Chlorine Emergency Water Treatment for Drinking - PortaWell

Water treatment can be a challenge in an emergency and here is the why and how chlorine will be effective in the process of creating drinking water

For purposes of water purification, chlorine will be your friend – especially in an emergency scenario where normal utilities like power, water and sanitation are compromised either for a short period (few days to weeks) or outages lasting for a lengthy but undetermined time. Public water supplies are usually the first to become contaminated in times of natural disasters or emergencies. Chlorination has been in public use in the United States since when it was introduced to municipal water supplies as a disinfectant.  Up to that time, serious illness, and death due to drinking water contaminated with pathogenic microbes was common in both first world and third world countries alike. Since the introduction of chlorine to public water supplies, the mortality rate from drinking water has fallen drastically, especially in first world countries where tap water is deemed safe to drink. Chlorination of water supplies for water purification has been proven safe and effective through numerous scientific studies and over the course of time.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates public water systems and deems water safe to drink up to 4 parts per million (ppm) of chlorine.  You can easily measure chlorine concentration using test strips or using inexpensive kits you can obtain online or at pool supply stores. Chlorine is also effective in sanitizing and disinfecting areas involved in food preparation as well as cleaning and sanitizing surfaces that may come in contact with human waste. One of the advantages of chlorination is that not only does it kill microbes and organic compounds on contact, but it also has a residual effect meaning that as chlorine persists for a time in treated water, it will continue to disinfect if any new bacteria or viruses are introduced.

Chlorine disinfection methods are inexpensive and readily available to consumers.  For those who are sensitive to chlorinated water or just don’t like the taste, the concentration will be significantly reduced via a water filtration system using an activated charcoal filter, through aeration of the free chlorine water, and/or extended exposure to sunlight in the open air.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website.

Chlorine is very effective to kill bacteria, viruses and waterborne diseases but doesn’t kill single cell protozoa like cryptosporidium.

Water chlorination will not be effective, however, in killing organisms such as cryptosporidium.  These single celled protozoa reproduce in the gut of a host (mammals and birds) and then the eggs are shed as a tough shelled cyst (which is resistant to chlorine, bromine, or iodine) when the host defecates. These cysts can persist in the environment for quite a long period.  Once ingested, they become active and reproduce this life cycle in the new host—often making it quite ill especially in humans.  Because these cysts are relatively large (1 to 3 microns), micro-filtration presents an effective means of removing them from a water supply.  Boiling is also effective as is ultra-violet (UV) treatment.   It is estimated that up to 80% of the rivers and lakes in the U.S. are contaminated with these microbes. This reason for both micro filtration and chlorination should be considered in making surface water suitable for drinking, especially when the water is suspected of significant viral contamination or heavy concentration of disease-causing microbes (slow moving stream, pond or other heavily clouded water).

Commercial chlorine bleach has a shelf life and chlorine concentrations are important

There are precautions to be taken when using chlorine to disinfect your own water supply.  An important question is:

How much chlorine do I add to disinfect the water and still be safe to drink?

In answer to this question, it depends on:

• chemistry of the chlorine source,
• the concentration of the chlorine source and
• the age of the chlorine source.

For instance, a common source of chlorine mentioned in many internet searches for disinfecting water is household liquid bleach.  Commercial bleach that you buy at a grocery store is sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl).  Numerous companies make and market this product.  Some add chemicals to make the smell more pleasant, some add thickeners to reduce the likelihood of splashing while pouring, and they also make different concentrations—from 5% up to 10% concentration. If using household bleach as a disinfectant, you should choose a product that has no additives for smell or thickening, you should know the chlorine concentration and you should know the manufacture date to know the age of the bleach. It is important to know that liquid bleach loses its potency over time.  Shelf life for liquid bleach is generally recognized as 1 year.

Because liquid chlorine bleach has a short shelf life consider a different water purification chlorine source

There is a better solution to chlorinate water to make it suitable for drinking, and this will be to use calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)2 ) instead of household bleach (sodium hypochlorite). Calcium hypochlorite is:

• a powder rather than a liquid,
• it readily dissolves in water,
• (if stored properly) it has a shelf life up to 10 years,
• inexpensive and available, and
• very concentrated so a little goes a long way.

