Water Treatments

[DandyDon]

I try to be careful about safe drinking water when I leave the country, not trusting hotels that claim to have purified water (systems break down), and I'm not even sure I trust botted water companies outside of U.S. controls

I spoke with DAN's Medical department again, to be sure I had this right: Use Chlorine Laundry Bleach - 2 or 3 drops per quart or liter, stir and wait 30 minutes. Up to 10 drops if water is especially questionable or cloudy.

So, it this really a good idea, or am I missing something...?

Thanks, Don

[XJae]

Sounds like the mixture I put in my kids mini pool.
Probably work though.
Personally I'd go with water purification tablets or a water purification filter pump.
The pumps are nice. Small, lightweight, portable. Some process over 10k gallons before a filter cartridge change.
Good for a home emergency preparedness too.
The good one's are somewhat expensive.

[DudeRasta]

Get one of the filter pitchers, it is just a charcoal filter, Add the chlorine as specified and allow to stand. Then pour through the charcoal filter and it will remove the chlorine.

[DandyDon]

Cities chlorinated their water not too many years ago - resulting in much the same as adding drops of Clorox. Now many have gone to other methods.

Anyway, when my Grandfather would come to my parents house in town, he couldn't stand the city water. He never had to drink treated water even in school. When he wated a glass of water :droplet: I'd get out my "one drop per gallon" dechlorinator. One drop per glass of water didn't hurt.

Since some towns still chlorinate water, I guess this stuff is still available? However, even 10 drops of Clorox per gallon is not going to hurt anyone, I don't think.

For more, call DAN's non-emergency medical line: 800-446-2671

:D Don

[Louie]

If you are in hotels, many have tea/coffee making facilities with kettle.

Boiling is probably the most reliable and safe method of making drinking water safe.

Or alternatively, take a small electric kettle if you've got space in your divebag.

[DandyDon]

I know it's 30 minutes after adding clorine to water, and I think? it's the same on boiling? You know?

Thanks!

[XJae]

I think it's much less for boiling.
5 minutes tops, could be less.

[the sharkman]

For boiling, I think it is 5 minutes. Home brewers often boil their tools 5 minutes to "kill" any bacteria present. A purifying pump may be a good investment (plus you can use it for camping or backpacking). Personally, I don't like using the tablets, though I have. Tablets I have used make the water taste funny. Bottled water, obviously, is the best way to go...
:guitar:

[zeN||]

Yes,adding a few drops of chlorine to a gallon of water is acceptable to make it safe for drinking-this doesn't kill everything, or extremely bad water but in general it is standard practise in the field if you do not have a special water purification device zeN

[Zagnut]

..sounds more convenient. Some are even made to be used as straws. It looks pretty handy. I believe water purifiers remove more contaminants than water filters. Some of those purifiers even remove chemicals from the water.. bleach can't do that.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jhtml?id=0013055515228a&navAction=push&navCount=2&indexId=cat20132&podId=0013055&catalogCode=ID&parentId=cat20132&parentType=index&rid=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fitem-link.jhtml.1_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20075&hasJS=true

here are some more:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jhtml?id=cat20132&navAction=jump&navCount=1&parentId=cat20075&parentType=category&rid=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fcatego ry-link.jhtml_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20075

[Scubatooth]

good call zag on the filters. they are small and do the job (did plenty of backpacking years ago and pulled water out of some holes that even diveres wouldnt go into) but one thing is the ratings on those filters is based off clear water with little junk in it. if the water is cloudy divide the usefull life by 1/3 if there are alot of sediements in it by 1/2 , and if its a sludge divide by 4 .

another one is the filter level, make sure you get a cartridge with the smallest filter size the better it will be.

if you dont want to buy a filter you can buy the tablets like mentioned above, but besure you use name brand items (polarpur, or medical grade iodione tablets) because if its generic there could be other items in the iodine that arent good for you. then to kill the color and somewhat taste get the charcoal tablets to clear it out, this will turn the water a cloudy but its fine.

FWIW leaving the iodine color in the water isnt harmfull to use except for dyeing everything red, but it will discolor just about any plastic that it encounters

Zag man where have you been , long time no type

Dan