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How to Purify Water During an Emergency

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Purify Water During an Emergency

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

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    Difficulty:
    Easy

    Instructions

    Things You'll Need

    • Pots
    • Small Plastic Containers
    • Paper Or Plastic Cups
    1. 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

      • 1

        Fill a clean plastic container with water.

      • 2

        Let any particles in the water settle to the bottom of the container, or filter them through a paper towel or clean cloth.

      • 3

        Add 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water.

      • 4

        Stir the water and let it stand for 30 minutes.

      • 5

        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

      • 1

        Fill a cooking pot half full of 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

        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.

      • 4

        Boil the water for 20 minutes. The water vapor will be mostly free of impurities.

      • 5

        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.

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