Sunday, March 29, 2020

WATER PURIFICATION FOR EMERGENCIES - Purification methods rid water of harmful bacteria and other microorganisms that can make you sick. Depending on the appearance of the polluted water, you may need to pre-treat it to remove particles and debris before disinfection. Water purification methods are easy to use to provide a quick supply of clean water in an emergency. They decrease the risk of waterborne diseases by organisms such as E. coli, Salmonella, Giardia lambda, and Cryptosporidium. Boiling is the most effective method to purify polluted water, but other methods are not as effective in removing all contaminants. If you can't boil your water, consider combining two methods, such as filtration and chemical disinfection, for better results. Boiling destroys a range of organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and the cysts, spores, and eggs of parasites. It also gives you a quick supply of cleaner water. Water might taste unpleasant after boiling because of the release of air during the boil. If you don't have a source to boil water, sunlight might be your next best friend. Sunlight destroys microorganisms in water through is UV radiation and heating. To do this, expose a see-through plastic bottle filled with water to direct sunlight for five hours. If the temperature is high, you can disinfect a bottle of water in one hour.

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Boy holding jar with waterWater Purification for 
Emergencies
By Dr. Vilma Ruddock




Learn about the most effective methods of water purification for emergencies so you are prepared ahead if the need arises.
Purification methods rid water of harmful bacteria and other microorganisms that can make you sick.
Depending on the appearance of the polluted water, you may need to pre-treat it to remove particles and debris before disinfection.
Purifying Water
Water purification methods are easy to use to provide a quick supply of clean water in an emergency.
They decrease the risk of waterborne diseases by organisms such as E. coli, Salmonella, Giardia lambda, and Cryptosporidium.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes boiling is the most effective method to purify polluted water, but other methods are not as effective in removing all contaminants.
If you can't boil your water, consider combining two methods, such as filtration and chemical disinfection, for better results.
Pre-Disinfection Treatment
Before purifying your water, if you need to clean it by removing sediment and particles, use one of these methods:
·      Pour your water through a clean handkerchief, other clean cloth, T-shirt, coffee filter, or paper towel into a clean container until you are ready to disinfect.
·      Run the polluted water through a store-bought or homemade filter to trap contaminants.
·      Let the water sit for 30 minutes or more to settle particles to the bottom of the container. Pour off the clearer water from the top into a clean container and cover.
Boiling Is the Most Effective
According to the CDC, boiling is the most effective method for purifying water. Other methods are not as effective in removing 100% of contaminants.
Boiling destroys a range of organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and the cysts, spores, and eggs of parasites.
It also gives you a quick supply of cleaner water. Assuming you have electricity or another method to heat water after an emergency:
1.    Bring the water to a rolling boil.
2.    Continue boiling for at least one minute.
3.    Let it cool and store the water in a closed clean container.
Refresh the Taste
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes water might taste unpleasant after boiling because of the release of air during the boil.
You can improve the taste by re-aerating the water in one of three ways:
·          Rapidly stir the water for a few minutes after you boil it.
·          After the water cools, shake it vigorously in a closed container.
·          Pour it back and forth from one container to another.
·          Store the boiled water at least half an hour before drinking.
Purification by Sunlight
If you don't have a source to boil water, sunlight might be your next best friend.
Sunlight destroys microorganisms in water through is UV radiation and heating, according to WHO.
To do this, expose a see-through plastic bottle filled with water to direct sunlight for five hours.
If the temperature is high, you can disinfect a bottle of water in one hour.
If it is a completely cloudy day, your water needs about two days of exposure to purify.
Chemical Disinfection
Iodine and chlorine-based chemicals are effective in killing viruses and bacteria, but not all parasites, according to the CDC.
Chemical disinfection inactivates microorganisms by penetrating their cell walls to clean contaminated water in about 30 minutes.
You will notice the treated water has a chemical taste to it.
Note that WHO recommends you drink chemically treated water only during emergencies and not for regular use.
Water Purification Tablets
Water purification tablets are a convenient, low cost way to treat polluted water with chemicals.
You can disinfect a quart or gallon of water for personal use, or treat a big container to serve your family.
The tablets are low-cost, and they are easy to store and use during emergencies, travel, camping, boating, and short-term need.
Water disinfection tablets are used globally by major emergency aid groups and the military of several countries.
For household use, they are easy to get in stores or online. Consider these two highly rated water treatment tablets:
1.    Potable Aqua Water Treatment Tablets sell on Amazon for $7 for 50 tablets per bottle. It takes two tablets to purify a quart of water. The active ingredient, Tetraglycine Hydroperiodide, generates iodine as the purifying agent once the tablet dissolves. An unopened bottle of tablets is good for four years, and an open bottle lasts one year. The tablets kill Giardia but not Cryptosporidium.
2. Aquatabs effervescent tablets are available for $14 for 100 tablets per box on Amazon. The active ingredient is sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), which releases chlorine as the purifying chemical. One tablet treats two quarts of water. They have a shelf life of five years if the packet is unopened, or one year if it's opened.
To Treat Polluted Water
To disinfect your water with tablets:
1.    Pre-treat the water to remove particles and other debris.
2.    Add the recommended number of tablets for the quantity of water.
3.    Stir for a few minutes until the tablets dissolve and cover the container.
4.    Let the water sit for the required time (usually 30 minutes), and it's ready to drink.
Household Bleach Disinfection
Household bleach disinfects water through chlorine and is an easy, inexpensive water purification method.
Bleach will kill viruses and bacteria but not parasites, such as Giardia lambda or Cryptosporidium, according to the WHO and EPA.
To disinfect water use a plain, unscented, uncolored, liquid household bleach containing five to six percent sodium hypochlorite, which will generate chlorine in the water. 
The Red Cross advises adding eight drops of bleach per two-liter bottle of water, or sixteen drops per gallon.
Water Filtration Systems
Water filtration methods remove particles and microorganisms by forcing water through layers of filter material, which trap the contaminants.
They are effective in removing parasites and some bacteria but not viruses.
According to the CDC, some types of filters do not remove cryptosporidium, but those labeled "reverse osmosis" with a small filter pore size of a micron or less will do so.
Filtration systems use ceramic, activated carbon or charcoal, or other materials or technology to filter water.
Ceramic filtration removes particles, and the addition of silver purifies the water.
For further purification, treat the filtered water with chemical tablets. Alternatively, you can boil the water or let it sit for 48 hours.
Check out these filtration products:
1.  The gravity flow Katadyn TRK Drip Gravidyn Water Filter sells on Amazon for $184. The 10 liter drum holds three combined ceramic and activated carbon filters impregnated with silver and can purify enough water for six people. To use the filter, follow the directions that come with the product.
2.  The Outback Mini 4-Stage Gravity Powered Water Filtration System is a two-bucket configuration that works using gravity. The system costs $125 at ESP Water Products. It removes particles, bacteria, viruses, and some chemicals from contaminated water. It can filter enough water daily for a family of four.
3.  The Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System sells for about $20 at Walmart. This small, portable system uses filtration technology found in kidney dialysis. The two-ounce kit filters 100,000 gallons of water with a small filter, a water pouch, and a straw. The filter fits the neck of a standard water bottle.


