Alright here are my notes from the water lecture I did in our ward for those of you who would like them. I hope these make sense to everyone a lot of this was simply format for me so I'd stay on track. If you have any questions let me know.OK Brit asked me to shorten this so here's the short and sweet.
-Casey
How much to store?- At a bare minimum you need to have 1 gallon per person of clean water available. The recommended amount is for 3 gallons per person per day to allow for cooking, cleaning, bathing, and drinking.
4. Storage containers?- Use only food grade opaque storage media marked with a triangle and a 1,2,4 or 5
5. Rotations? - Test for 2-3 ppm free chlorine. More then 10ppm will make you ill.
Water Disinfection and Purification
1. Determine water source to use and to what degree it needs to be cleaned. This depends on water source,turbidity and temperature.
2. Pre filter/Settling- use anything available shirts, bandanna, bra, coffee filter etc…
3. Flocculation- (organic binder)pinch of baking soda, stir, wait 5 min filter again
4. Treatment of choice
Disinfection/ purification methods, Boiling,Distillation,Filtering, Halogens, UV light systems, Distillation
1. Boiling
A. Cover pot and bring to a rolling boil for 3 min per CDC
2. Distillation-great for heavy metal, urine, salts and chemicals as these are all too heavy to be transferable by as a vapor when the water changes physical properties from a liquid to a gas.
3. Filters
a. Filter principles Sieving and Adsorption
b. Sieve- filter medium, micron size, iodine- This is a process by which pressure (a pump) is used to force water and contaminants through a filter medium of spun pleated glass fiber or ceramic plates designed to allow only a certain sized particulate through it. Most filter to .2 or .3 microns which stops everything but viruses. Iodine impregnated cores are sometimes used but have been found to be fairly useless due to insufficient contact time.
c. Adsorption- Activated charcoal, carbon core- Adsorption attracts particles to it and holds them tight thus removing them from water. Carbon is used quite a bit as a tsp has enough surface area to cover a football field due to its thousands of nooks and crannies. Adsorption is often used in conjunction with other filter mediums to remove smells and unpleasant tastes.
4. Halogens- What are they? A member of certain chemicals on the periodic table treatment used to disinfect water. Bonds to organics and work by oxidation which disrupts the molecular structure of organics and sterilizes them/ poisons parasites.
a.. How to use them?- Follow directions on packaging or see the provided handout. Most are sensitive to contact time, organics, water PH and temp. If the water is below 68 degrees or from an extremely nasty source the contact time or the amount of chemicals should be doubled
b. Are some better than others?- Depends on water quality, and a persons health problems/preferences.
5. Types of Halogens
6. Chlorine- DO NOT MIX WITH PETRO CHEMICALS!!!
a. Sodium Hypochlorite- Household bleach, use only unscented straight bleach. Fairly weak solution 5-15% chlorine standard is 5%-6%, good for long term storage. Loses strength quickly. “We recommend storing our bleach at room temperatures. It can be stored for about 3-6 months at temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. After this time, bleach will be begin to degrade at a rate of 20% each year until totally degraded to salt and water. Storing at temperatures much higher than 70 degrees Fahrenheit could cause the bleach to lose its effectiveness and degrade more rapidly. However, if you require 6% sodium hypochlorite, you should change your supply every 3 months.” Problem with it is it binds easily to solids and becomes useless solution of chloramine. Does not work well in cold water use other alt if available. Alkaline waters significantly reduce effectiveness. Use 2-4 drops per ltr/ quart. Let stand for 30 min. be sure to prefilter. If cold let stand an hr or add more chlorine.
b. Redi-Chlor- Bleach in pill form/one pill disinfects 5 gallons of water
c. Calcium Hypochlorite- Can be found as a form of pool shock. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER TYPE OF POOL SHOCK AS IT WILL BE FATAL. Use only shock that contains large amounts of high grade bleach. Do not use unless you're willing to research and use correctly. Contains 65% chlorine, granular form of chlorine, used as pool shock, 10yr shelf life, used to create a chlorine solution to purify water, 1 lbs can disinfect 10,000 gallons of water, enough water for family of 9 for one year (3 gallons per day), works similar to chlorine, economical. Use one heaping teaspoon for 2 cups of water. Use 1 pint of solution to 12.5 gallons of water for disinfection.
