Chlorox or chlorine bleach for water purification

FEMA, the American Red Cross and others all recommend Chlorox, Purex or chlorine as a method for water purification in emergency.  These bleaches normally contain 5.25 – 6% chlorine.  Avoid using bleaches that contain perfumes, dyes and other additives. Chlorox has recently come out with a new product “Clorox Ultra”.  They have changed the concentration of Sodium Hypochlorite (chlorine) from 5.25% concentration to 6%, and they have added Sodium Hydroxide.  They are doing this to reduce the size of the containers.  Chlorox has stated that this is safe to use for water purification.
Common household Clorox Ultra, Chlorox, Purex or chlorine bleach may be used to disinfect water in the following amounts.  Four drops per quart gives 10 ppm in clear water.  This amount should be increased to eight drops in turbid (cloudy) water.  Sixteen drops will provide 10 ppm per gallon of clear water.  You should be able to get a slight odor of chlorine after the waters sits for the 15 minutes.

If not, add more Clorox. What most organizations that recommend chlorine don’t tell you is that chlorinated bleach loses it strength with time.  After one year on the shelf, it will have lost 50% of its strength, so double the dose on old chlorine.

Detailed Guide: How to Purify Water with Bleach

Warning – Chlorine will not reliably kill Giardia and Cryptosporidium.  SODIS, boiling, chlorine dioxide tablets and good water filters are more reliable.

While chlorine will not kill Giardia and Cryptosporidium reliably, it is effective against most other bacteria’s.

Don’t pour purified water into contaminated containers.  Sanitize your water jugs first.

See also  Understanding the Various Methods of Water Filtration or Purification

Clorox Bleach Sanitizing Solution
To sanitize containers, mix 1-tablespoon chlorine bleach into one gallon of water.  Always wash and rinse items first, and then let each item soak in chlorine bleach sanitizing Solution for 2 minutes then drain and air dry.

Howard

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6 thoughts on “Chlorox or chlorine bleach for water purification”

  1. Michael MIller

    Make sure you DO NOT USE a GEL based bleach. Also i think bleach has some sort of shelf life so be careful. -DP

      1. thanks admin
        Will granular pool clorine lose its strenth as fast? Is it safe to use to purifcation of drinking water as long as you adjust th strength?

  2. Ok simple, I bought a 275 gal tote food grade that had Honey in it for use in a bakery, used 1 time,looks like new- I want to make an adapter for the drain and use it for emergency water.Need a step by step., If water expires-not sure for drinking if it would but how long and how to prep the water for sitting, then if it needs refreshed how often? Baby steps ….baby steps. never know when your life will depend on having a supply of drinking water…

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