Ops: Please correct spelling in the title and delete this line: "Hypoclorate should be "Hypochlorite". System here will not allow me to correct the typo.
Water is life! (mike drop)
BACKGROUND: It is a documented fact that the lack of safe drinking water after a disaster kills more people than the disaster itself. The traditional method to treat questionable water is with (fresh!) bleach. 8 drops per gallon. 16 drops per gallon if the water is cloudy.
CAVEAT: bleach will NOT remove chemical pollutants (insecticides, oil, gasoline, etc). You need a filter for that. But that's a matter for another discussion.
The active ingredient in bleach is Calcium Hypochlorite. Store-bought bleach does not age well! After about six months it starts to degrade back into salt water (fyi, bleach is actually made by electrifying salt water). After a year it may be only 50% of the original active calcium hypochlorite percentage and it gets worse from there.
MR NATURAL'S SURVIVAL MAXIM #1 - BUY A SMALL BOTTLE OF BLEACH (UNSCENTED). MARK THE BOTTLE WITH THE DATE AND REPLACE EVERY SIX MONTHS. Cheapest and best insurance policy you'll ever buy! One pint of fresh bleach makes 1500 gallons of questionable water safe (at 8 drops per - half that at 16 drops per if the water is cloudy) .
Many survival gurus recommend storing bulk calcium hypochlorite powder. It is usually is a form known generically as "Pool Shock" and is used to treat swimming pools. But the raw powder is a PITA to store (ask me how I know) and has other drawbacks in use (Google this for your self, but just take my word for it right now).
I used to store pool shock powder. But then I found these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01M1RUYCP
The link is for a 4-pack of 10 tablets each. Go in with some prepper pals. (You don't have prepper pals? Poor you.)
Inexpensive. Pre-measured (1 tablet makes 1 gallon). Easy to store - basically unlimited shelf life. Easily divisible - one or two tablets could be a part of your BOB. Should be an excellent barter item too. Not to mention the MANY other uses of chlorine bleach in a Situation.
Here endeth the Lesson.
Water is life! (mike drop)
BACKGROUND: It is a documented fact that the lack of safe drinking water after a disaster kills more people than the disaster itself. The traditional method to treat questionable water is with (fresh!) bleach. 8 drops per gallon. 16 drops per gallon if the water is cloudy.
CAVEAT: bleach will NOT remove chemical pollutants (insecticides, oil, gasoline, etc). You need a filter for that. But that's a matter for another discussion.
The active ingredient in bleach is Calcium Hypochlorite. Store-bought bleach does not age well! After about six months it starts to degrade back into salt water (fyi, bleach is actually made by electrifying salt water). After a year it may be only 50% of the original active calcium hypochlorite percentage and it gets worse from there.
MR NATURAL'S SURVIVAL MAXIM #1 - BUY A SMALL BOTTLE OF BLEACH (UNSCENTED). MARK THE BOTTLE WITH THE DATE AND REPLACE EVERY SIX MONTHS. Cheapest and best insurance policy you'll ever buy! One pint of fresh bleach makes 1500 gallons of questionable water safe (at 8 drops per - half that at 16 drops per if the water is cloudy) .
Many survival gurus recommend storing bulk calcium hypochlorite powder. It is usually is a form known generically as "Pool Shock" and is used to treat swimming pools. But the raw powder is a PITA to store (ask me how I know) and has other drawbacks in use (Google this for your self, but just take my word for it right now).
I used to store pool shock powder. But then I found these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01M1RUYCP
The link is for a 4-pack of 10 tablets each. Go in with some prepper pals. (You don't have prepper pals? Poor you.)
Inexpensive. Pre-measured (1 tablet makes 1 gallon). Easy to store - basically unlimited shelf life. Easily divisible - one or two tablets could be a part of your BOB. Should be an excellent barter item too. Not to mention the MANY other uses of chlorine bleach in a Situation.
Here endeth the Lesson.
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