5 Ways To Purify Water In An Emergency Situation

If you are in an emergency where the power is out, you may need to find a way to get clean drinking water. Keeping yourself hydrated is vital for survival, and there are a lot of ways to do this. Here are five methods you could consider using if you need to purify water during an emergency.

1. Boil It

Boiling water for 15–20 minutes kills almost everything in the water, and this is the easiest and best way to purify water. The downside to this method is that it requires heat. If you are without power and cannot start a fire, you may not be able to use this method.

2. Use A Filter

If you have no power and need clean drinking water, you could use a home water filtering system if you have one. These systems are easy to use and remove a good portion of bacteria from the water.

3. Use Purifying Tablets

One good thing to have on hand for emergency preparedness is purifying tablets. While you will hopefully never need to use them, it is better to have them in case you do. Purifying tablets can change the taste of water; however, they can make the water you drink safer. The most common type of purifying tablets you can purchase are iodine tablets, but there are also chlorine purifying tablets you can purchase.

4. Bleach It

Another option you have if you need to purify water is using bleach. Chlorine bleach is a common household product, and this might be the only option you have. If so, you must know how to use it properly. If you use too much, it could harm your health. Using too little will not be an effective way to remove bacteria from the water. To use this method, you must pour approximately 1/8 teaspoon of bleach into a gallon of water. It is important to wait for 24 hours before drinking water that has been treated with bleach.

5. Add Hydrogen Peroxide

The fifth method involves the use of hydrogen peroxide. Placing 1/8 cup hydrogen peroxide in one gallon of water will remove a lot of contaminants in the water. This may change the taste slightly, but you will have water to drink. This method is best if you wait one day to drink the water. This gives the peroxide time to work.

If you want to prepare for emergencies, you might want to purchase these supplies so you have them if they are needed. You may also want to consider buying an emergency preparedness kit, which contains all the things you might need in the event of a major emergency.