You never known when a natural disaster or other crisis may occur that could adversely affect the safety of your drinking water supply. Be prepared. Know where the closest water source is located and how to purify water for your family in the event of an emergency. Please Note: Never use floodwater for drinking, even if it has been treated.

Boiling water for drinking is the preferred way to destroy harmful organisms. If needed, water should be filtered and settled to remove as many impurities as possible prior to boiling. Filtering can be done through clean pieces of cloth. Once settled, the clear water should be boiled vigorously for a full minute in most areas and three minutes at high altitudes.

In the event that boiling water for drinking is impractical or impossible, regular household chlorine bleach can be used to purify drinking water. As with boiling, the water should first be filtered and settled, with the clear water transferred into clean containers for treatment.

The amount of common household chlorine bleach needed depends upon the amount of water to be treated. Use two drops per litre for clear water and twice that amount if the water is murky or cold. Initially, the water should smell like chlorine. This odour will dissipate if left exposed to air.

Store treated water in clean, covered containers and use for drinking, preparing drink mixes, cooking and brushing teeth. After a disaster, continue to treat water until health authorities have determined that the water from the regular source is once again safe for consumption.

Tags: Drinking water, emergency, Environment, Home, tips, WATER, Water purification, Water Resources, Water supply

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