Water Purification and Sanitizing Solution--Ratio of Clorox Bleach to Water

New Freedom

Veteran Member
Great site for proper amounts and the 'how to's' for water purification and sanitizing solution!!


http://www.csgnetwork.com/h2oemergencypurifycalc.html

Emergency Water Purification Calculator

This calculator requires the use of Javascript enabled and capable browsers. In an emergency, to purify drinking water, two methods are most often used. They are boiling the water and adding chlorine (household bleach, such as Chlorox) to it. This calculator determines the quantity of bleach and water mixture to meet the desired emergency water purification mixture, based on the condition of the target water. Most emergency experts and health officials suggest a mixture of 8 drops of bleach to a gallon of generally clear water for best results. Based on environment or cloudiness of the water, you may want to change the quantity of drops to 16 per gallon of cloudy or murky water. Enter the maximum possible volume of water container. The entry should be in gallons. Enter the desired drops of the bleach per gallon and select the appropriate water condition from the drop down box. Click on Calculate and read the calculated result in drops that should be added to the volume of water specified. Please remember that this is a guideline.

As suggested by the EPA, vigorous boiling for at least one minute (preferably more) will kill any disease causing microorganisms present in water (at altitudes above 5000 feet above sea level, boil for three to five minutes longer). The flat taste of boiled water can be improved by pouring it back and forth from one container to another (called aeration), by allowing it to stand in a closed container for a few hours, or by adding a small pinch of salt for each quart of water boiled. When boiling is not practical, chemical disinfection should be used. Common household bleach contains a chlorine compound that will disinfect water. The treated water should be mixed thoroughly and allowed to stand, preferably covered, for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight chlorine odor; if not, repeat the dosage and allow the water to stand for an additional 15 minutes. If the treated water has too strong a chlorine taste, it can be made more pleasing by allowing the water to stand exposed to the air for a few hours or by pouring it from one clean container to another several times.

As suggested by Chlorox (with their permission), this is an excerpt from company published documents.

Boiling Is Best
Short of using a very high-quality water filter, this is the most reliable method for killing microbes and parasites. Bring water to a rolling boil and keep it simmering for at least several minutes. Add one minute of boiling to the initial 10 minutes for every 1,000 feet above sea level. Cover the pot to shorten boiling time and conserve fuel.

Liquid Clorox Bleach
In an emergency, think of this (one gallon of Regular Clorox Bleach) as 3,800 gallons of drinking water.

When the tap water stops flowing, Regular Clorox Bleach isn't just a laundry-aid, it's a lifesaver. Use it to purify water, and you'll have something to drink.

It's the same in any natural disaster. As the shock wears off and the days wear on, the biggest demand is for drinking water. Time after time, relief crews hand out free Clorox Bleach with simple instructions: use it to kill bacteria in your water and you'll have purified water to drink. Here are the general guidelines.

First let water stand until particles settle. Filter the particles if necessary with layers of cloth, coffee filters, or fine paper towels. Pour the clear water into an uncontaminated container and add Regular Clorox Bleach per the below indicated ratio. Mix well. Wait 30 min. Water should have a slight bleach odor. If not, repeat dose. Wait 15 min. Sniff again. Keep an eyedropper taped to your emergency bottle of Clorox Bleach, since purifying small amounts of water requires only a few drops. Bleach must be fresh for best use and results. See below suggestions for storage bottle replacement.

Don't pour purified water into contaminated containers. Sanitize water jugs first.

Without water and electricity, even everyday tasks are tough. In lieu of steaming hot water, sanitize dishes, pots and utensils with a little Clorox Bleach. Just follow the directions below to keep dishes clean.

Whether you use Clorox Bleach in an emergency or for everyday chores, it's always an environmentally sound choice. After its work is done, Clorox Bleach breaks down to little more than salt and water, which is acceptable anytime.

Ratio of Clorox Bleach to Water for Purification

2 drops of Regular Clorox Bleach per quart of water
8 drops of Regular Clorox Bleach per gallon of water
1/2 teaspoon Regular Clorox Bleach per five gallons of water
If water is cloudy, double the recommended dosages of Clorox Bleach.

Only use Regular Clorox Bleach (not Fresh Scent or Lemon Fresh). To insure that Clorox Bleach is at its full strength, rotate or replace your storage bottle minimally every three months.

Clorox Bleach Sanitizing Solution

To sanitize containers and utensils, mix 1 tablespoon Regular Clorox Bleach with one gallon of water. Always wash and rinse items first, then let each item soak in Clorox Bleach Sanitizing Solution for 2 minutes. Drain and air dry.
 

A.T.Hagan

Inactive
As I just posted this to another board and still had it up I'll post it here as well.

<strong>Liquid bleach needed to achieve five parts per million in clear water at or above 40º F (4º C):</strong>
1 quart 2 drops
1 gallon 8 drops
5 gallons 1/2 teaspoon
10 gallons 1 teaspoon
50 gallons 3 teaspoons (1 tablespoon)
100 gallons 7 teaspoons (2 - 1/3 tablespoons)
250 gallons 17 teaspoons (5 - 2/3 tablespoons)

In the US it is normally 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in a water solution though higher concentrations can sometimes be found for pool use. It is important that it contain no scents, colorings, detergents or other active ingredients if you are to safely use it for water treatment. It is also important that it be fresh. Even in its sealed, never opened container liquid bleach breaks down over time and at one year after manufacture it will contain only about half the active chlorine it contained when it was new. It can still be used for water disinfection, but it will require doubling the required amount. Some manufacturers recommend rotating after as little as three months.

