How to Sanitize Water In An Emergency

During times of emergency, our priority is to secure our necessities, such as water. Some emergencies, such as hurricanes, floods, or pipe breakage, may interrupt water services. At these times, clean drinking water is of absolute importance.                  

Water may be scarce or contaminated during an emergency. You must identify a good water source, clean and prepare your water containers, and sanitize your available water.

Emergency Water Sources     

Safe water sources in your home may include your hot water tank, pipes, and ice cubes. However, you can’t use water from your toilet flush tank, bowl, swimming pools/spas, radiator, or waterbeds.

If you need to find water sources outside your home, use the following sources. 

• Natural springs
• Streams, rivers, and other moving bodies of water
• Ponds and lakes
• Rainwater

Follow the proper treatment methods for these water sources. Also, avoid water with a dark color, odor, or floating material. If necessary, only use saltwater after distilling it. Avoid flood water as a water source.

Preparing and Sanitizing Water Storage Container

Before filling the water storage container with safe water, follow these steps to clean and sanitize it:

1. Wash the storage container thoroughly with dishwashing soap and water. 

2. Mix one teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach in one quart of water. Use bleach that contains 5-6% sodium hypochlorite.

3. Cover the container tightly, then shake it well. Make sure the sanitizing bleach solution touches all inside surfaces of the container.

4. Wait until 30 seconds, and then pour the sanitizing solution out of the container.

5. Rinse completely without any residue left from the soap or the sanitizing solution.

6. Air-dry the sanitized container or use safe (treated) water to rinse the inside walls.

In filling the sanitized water storage with safe water, follow these steps to store the water successfully:

1. Fill the sanitized water container with the clean (treated) water.

2. Cover the container tightly with its original cap. Be careful not to contaminate the cap, and do not touch the inside with your fingers. 

3. Label it as “drinking water.”

4. Write the date outside the container to let us know when you filled it.

5. Store in a cool, dark place (50-70°F). Do not store it near toxic substances, such as gasoline or pesticides.

6. Replace the water every six months.

Ways to Sanitize Water 

Boil Water

If the water available is from an unknown source, boiling it is very basic. Boiling kills all pathogenic microorganisms, including parasites, bacteria, and viruses.

Before boiling it, take note of the quality of the water. Is it clear? Is it cloudy? Does it have obvious sediments? Here are the ways how to initially purify the water:

For Clear Water

1. Bring the clear water to a rolling boil for one minute (if boiling at 6,500 feet, boil it for three minutes). You can boil it for as long as five minutes.  
2. Let it cool.
3. Store the boiled water in a clean and sanitized water storage container with tight covers.

For Cloudy Water

1. Filter the water using a clean cloth, coffee filter, or paper towel. You can also allow it to settle first.
2. Draw off the clear water.
3. Bring the filtered water to a rolling boil for one minute (if boiling at 6,500 feet, bring it to boil for three minutes)
4. Let it cool
5. Store the boiled water in a clean and sanitized water storage container with tight covers.

After boiling, the water tastes flat. Add one pinch of salt to each quart or liter of water to improve this. You can also pour water from one clean container several times. Then, let it stand for a few hours.

Another way to aerate it is to shake it in a closed container. Then, add a pinch of salt as usual. 

The water can be boiled over a fire, a stove, a solar oven, or a car engine.

Disinfect Water

If you can’t boil the water, use a chemical disinfectant such as unscented household bleach. Labels may say that the active ingredient contains 6 or 8.25% sodium hypochlorite. You can’t use scented, color-safe, or bleaches with added cleaners.

Disinfectants can kill the most harmful or pathogenic microorganisms in the water. However, they are less effective in controlling more resistant organisms such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. 

Chlorine dioxide tablets can be effective against Cryptosporidium if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions correctly.

For Cloudy Water   

1. Let the water settle and filter it through a clean cloth, coffee filter, or paper towel.
2. Use a clean dropper from your emergency kit or medicine cabinet.
3. Use fresh or liquid chlorine bleach stored at room temperature for less than a year.
4. If necessary instructions are not given, check the “Active Ingredient” part of the label. Find the percentage content of the sodium hypochlorite. Use this information in the following table as a guide. Usually, unscented household liquid chlorine bleach in the US is between 5-6% sodium hypochlorite. In other countries, this concentration may vary. Using the table below, add the appropriate amount of bleach using a medicine dropper, teaspoon, or metric measure (milliliters).
5. Stir the mixture well.
6. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes before using it.
7. Store the disinfected water in a clean and sanitized water storage container with tight covers. 

For Water with Chlorine or Iodine

1. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the label or in the package.

•  Chlorine dioxide tablets are effective for Cryptosporidium
• Iodine and iodine-containing tablets (tetraglycine hydroperiodide) or chlorine tablets are not effective against Cryptosporidium

For Water with Unscented Household Liquid Chlorine Bleach (if Water is Cloudy)

1. Filter it through a clean cloth, coffee filter, or paper towel. You may allow it to settle.
2. Transfer the clear water into another container.
3. Follow the instructions for disinfecting drinking water written on the bleach label.
4. If necessary instructions are not given, check the “Active Ingredient” part of the label. Find the percentage content of the sodium hypochlorite. Use this information in the following table as a guide. Usually, unscented household liquid chlorine bleach in the US is between 5-6% sodium hypochlorite. In other countries, this concentration may vary. Using the table below, add the appropriate amount of bleach using a medicine dropper, teaspoon, or metric measure (milliliters).
5. Stir the mixture well.
6. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes before using it.
7. Store the disinfected water in a clean and sanitized water storage container with tight covers. 

