Chlorine water "purification"

R

Ron1

Joined
Jul 7, 1999
Messages
56
With most citys in the US, isn't Chlorine the final water treatment used to kill harmful microbes/parasites?

Why don't you hear more about outdoorsman simply using household bleach in the field?

With heavy water purifyers, expensive and foul tasting iodine tabs, it seems that simply a small water tight container (i.e. from Nalgene) and an eye dropper would be both very inexpensive, and effective.

Dosage as reported by American Survival Guide
(an excellent monthly magazine), on the Clorex web site, FEMA site, etc. appears to commonly be accepted as 2 drops per quart (4 if the water is cloudy), 8 drops per gallon, or 1/2 teaspoon per 5 gallons. This is for common household bleach, unsented, preferably Chlorex brand.

Bleach is cheap and I always have several gallons on hand. Anyone know what/how it's made of/from?


 
With bleach, you need to be extra sure you pay attention to how long you let it sit. In the industry, it's called contact time, and increases rapidly with lower temperatures.

If you wish to use household bleach, forget anything with flavors/colors or other additives. Clorox would work.

The main problem with using it as a purifier, is that you need to carry it with you. If you don't mind this, it's awesome.


Stryver
 
Good point on the "contact time" Stryver.

I've read in a few places a reccomended contact time of 30 minutes. And be sure to slosh some of the chlorinated water around the mouth piece of the canteen to kill any
bugs there too.

An ounce or two of clorine would go a long way using 2 drops per quart. Not a bad item to have in the fanny pack, back pack, etc. I think the shelf life is long too it kept in airtight container in a dark place (the pack). Might be a good idea to put the container and an eyeropper in a ziplock for double protection from leakage.
 

Actually the shelf life of chlorine bleach is pretty poor. I've had unopened bottles of Clorox go flat in less than a year, stored in my garage. Pouring a few ounces of fresh Clorox into a small container to take with you may be ok for a few days, but it wouldn't be long before the chlorine dissapated. Iodine is much more reliable in this regard.

Wally
 
I've been using bleach since I was a kid, two drops per quart and thirty minutes. The only problem I've ever had with it was once when the bottle leaked a little and ate the outside pocket on my pack.

If the cap weren't tightly sealed I think the chlorine would evaporate pretty quickly, but I've used the same eyedropper bottle for ... must be over a year anyway, probably several years. All I can say is it hasn't lost any of its smell and taste in that time, and I haven't gotten sick.



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-Cougar Allen :{)
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This post is not merely the author's opinions; it is the trrrrrruth. This post is intended to cause dissension and unrest and upset people, and ultimately drive them mad. Please do not misinterpret my intentions in posting this.
 
Heat and light are bad for chlorine. It's not in too much danger of evaporating, but it can react with odd and assorted items you may carry... long term storage in cool, dark conditions shouldn't have too much effect on chlorine...


Stryver
 
I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that chlorine is not as effective iodine. I can't use iodine because of a thyroid problem (or lack of one
smile.gif
) and used to use Puritabs which are chlorine based. That was until I had a bad dose of amoebic dysyntery in India a few years back. I had been very careful with what I ate so I can only assume that my water treatment let me down. Now I use a ceramic filter
smile.gif
.

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Clay
Sydney, Australia

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow....here it's tomorrow already.


 
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