How to Purify Water With Javex Bleach
In emergency situations, bleach can be used to kill microbes and parasites in non-filtered or non-purified water. Boiling the water is the best method, but you can also use liquid Javex bleach to kill bacteria and make water drinkable. Follow these steps to make a 5 to 6 percent bleach solution and purify water safely:
Instructions
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Let the contaminated water sit in a storage container. Loose particles will settle on the bottom of the container.
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Filter the water through a coffee filter if it is especially cloudy; paper towels or cheese cloths will work as well.
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Pour the water into a new container.
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Add liquid, unscented bleach to the water per the following measurements: three drops of bleach per quart of water or eight drops of bleach (1/8 tsp.) per gallon of water or 1/2 tsp. bleach per 5 gallons of water.
If the water is still cloudy, double the dosages.
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Mix well and let it sit for 30 minutes. If the water was cloudy or very cold, let it sit for an hour.
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Repeat the dose if the water does not have a slight chlorine odor. Let it sit 15 minutes.
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Pour the sanitized water into a clean container.
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Tips & Warnings
Replace you bottle of bleach every three months to ensure it is at its full strength.
Seal your sanitized water containers tightly and store them in a cool, dark place.
Replace your sanitized water every six months.
In emergencies, expect each person to require 1 gallon of water per day.
Do not use more bleach than recommended or you can poison yourself.
Using a bleach solution to sanitize water is only safe for water that has been sitting stagnant and has therefore been exposed to bacteria or viruses. If the water has been exposed to sewage, chemicals or poison, do not use it for sanitation.
References
- Photo Credit water drops enters into water image by Denis Tabler from Fotolia.com
