How to Purify Drinking Water
Boiling Method:
Boiling is the preferred way to purify water. Bring water to a rolling boil for 3-5 minutes, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate. Let the water cool before drinking.
Boiled water will taste better if you put oxygen back into it by pouring the water back and forth between two clean containers. This will also improve the taste of stored water.
Bleach Method:
When boiling water is not possible, filter water, letting particles settle out. Pour off clear water. Add regular household liquid bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite, such as Clorox bleach -- not scented or colorsafe), as follows:
4 drops regular liquid bleach per quart of water
16 drops regular liquid bleach per gallon of water
1 teaspoon regular liquid bleach per 5 gallons of water
Mix well; wait 30 minutes.Water should have a slight bleach odor. If not, repeat and wait 15 more minutes.
Ultra CLOROX liquid bleach.
In case of an emergency, we recommend boiling water for 1 minute. When boiling is not possible, we recommend filtering water to let suspended
particles settle out. Pour off the clear water and add Ultra CLOROX liquid bleach as follows:
1 teaspoon Ultra CLOROX bleach per 5 gallons water
16 drops Ultra CLOROX bleach per 1 gallon water
4 drops Ultra CLOROX bleach per 1 quart water
Wait 30 minutes. The water should have a slight chlorine odor. If not, repeat dose and wait 15 minutes, then sniff again. Use only Ultra CLOROX
bleach, not a scented bleach.