When the water you're hoping to drink might be riddled with
parasites or bacteria, you can't afford to skimp on water
purification. In the very circumstances that put you in
contact with questionable water (being in the wilderness,
surviving or recovering from a disaster, or living in a part
of the world where water isn't purified for you) the last
thing you want to do is to get sick. Read the following
instructions carefully and always be prepared to purify
water yourself.
!! Steps !!
A typical water container style Clean the containers in which you're
going to hold or store the water. Use dish soap and water. Rinse
thoroughly. After washing the containers, submerge them in a solution
of 1 teaspoon of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to
every quart (or liter) of water (making sure the entire surface of
the bottle comes in contact with the solution for a minimum of 15
seconds), then rinse thoroughly with a weaker mixture of bleach and
water.[1]
* Don't use any container that has had milk or fruit juice in it.
Milk protein and fruit sugars remain in the container and can fuel
bacterial growth when water is stored. Plastic soda bottles are
suitable.
Filter water through a clean cloth. Then allow it to settle for at
least 30 minutes and pour off the clear water for purifying. This
process of filtering _and_ settling is especially important if
you're going to be using chemical purification because disinfectants
are less effective in cloudy, murky, or colored water.[2]
* It is possible to use cotton cloth, such as a clean handkerchief
or clean white sock, or silk (water passes quickly through
multiple layers).
* One way to set this up is to cut the bottom off of a water or coke
bottle. Roll a clean sock up on itself and stuff it down to the
neck of the bottle. Pour your water through the filter until it is
clear to the eye.
* If you have a portable water filter, use it.
Speed up the clearing of water. One way to do this is to add a
little alum (aluminum sulfate). This causes impurities to coagulate,
which are removed as the particulate settles to the bottom of the
container.
Purify the water using any of the following methods. If you can,
combine boiling with a chemical disinfection method; the boiling is
more thorough, but the chemical method will continue to keep the
water safe when it's stored.[3] Select a method:
* _Boiling_: This kills most types of disease-causing organisms and
is the most recommended purification technique. Boil the water for
1 full minute, then let it cool. Make sure it's a full, rolling
boil. If you are more than one mile above sea level, boil for 3
minutes longer.[1]
* _Disinfecting_: Disinfecting with household bleach kills some, but
not all, types of disease-causing organisms. The bleach _must_
contain chlorine in order to work. Don't use scented bleaches,
color-safe bleaches, or bleaches with added cleaners. Most
household chlorine bleaches have 4-6 percent available chlorine,
in which case add 1/8 teaspoon (8 drops) of regular, unscented,
liquid household bleach for each gallon of water (2 drops per
litre), stir it well and let it stand for 30 minutes before you
use it. Check the label; if the percentage of available chlorine
is around 1 percent, or you don't know what the percentage is, use
40 drops per gallon/ 10 drops per litre; if the percentage is 7-10
percent, use 4 drops per gallon or 1 drop per litre. Double the
amount of chlorine if the water is cloudy, murky, or colored, or
if the water is extremely cold. If, after sitting covered for 30
minutes, the water doesn't have a slight chlorine odor, repeat the
dosage and let sit for another 15 minutes.[2]
* _Granular calcium hypochlorite_: This works in the same way as
household bleach. You can dissolve one heaping teaspoon of
high-test granular calcium hypochlorite (about 1/4 ounce) in two
gallons of water (1 heaping tablespoon or 7g for every 7.5 litres
or 1 gram for every litre of water) to make a disinfecting
solution. Then add one part of the disinfecting solution to each
100 parts of water to purify.[2]
* Correction: replace the word tablespoon with teaspoon. As
correctly stated above, one heaping teaspoon = 1/4 ounce = 7g. One
ounce = 28.35g. One tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 22g per 7.5 liters
= 3g for every liter of water. The solution would be 3 times
stronger than it was intended to be.*
* _Potassium permanganate (KMnO4)_: This can be used to disinfect
water. It can be purchased from camping supply stores and pool
treatment stores. The water should be colored slightly pink, 3 or
4 crystals in a quart or litre of water. Let the solution stand
for at least 30 minutes. This is definitely an emergency measure
only, and should *not* be used for planned leisure activities,
such as hiking or camping.
