When a disaster strikes, an earthquake, tornado, hurricane, or large-scale wildfire, drinking water is typically compromised. Water system contamination is not limited to a disaster. In 2020 over 38 cities report contaminated drinking water . A ReadyChristian should take steps in preparing a supply of emergency drinking water.
Other emergencies may overwhelm your prearranged storage either because the length of time or you may want to reach out and help others requiring using a purification method. During any emergency we see on television trucks bringing in large quantities of bottled water, a crucial necessity. Being prepared with some simple purification alternatives will assist you and your family to meet clean water requirements and minister outwards during a crisis.
A number of water Purification filters are available. One product, Life Straw, is an excellent personal device for purifying water on a limited basis. These are great to throw into your automobile or go bag and are inexpensive.
A second option offering a larger capacity is a Versa Flow Water filter package which has the ability to process a larger quantity. This product does not filter out all viruses or all chemicals.
A third option are Berkey Filters which provide larger scale filters priced between $250-700. These filters have been used for decades on the mission field successfully. Several advantages of these are that the filters can be stored and brought out as needed. Further, the volume of water which may be purified over time is substantial providing an option not only for your own family but to reach out to neighbors and others.
There are a number of other water filtering systems on the market and we bring these several to your attention as a starting point for your research.
Another option is Water purification tablets. These tablets are a mix of chlorine, iodine and chlorine oxide and when mixed with water to kill bacteria, parasitic protozoans and viruses. These products when used according to directions will render water safe to drink but will not remove unsightly particles or smell. A good option is to run your water through a coffee filter first to remove these items and then treat the water. Also, the taste and smell may be less than ideal.
Unscented household bleach is another option for treating drinking water to kill contaminants. The proper treatment protocol is:
2 drops per quart
4 drops per half gallon
8 drops per gallon
½ teaspoon per 5 gallons
51/2 teaspoons to treat 55 gallons
Some drawbacks to using bleach is they give relatively low protection against some organisms like protozoa and if water is particularly turbid may lose some effectiveness. Look at the date of the bleach, which will lose about 20% of effectiveness each year which may require adjusting the amount of bleach used. Also, there are some taste and odor issues, in a crisis we may be forced to ignore our preferences.
Another option many households have is water purification pitchers, these make a good option for purifying water. If you have these in your home, make sure you have an extra supply of filters.
Finally, a good option is the old-fashioned boiling of water, a minimum of one minute of a full rapid boil to kill off the germs.
Learn more how to become a ReadyChristian today! Check out the short CEN video to learn more.
Always remember basic survival - the human body cannot survive more than a few days without water, but for many, your system will begin to have challenges after just 1 full day without water. We want to be alive and thrive, not just survive!
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