Disaster Situations And The Need For Emergency Water Filtration Techniques

Floods are being predicted again for the spring of 2010 in some parts of the United States due to record snowfalls during the winter months. Compounding the inevitable property damages caused by flooding will be a lack of fresh drinking water as streams, rivers, and lakes become contaminated. You never know where a flood or other disaster may hit, so it's important that everyone know what to do before drinking the murky, foul-tasting water that's left behind. It's critical that you know the steps to emergency water filtration techniques so that you can keep your family safe.

The most effective way to handle contaminated water is by boiling it. Boiling removes almost all of the pathogens and other contaminants in water making it safe. If the water is still cloudy after it's been boiled, you can filter it through a clean cloth to remove larger particles and then store it in a clean, covered container.

Unfortunately, disaster conditions that require water filtration in the first place often go hand-in-hand with a loss of utilities which means that you won't be able to boil water. You can try disinfecting the water by adding 8 drops of common unscented chlorine bleach to a gallon of water and then allowing the water to settle. It's still better if after you've allowed the water to settle you filter it through clean cloths until it looks clear.

In addition to the methods of disinfecting water described above, there are a number of basic filtering devices you can purchase to keep on hand for just such a situation. The simplest of these include filtered drinking straws and sports bottles which allow you to drink almost immediately. There are also larger machines that will decontaminate several gallons of water per day so that you will have enough for cooking and sanitation as well as drinking. Many of these family-sized machines are available for less than $100.

The human body needs water. That's why you see pictures of people in other countries drinking dirty water even though they know it may make them sick. Their bodies just demand it. Knowing the steps you can use to disinfect water should a disaster situation hit your area could mean the difference between life and death for your family. Keeping water filtering materials in your home at all times, even if they're just bleach and clean rags, is one of the smartest things you can do.
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