Geek Prepper Survival Skills when SHTF!
If boiling your water is not possible, then Purifying water with bleach is a good solution.
Purifying water with bleach
Standard household bleach is typically between 5 percent and 6 percent chlorine and can be used to purify water.
- Place the water (filtered, if necessary) in a clean container. You can use coffee filters, or towels/shirts to filter the water prior to treating it with bleach.
- Add the amount of bleach according to the table below.
- Mix thoroughly and allow the water to stand for at least 30 minutes before using (60 minutes if the water is cloudy or very cold).
| Treating Water with a 5-6 Percent Liquid Chlorine Bleach Solution | ||
| Volume of Water | Bleach Solution to Add (Clear water) |
Bleach Solution to Add (Cloudy, Very Cold) |
| 1 quart/1 liter | 3 drops | 5 drops |
| 1/2 gallon/2 quarts/2 liters | 5 drops | 10 drops |
| 1 gallon | 1/8 teaspoon | 1/4 teaspoon |
| 5 gallons | 1/2 teaspoon | 1 teaspoon |
| 10 gallons | 1 teaspoon | 2 teaspoons |
Purifying water with bleach is safe if you follow the proper guidelines and use the correct type of bleach. Only use Calcium Hypochlorite bleach, and avoid using bleaches that contain perfumes, clarifiers, dyes and other additives. Be sure to read the ingredients on the label.
You can always buy water purification, if you fear the “do it yourself” method. If you need a portable solution there is the LifeStraw, which can filter up to 1000 liters (264.172 gallons) of water and the Sawyer Mini, which can filter up to 378,541 liters (100,000 gallons).
Also see these posts:
- DIY Home Water Filter
- Disinfect Water with Calcium Hypochlorite
- Purifying water with bleach
- Restricted Water and the Secret Weapon to Access It
- Water Filter Systems for Preppers
- Bug-Out Bag with 1000 Liters of Water
This is really interesting. Thanks for posting it. By the looks of the comments, many others think so too.
I just bought calcium hypochlorite on amazon. bottled bleach from the grocery store only lasts 4 months. with the powder, I can mix only the amount I need for household cleaning and purifying water as I store it. thanks for the chart with the correct measurements.
I have a lifestraw for on the go and plan to boil water at home. Bleach’s short life span and toxicity kill it for me