I can't remember if it was this forum or somewhere else that I read about treating water with household bleach (unscented). Is this a viable method of water treatment, and if so, is there a formula? There are two concievable reasons I would need to treat drinking water. The first would be if I was solo hiking and was injured to the point where I had to spend a longer time in the wilderness than originally intended (water is heavy and I usually only carry a couple liters), and the second would be if there were some sort of shtf and the water supply became contaminated or otherwise unavailable, in which case I would like to know a method of treating water obtained from a dehumidifyer.
(as a side note I have always carried potable aqua tabs in my first aid kit while hiking in unpopulated areas, but I've never had to use them)
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Have an old box that is a little persnickity now and then... but it came alive long enough to let me pull this document off it. Hope it helps with your question.
The following is the text from a full page ad by Clorox . Boiling Is Best Short of using a very high-quality water filter, this is the most reliable method for killing microbes and parasites. Bring water to a rolling boil and keep it simmering for at least several minutes. Add one minute of boiling to the initial 10 minutes for every 1,000 feet above sea level. Cover the pot to shorten boiling time and conserve fuel. Liquid Clorox Bleach In an emergency, think of this (one gallon of Regular Clorox Bleach) as 3,800 gallons of drinking water. When the tap water stops flowing, Regular Clorox Bleach isn't just a laundry-aid, it's a lifesaver. Use it to purify water, and you'll have something to drink. It's the same in any natural disaster. As the shock wears off and the days wear on, the biggest demand is for drinking water. Time after time, relief crews hand out free Clorox Bleach with simple instructions: use it to kill bacteria in your water and you'll have purified water to drink. Here's how: (Store these directions with your emergency bottle of Clorox Bleach.) First let water stand until particles settle. Pour the clear water into an uncontaminated container and add Regular Clorox Bleach per the chart.* Mix well. Wait 30 min. Water should have a slight bleach odor. If not, repeat dose. Wait 15 min. Sniff again. Keep an eyedropper taped to your emergency bottle of Clorox Bleach, since purifying small amounts of water requires only a few drops. See chart* suggestions for storage bottle replacement. Don't pour purified water into contaminated containers. To sanitize water jugs first, see instructions** at right. Without water and electricity, even everyday tasks are tough. In lieu of steaming hot water, sanitize dishes with a little Clorox Bleach. Just follow the directions below to keep dishes clean. Whether you use Clorox Bleach in an emergency or for everyday chores, it's always an environmentally sound choice. After its work is done, Clorox Bleach breaks down to little more than salt and water, which is good news anytime. *Ratio of Clorox Bleach to Water for Purification 2 drops of Regular Clorox Bleach per quart of water 8 drops of Regular Clorox Bleach per gallon of water 1/2 teaspoon Regular Clorox Bleach per five gallons of water If water is cloudy, double the recommended dosages of Clorox Bleach. (Only use Regular Clorox Bleach (not Fresh Scent or Lemon Fresh). To insure that Clorox Bleach is at its full strength, replace your storage bottle every three months.) **(Clorox Bleach Sanitizing Solution) Mix 1 tablespoon Regular Clorox Bleach with one gallon of water. Always wash and rinse items first, then let each item soak in Clorox Bleach Sanitizing Solution for 2 minutes. Drain and air dry.
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Just a thought, but wouldn't it be easier to get some iodine tabs. you wouldn't have to worry about transporting them, or leaking all over in your pack. and it would be a lot easier to do the measuring. instead of carrying a measuring device with you. two tabs drop in the water pretty simple.
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Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way. - General George Patton Jr
This is pretty standard for canoe tripping in Canada. Katadyn Hiker Water Microfilter from Backcountry.com
We still drink straight out of most many lakes, but some people are susceptible to "beaver fever", or giardiasis, which causes one to lose about 30 pounds in a week of massive diarrhea. Never had it myself. Anyway, the filters are worth about 80 bucks Canadian, quite small, and very easy to use.