A common use for calcium hypochlorite is pool shock—used to control algae bloom in swimming pools.  You can purchase it either online, from pool supply sources or sometimes from your local preparedness store.  It is a potent chemical so take care how you store it and use it.  If you follow the precautions on the label, it is perfectly safe. Just remember it eats metal and fumes will be strong so store it in a closed plastic or glass container, in a cool location, out of direct sunlight and use in a well-ventilated area. The brand “Drytec” (figure 1) claims to be safe for treating drinking water.  It is best not to store it in the original packaging for a long period time because it is hydoscopic (attracts water) which affects it shelf life.  Once it is in liquid format it also has a 1-year shelf life. Because Calcium Hypochlorite is so concentrated (usually 65 to 70% chlorine by weight), it is recommended to  first mix your own  “chlorine bleach solution” (say 1 gallon at 600 ppm) and then use this lower concentration liquid solution for final treatment of  your drinking water.  This two-part approach ensures a better dilution accuracy and ensures that the “bleach” solution is at full strength when you use it Table 1 below represents the two-part mixing strategy. Note: A 600 ppm solution can be used for disinfecting drinking water and food prep surfaces; a 200-ppm solution is for sanitizing eating dishes and utensils. Appendix A below gives the mixture formula for developing your own custom table and Appendix B and C gives example problems on how to use the formulas.

When should I treat my water with chlorine?

In a typical municipal water treatment plant,  chemical treatment (chlorination) is the final drinking water treatment step before the water is stored and delivered to the consumer. The reason for this is two-fold.

1. A high concentration of organic particulate matter adds significant uncertainty to the correct chlorine dosage to make the water suitable for drinking. If the water is treated with chlorine before removal of this particulate, it requires more chlorine. There may not be enough active chlorine left to completely disinfect the water to drinking water standards. This is because most of the chlorine can be used up reacting with the organic particulate rather than disinfecting the pathogenic microbes.
2. Chlorination of water with a high concentration of organic particulate will result in a higher concentration of treatment byproducts such as trihalomethanes. This can present long term negative health effects.  Trihalomethane is an EPA regulated drinking water contaminant.

For these reasons it is best practice to chlorinate after the water has been filtered for removal of visible particulate.  This practice:

• minimizes the amount of chlorine necessary to add,
• improves the accuracy of the dosage calculations,
• minimizes the creation of potentially harmful byproducts, and
• provides a residual chlorine concentration for disinfection of any microbes in your storage containers.

In summary:

In an emergency scenario where clean drinking water no longer comes out or your tap, you have exhausted your supply of stored water and you must turn to available surface water to survive:

1. A combination of microfiltration (PortaWell) followed by chlorination should be considered, especially if source water is suspected of viral contamination or heavy concentration of disease-causing microbes (slow moving stream, pond or other heavily clouded water).
2. Mixture concentrations are easy to calculate using Table 1 and the simplified formulas listed in Appendix A.
3. Powdered calcium hypochlorite is a better storage option for chlorine treatment of water or disinfection, sanitation, and drinking than common bleach (sodium hypochlorite) because it:
   1. Has a much longer storage shelf-life
   2. Better ability to predict and calculate more precise dosage because of known concentration.
   3. The powder is very concentrated and occupies a smaller storage footprint.
   4. Is economical and readily available.
4. Chlorination (if needed) should be applied after filtration to:
   1. Minimize and amount of chlorine required.
   2. Minimize to formation of potentially harmful chlorinated by-products.
   3. Provide residual chlorine in stored water to reduce potential for algae buildup.

Note: Chlorine can always be removed or significantly reduced  from water prior to drinking by filtering the chlorinated water through an activated charcoal filter.

Appendix A—Mixture formulas for adding chlorine to water

Formula 1–Solid-Liquid Mixture—Adding powdered calcium hypochlorite to pure water to make a stock “bleach” solution (Part 1 in table) V3 = * V1 * C3/C1 Where: V3 is volume of concentrated chlorine solution to add in cc (cubic centimeters) V1 is the volume of water being treated in gallons. C3 is the desired chlorine concentration in ppm (parts per million) of the treated water. C1 is the concentration of the concentrated chlorine solution in ppm (1% = 10,000 ppm) Note: This assume as density of 1.1 gm/cm3 for powdered calcium hypochlorite  Formula 2–Liquid-Liquid Mixture—Adding stock “bleach” chlorine solution to untreated water (Part 2 in table) V3= 768*V1*C3/C1 Where: V3 is volume of concentrated chlorine solution to add in teaspoons. V1 is the volume of water being treated in gallons. C3 is the desired chlorine concentration in ppm (parts per million) of the treated water. C1 is the concentration of the concentrated chlorine solution in ppm (1% = 10,000 ppm)

