purification tablets. And something Key: In the event you have to
leave your home, the 2 oz bottle is convenient to carry with you.
To Order: I 50 WATER PURIFY Ion Stabilized Oxygen 2 oz dropper BOTTLE 14.98
See http://waltonfeed.com/ups.html for shipping costs or call
1-800-269-8563 Monday-Friday 7:30 am-5pm Mountain time. Mailing
Address: Walton Feed 135 North 10th, P.O. Box 307 Montpelier, ID 83254
Voice 800-269-8563 Fax: 208-847-0467
Storage
Store three days' worth of water
(one gallon per person per day)
Water weighs approximately 8 pounds per gallon.
If water is bacteria-free and is stored in clean containers it will
stay safe for several years. It is a good idea, however, to
periodically check your water for purity and taste. It's a good idea to
change it every few years
.
Assuming clean and deodorized food-grade containers are used, untreated
water straight from your tap should keep 6 months, but MUST be changed
thereafter.
Bacteria-free water, which means successful treatment by one of the
accepted methods listed, will keep several years depending on heat,
light, degradation of the container, etc.
Listed Methods include:
boiling, liquid chlorine bleach, dry chlorine, iodine, tablets,
Store the water in a clean and sanitary glass or plastic container.
Plastic containers are good because they are lightweight and
unbreakable. Metal containers should be considered as a last resort
because they may corrode and give water an unpleasant taste.. Rotate
the water in storage tanks every year. Water should be stored in clean,
sanitized containers with tight fitting screw-on caps. Commercial
gallon bottles of filtered/purified spring water often carry expiration
dates two years after the bottling date. A good rotation program is
necessary to ensure your supply of water remains fresh and drinkable.
Don't use milk cartons.; it's practically impossible to remove the milk
residue. Bleach bottles are recommended by others,. . . apparently
bleach manufacturers don't recommend it. Store water in thoroughly
washed plastic, glass, fiberglass, or enamel-lined metal containers.
Seal containers tightly, label them and store them in a cool dark
place. Rotate water every 6 months Plastic containers, such as soft
drink 3 Liter bottles, are best. You can also purchase food grade
buckets or drums. Plastic juice and milk containers are less desirable
as they tend to crack and leak more readily.
CAUTION: Never use a container that has held toxic substances.
Storage Areas
Store your water away from paint and petroleum-based products, acids or
anything releasing objectionable odors like fertilizer or household
cleaners. While able to hold water, .... lower grade containers, such
as plastic gallon containers, are permeable to certain gases. CAUTION:
Avoid placing water containers in areas where toxic substances, such as
gasoline and pesticides are present. These vapors penetrate the plastic
after a time.
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