Purifying Water
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Purifying Water
When you are unsure of the safety of your water supply, you should purify all water used for drinking, cooking and washing utensils. You can also purify the water used for washing hands, body, and kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
Do not use water that has a dark color or an odor or that contains floating material.
Unless you are absolutely certain that ice is free of contamination, it should not be used in drinks or in direct contact with foods. Ice that is melted for drinking should be decontaminated.
To disinfect water, use one of the following methods:
*Boil at a rolling boil for 10 minutes. This is the safest method of purifying water and ensures destruction of bacteria and some organisms that are resistant to chemical sanitizers.
*Add four drops of liquid chlorine bleach per quart of water (16 drops per gallon). Make sure the bleach is unscented and has no active ingredients other than 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite.
*Add 20 drops of 2 percent iodine per gallon of clear water or 40 drops per gallon of cloudy water.
*Add water purification tablets according to directions on the package. These tablets can be bought at most drug and sporting goods stores.
*Thoroughly mix these solutions and let the water stand for at least 30 minutes before using.
To lessen the flat taste of boiled water, pour the water back and forth several times between two clean containers.
Purified water is safe for an indefinite period if stored in thoroughly cleaned and sanitized containers and recontamination is avoided.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Linda Handiak |
