How to Purify Water During an Emergency

While it is best to store water beforehand, you can purify water several ways.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Pots
• Small Plastic Containers
• Paper Or Plastic Cups

Boiling

1. Fill a pot with water.
2. Let any particles in the water settle to the bottom of the pot, or filter them through a paper towel or clean cloth.
3. Bring water to a rolling boil for 3-5 minutes.
4. Pour the water back and forth between two clean containers to restore oxygen, thereby improving taste.
5. Let the water cool before drinking.

Disinfecting

6. Fill a clean plastic container with water.
7. Let any particles in the water settle to the bottom of the container, or filter them through a paper towel or clean cloth.
8. Add 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water.
9. Stir the water and let it stand for 30 minutes.
10. Check for a slight bleach odor. If there is none, add another 16 drops of bleach and let the water stand another 15 minutes.

Distilling

11. Fill a cooking pot half full of water.
12. Let any particles in the water settle to the bottom of the pot, or filter them through a paper towel or clean cloth.
13. Tie a paper cup to the handle of the pot's lid so that it hangs right-side-up when the lid is upside-down. Be sure that the cup is not trailing into the water.
14. Boil the water for 20 minutes. The water vapor will be mostly free of impurities.
15. Condense back to water, and drip from the lid into the cup.

Tips & Warnings

• Household bleach contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite.
• Avoid scented or colorsafe bleaches, as well as bleaches with added cleaners.