|
When You Are Unsure of the Safety of Your Drinking Water Source - Treat It!
Contaminated water of unknown quality needs to be treated before use to prevent transmission of disease.
Surface water and water from unprotected wells, or wells too close to a sewage disposal system, are likely to be contaminated with intestinal wastes from birds, animals, and man.
Whenever surface water is used for drinking and household purposes, or when any question arises concerning the safety of your water supply, steps should be taken to purify the water. If the water is not clear, the sediment should first be allowed to settle. Then, only the clear water should be purified. Either of the two methods listed below may be used.
METHOD I
Boil water for 2 minutes. Allow it to cool. If the water has a flat taste, pour it back and forth between two clean containers two or three times.
METHOD II
Add one drop of fresh, unscented chlorine bleach, such as Clorox, Purex (containing 5.25 to 6% available chlorine) to each quart of water. If water is not clear, add 3 drops to each quart of water. Mix thoroughly and allow to stand for 30 minutes before drinking. If larger quantities of water are to be disinfected with chlorine bleach, use this table for proper dosages:
5.25 - 6% Chlorine Bleach
| Gallons of Water |
5 |
10 |
20 |
30 |
40 |
50 |
| Clear Water |
¼ tsp. * |
½ tsp. |
¾ tsp. |
1 tsp. |
1 ¼ tsp. |
1 ½ tsp. |
| Cloudy Water |
½ tsp. |
1 tsp. |
1 ½ tsp. |
2 tsp. |
2 ½ tsp. |
3 tsp. |
*tsp. - teaspoon
Note: If a tablespoon is used for measuring, use 1 tablespoon for each 3 teaspoons.
For More Information, Contact:
Drinking Water Program
Anchorage: (907) 269-7656Fax (907) 269-7655
Fairbanks: (907) 451-2108Fax (907) 451-2188
Juneau: (907) 465-5350 Fax (907) 465-5362
Kenai: (907) 262-5210 Fax (907) 262-2294
Mat-Su: (907) 376-5038 Fax (907) 376-1860
|