Drinking Water

[kev74]

i have a creek a few hundred yards from me .. been drinking it since i was a teen while swimming in it ... big lake a few miles away and drank a lot of that water too while tubing and water skiing ... i know of a open well at where i hunt , was drinking that from the bucket on the rope since in was 6 .. never had a issue ..

The treatment and filtering of water is usually just precautionary. Nobody is going to start slurping cow piss out of a muddy hole if there is a better alternative around. You might not know if a bear crapped in the creek or if some dead animal is a few yards away in the lake.

If there are no medical facilities available, I'd prefer to dribble some bleach in my drinking water that I'm pretty sure is already clean (or boil, or filter, etc.), rather than take a chance of bleeding out of my ass until I died.

 

[freddy]

The treatment and filtering of water is usually just precautionary. Nobody is going to start slurping cow piss out of a muddy hole if there is a better alternative around. You might not know if a bear crapped in the creek or if some dead animal is a few yards away in the lake.

If there are no medical facilities available, I'd prefer to dribble some bleach in my drinking water that I'm pretty sure is already clean (or boil, or filter, etc.), rather than take a chance of bleeding out of my ass until I died.

100%. Poor quality water kills millions of people every year. Liquid bleach only lasts a few months though.

 

[kev74]

100%. Poor quality water kills millions of people every year. Liquid bleach only lasts a few months though.

The strength starts to decrease, but it still remains effective for a long time.

 

[freddy]

The strength starts to decrease, but it still remains effective for a long time.

Maybe to whiten underwear. But to save life it is 12 months.

 

[kev74]

Maybe to whiten underwear. But to save life it is 12 months.

The process is the same. If it works for one, it will work for the other.

Coupled with a cheap pool test kit, you can use whatever sodium hypochlorite solution you haven (Chlorox, pool shock, etc.) and verify disinfection by testing.

It might not be the best method, its definitely not the only method, but is is another tool in the toolbox. The biggest benefit (in my opinion at least) is that chlorine is a proven, effective disinfectant - which is more than can be said for some of the Shanghai-Johnny lifestraws and filters being sold.

 

[Fenucho]

LOL, love that DEEP well video.
Great idea, but 30' = deep well? I don't think so.
That would mean I have a deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep well

 

[freddy]

LOL, love that DEEP well video.
Great idea, but 30' = deep well? I don't think so.
That would mean I have a deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep well

Are you confusing the numbers? That deep well pump in the video will pull water from 300 feet. A different pump, the shallow well version, will pump from a 30 foot static head.

 

[freddy]

The process is the same. If it works for one, it will work for the other.

Coupled with a cheap pool test kit, you can use whatever sodium hypochlorite solution you haven (Chlorox, pool shock, etc.) and verify disinfection by testing.

It might not be the best method, its definitely not the only method, but is is another tool in the toolbox. The biggest benefit (in my opinion at least) is that chlorine is a proven, effective disinfectant - which is more than can be said for some of the Shanghai-Johnny lifestraws and filters being sold.

Of course. But the pool test kits also have a short shelf life. Generally, given the choice, the best option is well water.

 

[Gardnaaa]

What about one of those life straws? Grab a couple of those and stick your head in the swamp and poof. Clean drinking water lol

 

[kev74]

Of course. But the pool test kits also have a short shelf life. Generally, given the choice, the best option is well water.

There are a lot of wells around with less than ideal water - either e Coli or chemical contamination. There's no totally safe bet, only degrees of decreasing risk.

Having multiple options for water sources and having different methods of treatment and the knowledge to use them as well as the ability to improvise is key. If I knew I had no chance of medical treatment, I wouldn't be taking any chances with water if I could help it.

 

[nfernaays]

Keep in mind some other options that would be helpful in a short term event

Urban Survival - Emergency Water Sources

I never thought of the hot water tank but its on my radar now...also sump pump holes as well!

 

[SNORTHRUP1]

I know besides bottled water Wal-Mart used to carry water by the gallon near the baby section, if I had to prep for an emergency situation I'd get those 5 gallon containers filled that are used in lobbies & break rooms in many businesses for the water dispenser.

 

[Jackalope]

There are chlorine makers available which use table salt and 12 volt DC, say from a car battery. I recently acquired one, and for a large scale event it could be a lifesaver. I have a variety of filters, including a Katadyn pocket filter, some Sawyers filters, and a Steripen. Even if I filtered water, I would still sterilize it either by boiling or using chlorine. The chlorine maker is priced for less than a Katadyn pocket filter, and it can produce chlorine in large quantities for a large group or a community. MSR SE200™ Community Chlorine Maker

 

[FLA45fan]

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