Survival Blog – TEOTWAWKI Preparedness

Having clean water is a must for SHTF situations and when you need to stay hydrated or clean. Most guides recommend that consumers store at least one gallon of water per person per day for emergency preparedness. However if you have ever been in an emergency situation you know that more is better, especially when it comes to staying clean or using water for bathing or washing your hands and face. In this case we recommend three gallons of water per person per day to use for drinking and other miscellaneous yet important uses.

Boiling bleach is usually the best bet, but in the event you don’t have the time or resources to boil water then bleaching may be your next bet. Boiling also uses fuel and energy, other useful resources that might be best saved in survival situations.

You can purify water with liquid chlorine bleach, the household kinds like Clorox or Purex. Household bleach contains between five to six percent chlorine. If you are buying bleach for storage, avoid purchasing bleaches that contain perfumes, dyes and other additives. If you are storing bleach for a long period of time, beware of the possibility that the bleach may have a limited shelf life and loses effectiveness over time. Be aware that storing more than you need may result in bleach that does not have the same impact as it does in its earlier years.

Purifying Water with Liquid Chlorine Bleach

To purify your water supply, begin by placing the water in a clean container, and then add the amount of bleach according to the table below. Be sure to mix the two thoroughly and allow the water to stand for at least 30 minutes before using and 60 minutes if the water is still cloudy or extremely cold.

Water Treatment with a 5-6% Liquid Chlorine Bleach Solution (H2)

The following chart is taken from the Washington State Department of Health:

Volume of Water to be Treated                                     Treating Clear/Cloudy Water                                    Treating Cloudy, Very Cold, or Surface Water

1 quartt/1 liter                                                                        3 drops                                                                                            5 drops

½ gallon/2 quarts/2 liters                                                 5 drops                                                                                          10 drops

1 gallon                                                                                    1/8 teaspoon                                                                        ¼ teaspoon

5 gallons                                                                                          ½ teaspoon                                                                        1 teaspoon

10 gallons                                                                                          1 teaspoon                                                                        2 teaspoons

Take into consideration how many people you will have to hydrate/clean and for how long to determine how much bleach you need. This can be a real simple solution to purifying water when other resources are not abundant.