How to Make Water Safe to Drink in an Emergency
After a storm, a flood or a broken water main, your tap water may not be safe to drink. If you don’t have bottled water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes two simple ways to disinfect water at home.
First: if the water is cloudy
Let it settle, then filter it through a clean cloth, a paper towel or a coffee filter before you disinfect it.
Method 1: Boil it
Bring the water to a rolling boil for at least one minute. If you live above 5,000 feet, boil it for three minutes. Let it cool before drinking.
Method 2: Use household bleach
If you can’t boil water, you can use regular, unscented chlorine bleach that contains 6% or 8.25% sodium hypochlorite. Check the label.
| Bleach strength | Drops per gallon of water |
|---|---|
| 6% | 8 drops |
| 8.25% | 6 drops |
Stir and let it stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight chlorine smell. If it doesn’t, repeat the dose and wait another 15 minutes before using it.
Keep it simple
Tape these numbers inside a kitchen cabinet next to an eyedropper and a bottle of unscented bleach. When you need them, you won’t have time to look them up.
Source: U.S. EPA, Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water. This article is general information. Always follow boil-water notices and instructions from your local authorities.