Appendix B—Example problem mixing powdered calcium hypochlorite to water

How much powdered calcium hypochlorite do I add to 1 gallon of water to make a solution of 600 ppm chlorine if calcium hypochlorite has a concentration of 68% chlorine by weight.  (Part 1 in table) Here V1=1 gallon; C3= 600 ppm and C1=68 % Converting C1 to a ppm=68 * or ppm and making other units consistent Using Formula 1 V3 = * V1 * C3/C1                          Note: the constant results from conversions to make measurement units consistent V3 = * 1 * 600/ V3= 3.34 cc (cubic centimeters)            (1 tsp = 5 cc) Therefore adding ~ 3.34cc (or 2/3 tsp) of 68% calcium hypochlorite will treat 1 gallon of water to a concentration of 600 ppm chlorine. Note: The 600-ppm solution is also good for disinfecting surfaces that may come in contact with harmful microbes.  A 200-ppm solution is recommended for sanitizing dishes and eating utensils.  It is easy to convert the 600-ppm solution to 200-ppm by adding 2 parts water to 1 part of the 600-ppm bleach solution.

Appendix C—Example problem mixing 600 ppm stock bleach solution to water

How much stock bleach solution with a concentration of 600 ppm do I add to 25 gallons of water to treat it to the EPA maximum recommended concentration of drinking water of 4 ppm? (Part 2 in table) Here V1=25 gallon; C3= 4 ppm and C1=600 ppm Using formula 2 above V3 = 768 * V1 * C3/C1                          Note: the constant 768 results from conversions to make measurement units consistent V3 = 768 * 25 * 4/600 V3= 128 tsp             (1 cup = 48 tsp) 128/48= 2.2/3 Therefore adding 128 teaspoons or 2 2/3 cups of stock 600 ppm bleach solution will treat 25 gallons of water to a concentration of 4 ppm.

In an era where access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental human right, communities around the world are continuously striving to ensure the health and well-being of their residents. One vital component in this endeavor is the use of Calcium Hypochlorite, a potent water disinfectant that plays a pivotal role in safeguarding public health.

The Importance of Safe Drinking Water

Access to clean and safe drinking water is a cornerstone of public health. Contaminated water can lead to a myriad of health issues, including waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever. Ensuring the safety of drinking water is an ongoing challenge, particularly in regions where water sources are susceptible to contamination.

Calcium Hypochlorite: A Trusted Water Disinfectant

Calcium hypochlorite, a chemical compound containing chlorine, has long been recognized as an effective disinfectant for water treatment. Its primary function is to neutralize harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, that can proliferate in water sources. This process helps prevent waterborne illnesses and ensures that communities have access to clean and safe drinking water.

The Role of Calcium Hypochlorite in Water Treatment

The use of calcium hypochlorite in water treatment is a multi-step process. First, the compound is added to the water supply in carefully controlled doses. As it dissolves, it releases chlorine ions, which actively target and destroy harmful microorganisms by disrupting their cellular structures. This ensures that the water remains safe throughout the distribution network, from source to tap.

Safety and Regulations

Ensuring the safe use of calcium hypochlorite in water treatment is paramount. Strict regulations and guidelines are in place to govern its handling and application. These measures are designed to protect both public health and the environment. Water treatment facilities are staffed with trained professionals who closely monitor the dosage of calcium hypochlorite to maintain its efficacy while preventing excessive chlorine levels that could lead to health risks.

Link to NEW OCEAN GROUP

Advantages of Calcium Hypochlorite

Efficiency: Calcium hypochlorite is highly effective at eliminating a wide range of pathogens, making it a versatile solution for water treatment.

Long-lasting: It provides a residual disinfection effect, helping to maintain water quality as it travels through distribution systems.

Stability: Calcium hypochlorite has a relatively long shelf life when stored correctly, making it a reliable choice for water treatment facilities.

Proven track record: Its use in water treatment has a successful history of ensuring safe drinking water around the world.

While calcium hypochlorite is a powerful tool for water treatment, it is essential to handle it with care. The storage and transportation of the chemical require specific precautions to prevent accidents and minimize environmental impact. Water treatment facilities must also be diligent in monitoring chlorine levels to avoid potential health risks.

In the ongoing quest to provide clean and safe drinking water, calcium hypochlorite emerges as a vital ally. Its ability to effectively neutralize harmful microorganisms in water sources helps protect public health and prevent waterborne diseases. When used responsibly and in accordance with stringent regulations, calcium hypochlorite plays a pivotal role in ensuring that communities worldwide can enjoy the basic human right of access to safe drinking water. As we continue to prioritize public health, the use of calcium hypochlorite remains a cornerstone of our efforts to keep our water supplies clean and our communities healthy.

For more information, please visit water treatment calcium hypochlorite.

Previous: How to use tcca 90 tablets？

Post time: Sep-20-