The above table is adapted, in part, from US Army FM 21-10, Field Hygiene and Sanitation along with information from FEMA and the Red Cross. It is assumed that fresh, plain unscented laundry bleach is being used.

If the water is cloudy or below 40º F (4º C) then double the amount of bleach used. Liquid chlorine bleach is sensitive to UV radiation from sunlight and exposure to air so when using it you should work quickly, out of direct sunlight to get the most potency. Measure quickly and mix briefly. Allow to stand for 30 minutes. After the time is up there should be a faint smell of chlorine. If there is not, repeat the dosage and wait fifteen minutes.

For treating large amounts of water with liquid bleach you really ought to have some means of testing the amount of free available chlorine such as the pool test kit mentioned before, but in a pinch you can do without and add more if the water is really suspect. If you put in a large dose then you need to allow it to evaporate some of the chlorine before drinking by allowing it to sit over night or by letting the sun shine on it for a few hours.

<strong>Stock solution to achieve five parts per million in clear water at or above 40º F (4º C):</strong>
5 gallons 1 cup chlorine stock solution
10 gallons 2 cups chlorine stock solution
25 gallons 5 cups chlorine stock solution
50 gallons 1/2 teaspoon dry chlorine
100 gallons 1 teaspoon dry chlorine
250 gallons 2 teaspoons dry chlorine
500 gallons 3 teaspoons dry chlorine

Also known as High Test Hypochlorite (HTH and similar brands) this dry chlorine is calcium hypochlorite (CaOCl) and is found in concentrations ranging between 60-70%, usually in a granular form, but sometimes as large solid tablets. It is commonly used to sanitize swimming pools and other recreational water. HTH chlorine is highly concentrated so a little goes a long way in disinfecting water. It is every bit as useful and as dangerous as gasoline so pay attention to what you’re doing and store it properly.

Dry chlorine is much more stable than liquid bleach and if kept in its sealed container protected from moisture, heat and direct sunlight it should remain useful for at least five years, possibly longer.

Because it is so concentrated it is difficult to measure accurately and use directly when treating small quantities of water. For water in volumes of less than fifty gallons it is easier to make a stock solution, essentially a weak liquid bleach, and use that to treat water.

To do this, quickly dissolve one half teaspoon of dry chlorine into two and one half quarts of clear water. Use one cup of this solution to treat five gallons of clear water at or above 40º F (4º C) to bring it to a level of 5 ppm. The remaining stock solution should be kept tightly sealed in a cool, dark place and used within two to three days. If the water is cloudy or below 40º F (4º C) use double the amount.

If the water is cloudy or below 40º F (4º C) then double the amount of stock solution or dry chlorine used. Like the chlorine bleach above, the dry chlorine and the stock solution made from it is sensitive to UV radiation from sunlight and the stock solution to exposure to air so when using it you should work quickly, out of direct sunlight to get the most potency. Measure quickly and mix briefly. Allow to stand for 30 minutes. After the time is up there should be a faint smell of chlorine. If there is not, repeat the dosage and wait fifteen minutes.

Also as with the liquid bleach above, for treating large amounts of water you really ought to have some means of testing the amount of free available chlorine such as the pool test kit mentioned before, but in a pinch you can do without and add more if the water is really suspect. If you put in a large dose then you need to allow it to evaporate some of the chlorine before drinking by allowing it to sit over night or by letting the sun shine on it for a few hours. Being able to directly measure the free available content of the water rather than having to guess at it will remove much uncertainty in what you are doing. Get a test kit.

<strong>WARNING: Dry Chlorine is dangerous if used in an ignorant or careless fashion. It is highly reactive when it comes into contact with liquid petroleum products, grease, ammonia or acids. It may spontaneously combust to start fires or release highly dangerous chlorine gas if it comes into contact with any of these substances. The original container labeling will give explicit storage instructions.</strong>

<i>Excerpted from <strong>"The Prudent Pantry: Your Guide To Building A Food Insurance Program."</strong> Copyright 1999, Alan Hagan.</i>
 

Worrier King

Deceased
New Freedom said:


Liquid Clorox Bleach
In an emergency, think of this (one gallon of Regular Clorox Bleach) as 3,800 gallons of drinking water.



If thats accurate, thats a pretty good bulk measurement to have.
Is it accurate 1 gallon treats 3800 gallons?
 

A.T.Hagan

Inactive
Personally, I use the same measurement as if it were the old concentration. But then when it comes to chlorine I prefer to go a bit heavier since excessive chlorine is self-correcting whereas using not quite enough is not.

.....Alan.
 

A.T.Hagan

Inactive
Vere My Sone said:
at times like these and the emp thread, I really miss the printable version button
is it just hiding and I can't find it?
Click on "thread tools" at the top of the screen and you'll find the "printable version" button.

.....Alan.
 

Relic

Veteran Member
new info on making Clorox "better"

Add 1 cup of Clorox to a gallon of water, THEN add 1 cup of H2O2 USP (hydrogen peroxide) and according to the disinfecting specialists, you will BOOST the DISINFECTING power of the solution from 4 to 200 times more effective on a wet and let stand for 10-20 minutes basis. This solution is supposed to even kill SPORES!!!!
 
And again and again and again, don't even forget to stockthe tincture of iodine, or you may not kill some of the more dangerous parasites (like Giardia) which can make you very sick and miserable, if not dead. Maybe the H2O2 is a viable substitute, Relic?

I put the dilutions for long-term storage here at TB2K somewhere...

Tras
 
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