disaster 5th 1108_5th ed 2011 - Homeland Security and Emergency ...

TIPS ON WATER PURIFICATION
Water is critical for survival. We can go days, even weeks, without food but
we must have water to live. For example, an average man (154 pounds) can
lose about 3 quarts/litres of water per day and an average woman (140
pounds) can lose over 2 quarts - and this could increase depending on your
weight and size, on the season, and the altitude. Your body loses precious
water by sweating and breathing and, of course, by peeing. In fact, you can
tell if you are getting dehydrated by the color of your pee. When you drink
enough water, your pee will be light-colored or bright yellow, but when
dehydrated, it will be dark-colored and you’ll pee in smaller amounts.
The average person should drink between 2 and 2 ½ quarts/litres of water
per day. Plan on storing about one gallon (4 litres) per day per person for
drinking, cooking and personal hygiene - and don’t forget water for pets!
Did you know…
… almost 6,000 children die every day from water-related disease
… about 1.1 billion people don’t have access to safe water
USE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS TO PURIFY DRINKING WATER:
Boiling - Boil vigorously for 2-10 minutes. Boiling water kills most harmful
bacteria and parasites. To improve the taste of boiled water pour it back
and forth between two containers to add oxygen back into it.
Bleach - Add 10-20 drops of “regular” household bleach per gallon (about
4 litres) of water, mix well, and let stand for 30 minutes. A slight smell or
taste of chlorine indicates water is good to drink. (NOTE: Do NOT use
scented bleaches, colorsafe bleaches, or bleaches with added cleaners!)
Purifier - Purification tablets are inexpensive and found at sporting goods
stores and some drugstores. (Look for ones that contain 5.25 to 6.0 percent
sodium hypochlorite as the only active ingredient.) Or google MMS (sodium
chlorite) since it can be used for purification and long term storage.
Distillation - Involves boiling water and collecting the vapor to remove
impurities. (Check with library or do a web search on distillation.)
Also, learn how to remove water from other places in your home or office
(like the hot water heater, ice cubes, toilet tanks [not the bowl], etc.) And
consider purchasing a certified portable water purification device (pitcher
filter, faucet filter, etc.) and pack an extra unit in your Disaster Supplies
Kit. To learn more about water safety visit www.epa.gov/safewater. Also
see tips on filtering water contaminated by fallout on page 118.
152 www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325