alanporter
Well-Known Member
I noticed in a recent post someone suggesting that PBO should probably publish an article on this subject. Until they do that, here is my suggestion. (I am a retired Navy medical officer, so I do have a rudimentary knowledge of these matters).
Using Chlorine bleach is the most common method. Ordinary household bleach is nominally five percent sodium hypochlorite. Milton brand in the UK is one percent. We will use the cheaper 5% stuff.
For disinfection of hoses, we need 100 ppm (parts per million) of chlorine;
this means 2 mls of bleach per one litre of water. Let stand for thirty minutes then flush with fresh water.
Superchlorination of contaminated tanks requires 50 ppm of chlorine, which is 100mls bleach to 100 litres water. Again, stand thirty minutes (at least) then flush.
Water storage for long periods needs 0.5 ppm chlorine which is 0.01 mls bleach per litre of water. Or 0ne ml per hundred litres (hey, you do the math). This quantity is safe to drink. If you can detect the smell or taste, add a few drops of vinegar before use.
If you are suspicious of some water and have no means of measuring, just use two drops of bleach to about a litre of water.
Other means of disinfecting drinking water are : add one drop of 2% tincture of iodine to eight litres of water. Wait thirty minutes before drinking. Or add 3 mls of 27%hydrogen peroxide solution per ten litres of water.
For the benefit of those who don't have access to small measuring devices, one millilitre is approximately fifteen drops.
Doing any of the above will kill most of the nasties, and it won't harm you. Promise.
Alan Porter
Using Chlorine bleach is the most common method. Ordinary household bleach is nominally five percent sodium hypochlorite. Milton brand in the UK is one percent. We will use the cheaper 5% stuff.
For disinfection of hoses, we need 100 ppm (parts per million) of chlorine;
this means 2 mls of bleach per one litre of water. Let stand for thirty minutes then flush with fresh water.
Superchlorination of contaminated tanks requires 50 ppm of chlorine, which is 100mls bleach to 100 litres water. Again, stand thirty minutes (at least) then flush.
Water storage for long periods needs 0.5 ppm chlorine which is 0.01 mls bleach per litre of water. Or 0ne ml per hundred litres (hey, you do the math). This quantity is safe to drink. If you can detect the smell or taste, add a few drops of vinegar before use.
If you are suspicious of some water and have no means of measuring, just use two drops of bleach to about a litre of water.
Other means of disinfecting drinking water are : add one drop of 2% tincture of iodine to eight litres of water. Wait thirty minutes before drinking. Or add 3 mls of 27%hydrogen peroxide solution per ten litres of water.
For the benefit of those who don't have access to small measuring devices, one millilitre is approximately fifteen drops.
Doing any of the above will kill most of the nasties, and it won't harm you. Promise.
Alan Porter
