Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

http://www.survivaltopics.com/surviv...sinfect-water/

i was about to increase my stock of bleach & found this.
key point is the disinfectant qualities of bleach degrades with time & there is an easy, cheap way around this problem.

also read the info on purifying water at lower temps; like in a solar oven.

any other info [or corrections] will be appreciated re water purifying. thanks

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

SODIS - it sounds so simple

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_water_disinfection

http://www.sodis.ch/

http://www.matternetwork.com/images/Matter/sodis_lg.jpg

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

Looks like it may work in some climates, but not here, not today. Four degrees F., -15 wind chill, this morning and going to get colder as the day goes on. You are located further north than me, I bet those jugs wouldn't survive for two-three hours before they were turned into big ice cubes. I know I will have to give the chickens fresh warm water at least three more times today. Maybe if you enclosed the unit, like a solar water heater, it may work. I'll stick to the filter and diluted Calcium Hypochlorite, let it set to mellow. Most likely not as healthy an option, but for the worst of times, it will have to do.

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

Good tip, good to know .......thanks

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

Thanks for the link! I also Googled "calcium hypochlorite shelf life", and it looks like the dry stuff is good for 2-5 years, depending on your storage conditions. A higher temperatures results in shorter shelf life.

Even 2 years, though, is a heck of a lot better than 3-6 months for the liquid bleach.

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

u'r welcome; nub too.

with even that short a shelf life & given the importance of h2o i may put up a bag like i do grain/beans- using dry ice method in a bucket.

i have a guess though that the shelf life is like fertilizer- it clumps, etc. but is still good. a chemist would probably know.

i expect clean water to be a major problem as infrastructure degrades/shuts down.

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

Thanks! I always "assumed" that it was good for 10 years. I had read that ten year number many places. After reading your post, I checked too. You are correct. Come spring, it will be time to look for some new product. Thanks again.

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

It should be noted that Na(ClO)2 can just as easily be had and stored in the granular variety. I do know that public water works employ Ca(ClO)2 for disinfecting newly installed water lines on construction projects so I do not doubt that its efficacy is higher.

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

Where is the best place to get this stuff?

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

Wal-mart, pool supply, chemical supply, lowe's, home depot... it is readily available.

If you know a plumbing contractor talk to him.

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

I think I am married to one of those! I will have to ask!

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

Thanks for the link, lessoil. I'm going to print the instructions on measuring and store it with the bag.

My brain is getting full of details I don't use regularly, and not using them, they vanish.

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

I can identify with that.

But I call it 'sometimers'. :565::36_1_34::5_1_120:

Looking forward to your printed instructions. :cooler::yippee:

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

Had you read OP's link you would have found:

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

I have a swimming pool and I keep 32 gallons of sodium hypochlorite (basically double strength liquid bleach) for preps purposes. I use a gallon or two a week depending on the season, so why not have a bunch. That's enough chlorine to render safe a ridiculous amount of water for consumption.

Cal hypochlorite is basically "shock" but without the cyanuric acid. It's not very stable and can be a fire hazard if contaminated. It's actually a really good idea if you can find it without cyanuric acid in it, as you can basically do what you said and "make" solution that is like bleach. The problems are all in measurement and strength.

Solar disinfection is also a viable solution if you have sun, and clear bottles. I have the excess supply of liquid chlorine as it's easily measured, I use the inventory of 32 gallons more than once a year in the pool, so I rotate it every few months make a purchase, and it's a known quantity in terms of strength and handling. I could make shit mud water drinkable for my entire neighborhood with some screening, settling tanks and the liquid and 32 gallons of pool hypo would be thousands of gallons of potable.

Re: Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water
 

Got mine today. Some conflicting info on shelf life but suffice to say, two plus years is good for me. A water filter is also a must for all. Bx3

http://www.survivalblog.com/2006/08/...ater_with.html

Letter Re: Purifying Water with Bleach

Mr. Rawles,
I've received and read the "Rawles Gets You Ready" preparedness course package. It made me think twice about a few things, since I do most of my prepping at Costco. I notice that someone has already mentioned the vitamin thing. Thanks for the tip about bear liver!

I also noticed that you recommended having bleach on hand, and in the storage life section, bleach is listed as having an indefinite shelf life. I'm sure you already know that is not the case. Regular liquid bleach is not stable, it breaks down gradually and eventually becomes just salt water over a period of 2 years, it's still usable at 1 year but you must use twice as much. We think dry swimming pool shock is better than liquid bleach because calcium hypochlorite will store in dry form nearly indefinitely (10 years), whereas liquid chlorine bleach loses half of it's potency after a year (use twice as much for the same effect) and is next to worthless after two years. Using dry swimming pool shock (calcium hypochlorite) you can mix your own liquid bleach on an as-needed basis and have it fresh and fully active. Its very much like the difference in storage life between whole kernel wheat versus ground flour. Dry shock (get the plain variety, with no algaecides or fungicides) is very inexpensive and can be gotten at any pool supply store. Here are some links with details:
The Epicenter
Greenspun
The relevant portion from the second site above: "Dry chlorine, also called calcium hypochlorite has the added benefit of extended shelf life. Providing it is kept dry, cool and in an airtight container, it may be stored up to 10 years with minimal degradation. If you want to keep chlorine in larger quantities, this is the item to store (according to Bingo1). It must be ONLY 65% calcium hypochlorite, no additional anti-fungals or clarifiers. In an EXTREMELY well ventilated area, (Hint: OUTSIDE!) add and dissolve one heaping teaspoon of high-test granular calcium hypochlorite (approximately 1/4 ounce) for each two gallons of water. Five pounds of dry pool bleach costs about $10-15, which will make about 92 gallons of bleach, which will sterilize 706,560 gallons of clear water, or 353,280 gallons of cloudy water."

Here are some additional tips on using calcium hypochlorite (swimming pool shock) for water purification:
From the EPA site:
"Granular Calcium Hypochlorite. Add and dissolve one heaping teaspoon of high-test granular calcium hypochlorite (approximately 1/4 ounce) for each two gallons of water. The mixture will produce a stock chlorine solution of approximately 500 mg/L, since the calcium hypochlorite has an available chlorine equal to 70 percent of its weight. To disinfect water, add the chlorine solution in the ratio of one part of chlorine solution to each 100 parts of water to be treated. This is roughly equal to adding 1 pint (16 oz.) of stock chlorine to each 12.5 gallons of water to be disinfected. To remove any objectionable chlorine odor, aerate the water as described below.
The treated water should be mixed thoroughly and allowed to stand, preferably covered, for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight
chlorine odor; if not, repeat the dosage and allow the water to stand for an additional 15 minutes. If the treated water has too strong a chlorine taste, it can be made more pleasing by allowing the water to stand exposed to the air for a few hours or by pouring it from one clean container to another several times"

Okay, a lot of people don't have a 12.5 gallon container laying around, so let's break it down. To make two gallons of the bleach, one heaping teaspoon of the calcium hypochlorite goes into 2 gallons of water. To make drinkable water, 2.5 tablespoons of the bleach goes into 1 gallon of water. Let stand covered 30 minutes, aerate to taste. Thought you would want to know. - J.W.