4.  The Do it Yourself Emergency Water Filter Kit contains all you need build your own water filtration system. The kits sell for $27 on SHTFandGO.com and comes with complete instructions.
Be Prepared
Be prepared during an emergency to purify your water if your supply is contaminated.
Make sure you organize your water treatment supplies at home as part of your emergency preparations.

Vilma Ruddock, M.D. is Harvard-trained in Obstetrics, Gynecology, Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, and has a passion for writing and teaching. She is an expert on women's health and diseases, including:
Pregnancy, Infertility, Contraception, Hormonal disorders, Menopause.
In her practice of comprehensive women's health, she also has expertise on disease prevention, wellness and fitness, nutrition, weight and stress management, and hair and skin care.
Pregnancy and Women's Health Expert
Dr. Ruddock has spent over 20 years in the practice of comprehensive adult and adolescent women's health care and gynecologic surgery. Her practice includes areas specific to the health of women of all ages as well as general health and prevention issues. She is trained in managing:
Pregnancy, Pre-pregnancy health, Infertility,Family planning.
Dr. Ruddock spent many years teaching and training medical students, physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other allied health professionals in taking care of the health of pregnant and non-pregnant women. She also wrote an unpublished pregnancy manual to guide women through the weeks of pregnancy and preparation for labor and delivery.
Nutrition, Wellness, and Fitness Expertise
Dr. Ruddock has written several patient education materials on maintaining a healthier lifestyle through healthy eating, weight management, exercise and avoiding risky behaviors. She has a lifelong love of health promotion, wellness and fitness of mind and body, as well as public health.
As a gymnast throughout her teens, healthy food choices, food preparation, and regular exercise became second nature. Dr. Ruddock does a lot of reading and research in these areas to supplement her courses at the Harvard School of Public Health during medical school. 
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