| In an emergency situation you may not have | | | | picks up some additional oxygen, or by filling the |
| access to a supply of clean drinking water. Being | | | | container only halfway, sealing it tightly, and |
| prepared to disinfect your own supply of potable | | | | shaking it vigorously. |
| water is an essential part of personal emergency | | | | If it is not possible to boil water, chlorine may be |
| preparedness. | | | | used to disinfect drinking water. Chlorine in |
| If you have a choice, well water is the best | | | | quantities safe to drink will not be as effective in |
| source of drinking water. In most cases you will | | | | eliminating all bacteria as boiling. However, it is the |
| not have access to a well and you will have to | | | | recommended second-best technique if boiling is |
| purify water from other sources. Lakes, ponds or | | | | not possible. |
| rivers are the most common sources of water | | | | In order to disinfect water with chlorine, follow |
| during a water crisis. | | | | the instructions above to remove as much |
| Do your best to avoid any water that appears to | | | | sediment and suspended material as possible from |
| be discolored or that has an odor. This water | | | | the water. |
| may have been contaminated with chemicals that | | | | Liquid Household Chlorine Bleach |
| cannot be removed without sophisticated | | | | Most common liquid household chlorine bleach |
| purification systems. | | | | containers will provide instructions for purifying |
| When you have no choice but to disinfect cloudy | | | | water on the label. If instructions are not available, |
| or murky water, you will want to remove as | | | | 10 drops of bleach for each quart of water is |
| much of the suspended material from the water | | | | generally sufficient. |
| as possible. Allow the water to settle so that as | | | | Do not use granular bleach to purify water. |
| much material as possible falls to the bottom of | | | | Mix liquid chlorine bleach with water you have |
| your container. Draw off the cleanest water from | | | | filtered to the best of your ability as above. Allow |
| the top and filter it through clean cloth with the | | | | it to stand for at least 30 minutes. At the end of |
| tightest weave you can find. | | | | 30 minutes the water should have a slight chlorine |
| Be sure to filter all water into the cleanest | | | | smell. If you cannot smell any chlorine, add a |
| available containers that can be covered tightly. | | | | second equal dose of bleach and allow it to stand |
| Boiling | | | | for at least another 15 minutes. |
| If you have a fuel supply, the best way to | | | | Treated water with an unpleasant chlorine taste |
| eliminate bacteria from water is to boil it | | | | will become less offensive if allowed to stand |
| vigorously for at least one full minute. Of course, | | | | exposed to the air for several hours, or if poured |
| this will only be possible if you have water | | | | between containers several times to aerate it. |
| storage containers that will not be damaged or | | | | Chlorine Tablets |
| destroyed by a flame. Plastic containers will not be | | | | Sporting goods stores and some drug stores |
| useful here. | | | | offer chlorine tablets designed specifically for |
| Although it may taste flat, water that has been | | | | disinfecting drinking water. Store these unopened |
| sterilized by boiling and stored in a clean container | | | | in a cool dry place until they are needed, and |
| is potable. The taste can be improved by pouring | | | | follow the directions printed on the package to |
| it from one clean container to another so that it | | | | use. |