7. Iodine. Protect all from light and oxygen- Do not use if pregnant or if you have a thyroid condition.
a . Potable Agua- tablet form of iodine, economical, has a four yr shelf life unopened, 6 months if opened, Use 2 tablets per qt/ltr, wait at least 30 min before use needs to be 68 degrees or warmer to work effectively. Vitamin C will counter act flavor, Anything else just covers it up.
b. Polar Pure-- Iodine in a suspended granular form, economical, multiple use form of iodine, one bottle will treat 2000 qts/liters, indefinite shelf life till crystals are gone, add water for 1hr and let sit then add solution as directed by green dot on side of bottle.
c. Tincture of Iodine- 2% use between 5-10 drops of water depending on quality and temperature of water. Good for 5-7 years if kept in a cool dry dark place, has the added benefit of being used as a topical antibiotic
d. Chlorine Dioxide- use one tablet as directed on package, very corrosive do not get on clothes or skin, will cause chemical burns, do not ingest. Lasts for 3 years if unopened 6 months once opened. Only chemical that will kill crypto but takes 4 hrs.
e. MIOX- “Mixed Oxidants” creates an oxidant similar to chlorine dioxide, used by the military unknown shelf life , small current passes through rock salt, comes with test kit and rock salt, downfall is it relies on batteries.
f. KEEP A COPY OF POISON CONTROL/DOCTOR #’S WITH THESE CHEMICALS IN CASE OF INGESTION!
8. UV Light disinfection systems
a. SODIS- Solar Water Disinfection Process, created in 1991 by the Swiss used by third world countries for years. Uses UV light to kill bacteria, pathogens, and viruses by using UV radiation. It has reduced dysentery by 35-50% in undeveloped countries. Use only translucent bottles and leave in the sun 6 full hours in full sun and double for cloudy days in the rain collect and use rain water. If it gets hot enough it can also have the benefit of pasteurizing the water (149 degrees). Water has to be clear enough to read normal size print with an extreme minimum of organics in solution. Use only small bottles nothing larger than 2 liter bottle
b. UV Steri pen- Works on the same principle as above follow same rules on cleanliness of water. Kills in seconds see product for more details. Doesn’t work on ice.
Katadyn Hiker &Hiker Pro/ MSR Sweetwater N/A Follow manufact. instructions
Use the cleanest source possible to avoid plugging filter Filter from moving water if possible. Ceramic filter elements are field cleanable
Sodium hypochlorite (Bleach) 2-4 drops minimum 6-8 max 30 min minimum more for filthy water Begins breaking down after 6 months Should smell like bleach. POISON! Filter/strain out as many solids as possible
Calcium Hypochlorite (Granular Chlorine) 1 pint solution (one heaping tsp granules dissolved in 2 gallons water) per 12.5 gallons 30 min minimum more for filthy water 10 year shelf life Very Corrosive! Store Dry! Do NOT mix with Petro Chemicals. POISON! Incorporate into your year supply. Do Not Use Raw Crystals in drinking water!!!
Potable Agua 2 tablets per quart/liter 30 min minimum more for filthy water 4 yr shelf life if not opened 6 months open Good when still gun metal grey if turned deep brown discard. POISON! Vitamin C drink mixes added AFTER 30 min get rid of taste
Polar Pure Add as many capfuls as instructed by green line on side of bottle 30 min minimum more for filthy water Good till crystals dissolve Do Not ingest crystals! POISON! Dissolves slowly, Evaporates quickly. Keep wet after initial use
Good for 5- 7 yrs. Keep out of direct sunlight. POISON! Can also be used as a topical antiseptic.
Tincture of Iodine 5- 8 Drops per quart/liter 30 min minimum more for filthy water Can also be used as a topical antiseptic.
Chlorine Dioxide 1 Tablet/ Follow directions for solution 30 min/ 4hrs for Protozoa minimum more for filthy water Good for 3yrs sealed, 6 months opened Do Not let it come in contact w/ anything but water. Corrosive. POISON! Only Halogen that reliably kills Crypto cyst after 4hrs exposure
MSR MIOX Follow directions, comes with test strips for disinfection 30 min/ 4hrs for Protozoa minimum more for filthy water Unlimited use till dead, uses rock salt and batteries Do Not let it come in contact w/ anything but water. Corrosive. POISON! Great for 72 hr kit light weight and easy to use safer with small children
SODIS Use no more than 2 liter at a time 6 Hrs full sunlight 2 days cloudy Water must be clear enough to read newspaper print through Not full proof but Much better than nothing!