Volume of Water	Amount of 6% Bleach to Add*	Amount of 8.25% Bleach to Add*
1 quart/liter	Two drops	Two drops
1 gallon	Eight drops	Six drops
2 gallons	16 drops (1/4 tsp)	12 drops (1/8 teaspoon)
4 gallons	1/3 teaspoon	1/4 teaspoon
8 gallons	2/3 teaspoon	1/2 teaspoon

*Bleach may contain 6 or 8.25% sodium hypochlorite.

Other Disinfection Methods

If liquid bleach is unavailable, you may use other disinfection methods, such as the following: 

Granular Calcium Hypochlorite

1. First, make the chlorine solution you will use to disinfect your water. For safety purposes, do this in a ventilated area while wearing eye protection. 
2. Add one teaspoon or ¼ ounce of high-test granular calcium hypochlorite (HTH) to two gallons of water.
3. Stir until particles dissolve. The mixture produces a chlorine solution of an estimated 500 mg per liter.
4. Add one part of the chlorine solution to every 100 parts of water to disinfect water. This is the same as adding one pint (16 ounces) of the chlorine solution to 12.5 gallons of water.
5.  If the chlorine taste is too strong, pour the water from one clean container into another and let it stand for a few hours before use. CAUTION: HTH is a very powerful oxidant. Follow the instructions on the label for safe handling and storage of this chemical.

Common Household Iodine (Tincture of Iodine)

1. Iodine may be in your medicine kit or cabinet. To disinfect, add five drops of a 2% tincture to each quart of water. 
2. If the water is cloudy or colored, add ten drops of iodine. 
3. Stir and let the water sit for at least 30 minutes before use.
4. For iodine tablets, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prepare the water correctly. If no instructions are available, use one tablet for every quart of water you need to treat.

Water Disinfection Tablets

1. Water disinfection tablets contain chlorine, is one, chlorine dioxide, or other disinfecting agents. They are available online, in pharmacies, or sporting goods stores.
2. Follow the instructions on the product label. Each product may have different strengths.

Stabilized Oxygen

1. Some evidence suggests that a “stabilized oxygen solution” may provide antibacterial properties when added to water. However, this should be the last option since no proven knowledge or research about this product exists.
2. There are some debates over the internet about its effectiveness. 

Filter Water

 Many portable water filters remove pathogenic microorganisms such as  Cryptosporidium and Giardia from drinking water. When choosing a portable water filter, select one with a pore size small enough to filter out parasites. Most portable water filters don’t remove viruses or bacteria.

There are filters with labels “reverse osmosis” that remove Cryptosporidium. Some other types of filters function as micro-straining.

For Tap Water

1. Look for a filter with a pore size of 1 micron or less. This measurement can remove microbes 1 micron or greater in diameter (such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia). There are two types of 1-micron filters: absolute 1-micron filters and nominal 1-micron filters. Not all filters can filter and remove particles 1 micron or larger in the water. An absolute of 1 micron can remove Cryptosporidium more consistently than a nominal amount. Some nominal 1-micron filters allow 20% to 30% of 1-micron particles like Cryptosporidium to pass through.

2. Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on your selection of water filters. After filtering, you can add a disinfectant such as chlorine, iodine, or chlorine dioxide. These disinfectants help kill the remaining bacteria and viruses. Filter manufacturers may need to test their filters to see if they can remove Cryptosporidium or Giardia. Filters already tested and certified should have a label showing “NSF/ANSI Standard 53” or “Standard 58” for cyst reduction or removal by an ANSI-accredited certification organization. If you choose a non-certified product, choose a technology that can reduce Cryptosporidium. This includes filters with reverse osmosis and those with a total 1-micron pore size or even smaller.

For Crypto Removal

Filters designed to remove Crypto (any of the four messages below on a package label indicate that the filter should remove Crypto). Here are the following labels to look for in your water filter:

• Tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for cyst removal
• Tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for cyst reduction
• Reverse osmosis (with or without NSF 53 or NSF 58 labeling)
• The absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller (with or without NSF 53 or NSF 58 labeling)

For Unlabeled Crypto Removal

Filters labeled only with these words may NOT be designed to remove Crypto. Here are the following labels or specifications to look for in your water filter:

• The nominal pore size of 1 micron or smaller
• One micron filter
• Effective against Giardia
• Effective against parasites
• Carbon filter
• Water purifier
• Activated carbon
• Removes chlorine
• Ultraviolet light
• Pentiodide resins
• Water softener
• Chlorinated
• EPA approved (Caution: EPA does not approve or test filters)
• EPA registered (Caution: EPA does not register filters based on their ability to remove Cryptosporidium)

Distill Water

The two methods mentioned so far can kill most microorganisms. Distillation, heavy metals, salts, and most other chemicals can also remove them.

Distilling water involves boiling it and collecting the steam in a clean container. The steam then turns back into water for safe consumption.

To Distill

1. Fill a pot halfway with water.
2. Tie a cup to the handle on the pot’s lid so it hangs right-side-up. When the lid is upside down, ensure the cup does not dangle into the water.
3. Boil the water for 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid slides down into the dangling cup. This collected water is distilled water. 

Conclusion    

We may or may not be prepared for a water emergency.

Still, we should be prompt to do what is right for us.

Safe drinking water is a top priority.

Knowing where to find, treat, and store water makes a difference in our survival during emergencies.      

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