Water Purification

Preparation Steps

• Store water. Store at least 1 gallon per person per day for a minimum of 3 days (ideally 2 weeks).
• Use food-grade containers. Store in BPA-free containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Rotate stored water every 6–12 months.
• Know your local sources. Identify streams, rivers, or wells near you as backup sources.
• Acquire purification tools. Stock water purification tablets, a quality filter (LifeStraw, Sawyer, Berkey), and unscented bleach.

Immediate Actions

Boiling (Most Reliable)

1. Filter first if water is visibly cloudy — use cloth, coffee filter, or sand layer.
2. Bring to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute.
3. At altitudes above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes.
4. Let cool and store in a clean, covered container.
5. Improve taste by pouring between containers to re-oxygenate.

Chemical Treatment (Unscented Household Bleach, 5–9% sodium hypochlorite)

| Water Condition | Bleach per gallon | |----------------|-------------------| | Clear water | 8 drops (1/8 tsp) | | Cloudy water | 16 drops (1/4 tsp)|

Mix, let stand 30 minutes before drinking. Water should have a slight chlorine smell. If not, repeat and wait 15 more minutes.

Water Purification Tablets

• Iodine or chlorine dioxide tablets are lightweight and fast.
• Follow manufacturer instructions — typically 1 tablet per liter, wait 30 minutes.
• Chlorine dioxide (Aquatabs, Potable Aqua) is more effective against Cryptosporidium than iodine.

Improvised Filter

For physically removing large particles:

1. Layer a container with cloth at the bottom, then crushed charcoal (from a fire), then gravel, then sand.
2. Pour water through slowly.
3. This does not make water safe to drink — always follow with boiling or chemical treatment.

What to Avoid

• Do not drink water from unknown sources without treatment.
• Do not use pool chlorine — it is too concentrated and toxic.
• Do not assume clear water is safe. Pathogens are invisible.
• Do not use flavored or scented bleach — it contains additives harmful to drink.
• Do not store treated water in direct sunlight.
• Do not drink seawater — salt concentration will worsen dehydration.

Supplies Needed

• Water storage containers (BPA-free, 5–7 gallon)
• Water purification tablets (chlorine dioxide preferred)
• Portable water filter (LifeStraw, Sawyer Squeeze, or similar)
• Unscented liquid bleach (5–9% sodium hypochlorite)
• Medicine dropper or measuring spoon for bleach
• Funnel and coffee filters
• Collapsible water containers for transport

Recovery Steps

• Test stored water before drinking if storage period exceeded 12 months.
• Assess contamination sources. Floodwater may contain fuel, chemicals, or sewage — require additional treatment.
• Restore safe tap water supply. Flush pipes after extended loss of service.
• Dispose of contaminated water properly — do not pour chemical-treated water back into natural sources without authorization.
• Restock supplies used during the emergency.