Ashland Area 912 Group

Thomas McKean Chapter

Primer #1
Reference Book
JUST IN CASE: By Kathy Harrison
How to Be Self-Sufficient When the Unexpected Happens

Immediate and Priority Items

1. Water

A. Resources
B. Purification
C. Storage

A. Resources

Hot water Tank, Plumbing Pipes, Toilet Tank (if clean)

- When the water pressure is gone because all power is lost, one
will need to gravity drain water from their homes pipes. Working
from the lowest point in the system will be most efficient.
Basement or crawl space.
- Rain water can be collected, filtered and treated.
- Snow. Take from a location far from a road. Clean buckets and
scooping devised will be needed.

B. Purification

Just because it looks clean does not mean that it is.

1. Boiling
2. Disinfecting with Bleach or Iodine
3. Mechanical Filtering System

1. Boiling is the most common and fool proof way to eliminate

Bacteria and Viruses.
 - Filter large debris from water before boiling.
-Bring to rolling boil, continue to allow to boil for 1 entire
minute.
-A pinch of salt will improve the taste.

2. Disinfection with Bleach or Iodine

- Filter large debris from water before disinfection.

- Use Non-Perfumed Bleach [4 – 6 % Sodium Hypochlorite]

Bleach Method
Amount of Water Amount of Bleach
1 Quart 2 drops
½ Gallon 4 drops
1 Gallon 8 drops
5 Gallon ½ teaspoon
or 40 drops

[4 – 6 % Sodium Hypochlorite]

- If you don’t smell bleach treat the water again.

Iodine Method

- Filter large debris from water before disinfection.

- Good for treating small quantities
- 3 drops of 2 % Iodine solution per quart of visibly clean water.
- Cold or cloudy water, double the amount of drops and stir.
- The bacteria will be killed.
(Iodine water purification tablets are available at sporting good
stores. Suggested only for evacuation kits/ Go Bags)

Mechanical Filtering System

- Filter large debris from water before disinfection.

- This method is through crude “mechanical filtration”
- Items needed. Funnel, clean jug or container, clean white shirt,
sock, cotton balls or cheese cloth
- Multiple passes may be required and the filter may have to be
changed.
 - Distillation
- In distillation water is boiled in a chamber, the steam rises,
leaving behind microbes, heavy metals and mineral salts.
- Although there are electrical distillers ($$$) there are also
portable campfire distillers.

C. Storage

- Avoid using containers that held hazardous materials.

- Avoid using lightweight containers, some plastics are
biodegradable and won’t stand long periods of storage.
- Avoid metal containers, they rust.
- Avoid using containers that held Milk. Juice, Soda or acidic
contents like Pickles.
- If Milk, Juice or Soda bottles are used, (Clean thoroughly)

How to clean previously used containers.

Rinse thoroughly with clean water, Fill with clean hot water and add
(1) tablespoon of bleach, let stand for 30 minutes, pour contents out (but
do not rinse) fill with clean water.

- Food Grade Plastic should be used.

Options
1. 5 gallon containers with carrying handle and spigot.
2. 55 gallon Colored plastic (blue) will keep U.V. light out
and in turn will prevent bacteria growth.

Note: HDPE food grade plastic containers are advised. Check

for the standard HDPE symbol, which is typically found on
the bottom of the container:

- Check and or Rotate water every 6 months.

Note: Stored water should have a bleach smell when the container is first
opened. Let the container stand with the lid off for a few minutes prior to
use. The strong bleach smell should dissipate. Pouring into an open mouthed
container will expedite this process.