* _Disinfecting with iodine_: This is generally less effective than
chlorine in controlling the parasite _Giardia_, but it's better
than no treatment at all. Add 5 drops of 2 percent iodine (from
the medicine chest or first aid kit) to every quart or litre of
clear water; add 10 drops if the water is cloudy. Let the solution
stand for at least 30 minutes.[2]
* _Commercial tablets_: For commercially prepared chlorine or iodine
tablets, follow the instructions that come with them. If you don't
have instructions, use one tablet for each quart or litre of water
to be purified.[2]
* _Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) method_: Pouring the water into
clear plastic PET bottles, and exposing to direct sunlight for at
least 6 hours has been shown to be an effective method of
disinfecting.[4]
Be careful with the cap or lid of the container. If you're
chemically disinfecting water in a canteen or other portable
container with a screw-on cap, wait about five minutes after adding
the purifying chemical(s), then partially unscrew the cap and shake
the container so that some of the water sloshes on the inside of the
cap and the threads of the container, then re-tighten the cap and
let it sit for the remainder of the time specified above or in the
instructions. Otherwise, there may still be contaminated water in
the cap, on the outside of the container's neck, or on the threads.
Improve the flavor of purified water, if needed. Boiled water can
taste "flat", and disinfected water can have a strong chlorine
taste. Aerate it by pouring it from one clean container to another
several times. Alternatively, add a pinch of salt to each quart or
litre of water.[2] If the flavor is still unpleasant, use a powdered
drink mix, if available.
Take care when consuming. Once the water in a container has been
purified, open and close the container carefully. Don't touch the
inside or the rim with your fingers, or else the water could become
contaminated.
* If you're going to drink some, but not all of the water, don't
drink directly from the container. Pour it into another container
and drink from that. Contact with your lips and mouth can
contaminate water that's going to be stored.
* If you don't drink the water immediately, write the date on the
bottle. Store it in a cool, dark place for up to six months.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Both bleach and iodine work much better in warm water.[5]
* A person needs at least a half gallon (1.89 litres) of water per
day to survive, sometimes more (children, nursing mothers, people
who are ill, and when the weather is hot, everyone).[1]
* Use purified water for brushing your teeth.
* Water that's collected through condensation (such as from plants
or soil) needs to be purified. The process of condensation leaves
some sediments behind, but unless boiling temperature is reached,
parasites and other harmful substances may still be in the water.
!! Warnings !!
* All the methods indicated above are designed to remove biological
threats only, such as bacteria. They generally do *not* remove
chemical (for example, industrial waste such as aluminum sludge)
or radioactive contamination. If it is suspected that the water
contains such contaminants, rely on distillation, or weigh
consumption against the risk of being dehydrated.
* Commercial filters made for tap water may only remove basic
minerals to make it taste better, depending on the quality of the
particular filter. They may not remove parasites or other threats
that are removed through in water treatment facilities. Check the
label to be sure what you're getting.
* People with thyroid problems should check with their doctors
before using water treated with iodine.
* Quality reverse osmosis filter systems remove impurities down to
several hundred thousandths of a micron - small enough to remove
all organic matter (and other matter such as chlorine as well).
* *Chlorine and iodine can be toxic.* Do not use a more chlorine
than indicated, and use only in emergency situations.
!! Things You'll Need !!
* Suitable water container
* Clean cloth
* Items required for disinfecting and purifying as outlined in steps
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Get Emergency Drinking Water from a Water Heater
* How to Make Water in the Desert
* How to Turn Salt Water Into Drinking Water
* How to Collect Water From Plants
* How to Choose a Home Water Filter
* How to Choose the Right Bottled Water
* How to Choose the Best Method of Water Treatment
* How to Conserve Water
* How to Sterilize-Water-With-Sunlight
!! Sources And Citations !!
* Appropedia.org,
http://www.appropedia.org/Choosing_water_supply_and_purification_methods
Choosing water supply and purification methods; includes a focus
on appropriate technology and less developed countries. –
research source
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
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