In 20 ys of watching TB2K, I have seen only one Prepper who understands the chokepoint in prepping.

[Old Gray Mare]

For all those planing to use bleach to purify water SHTF? Bleach is only good for purification if used within 5 months of it's manufacture date not the purchase date. This information was buried on the Clorox web site.

We have enough springs on the property. All I'd need is a shovel, PVC or enough garden hose and gravity.

 

[AlaskaSue]

My brother is the chief operator of the city's public water utility and he knows a LOT about making water drinkable. He knows how to manufacture bleach, how to filter a lot of bad things out, and a lot more than I can think of atm. I'll pick his brain and add more to the discussion here when he gets home next week.

 

[JMG91]

DH and I are working on getting a hand pump that will go down into our existing well. I can't wait, as this is something that causes me some anxiety thinking about.

 

[Illini Warrior]

For all those planing to use bleach to purify water SHTF? Bleach is only good for purification if used within 5 months of it's manufacture date not the purchase date. This information was buried on the Clorox web site.

We have enough springs on the property. All I'd need is a shovel, PVC or enough garden hose and gravity.

that's a little too stiff - yes, bleach begins to breakdown on its potency from minute one - you just need to adjust the dilution formula as it ages - instead of 18 drops you need 20 >>> you don't need to toss 5 month old bleach - you'll still have some potency with 2-3 yr old stuff ...

what's more important than anything with bleach is to watch the concentration - it will vary from 1% up to 5% - that's what will drastically affect your usage ...

 

[Old Gray Mare]

that's a little too stiff - yes, bleach begins to breakdown on its potency from minute one - you just need to adjust the dilution formula as it ages - instead of 18 drops you need 20 >>> you don't need to toss 5 month old bleach - you'll still have some potency with 2-3 yr old stuff ...

what's more important than anything with bleach is to watch the concentration - it will vary from 1% up to 5% - that's what will drastically affect your usage ...

For about $5 and shipping you can buy commercial grade chlorine testing strips off the internet. Takes the guess work out of the equation.




Would not do this is doors. No way, No how. He doesn't even use a gas mask. Chlorine gas is highly corrosive, dangerous and can kill you.

Fair use.
Making Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite) from Table Salt (Sodium Chloride)

Curiosity Catalase
Published on Jul 3, 2017
Here is another 'chemical synthesis' video! You may want to try making bleach!
The concentration of bleach produced in this process is quite low in concentration. That can probably be concentrated by using two 9V batteries to operate the reaction and a saturated solution of Sodium Chloride.

link to source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18SP6pFcr6Q

run time 6:35

 

[Illini Warrior]

For about $5 and shipping you can buy commercial grade chlorine testing strips off the internet. Takes the guess work out of the equation.




Would not do this is doors. No way, No how. He doesn't even use a gas mask. Chlorine gas is highly corrosive, dangerous and can kill you.

Fair use.
Making Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite) from Table Salt (Sodium Chloride)

Curiosity Catalase
Published on Jul 3, 2017
Here is another 'chemical synthesis' video! You may want to try making bleach!
The concentration of bleach produced in this process is quite low in concentration. That can probably be concentrated by using two 9V batteries to operate the reaction and a saturated solution of Sodium Chloride.

link to source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18SP6pFcr6Q

run time 6:35

??? - any chlorine you buy should be marked plainly with the concentration - shouldn't be needing to test it ....

 

[Old Gray Mare]

??? - any chlorine you buy should be marked plainly with the concentration - shouldn't be needing to test it ....

Chlorine bleach starts to degrade immediately after manufacture (see post #161) and posted warning from Clorox. Hence the above post.

 

[Old Gray Mare]

My brother is the chief operator of the city's public water utility and he knows a LOT about making water drinkable. He knows how to manufacture bleach, how to filter a lot of bad things out, and a lot more than I can think of atm. I'll pick his brain and add more to the discussion here when he gets home next week.

Bleach is not a magic potion that makes all water instantly potable. It will not filter out heavy metals and other chemical contaminants. Depending on concentration and evaporation rates it may not even be able to destroy some parasitic cysts. Some nasties take longer exposure at specified concentrations to kill than others.

In other good news, most cities only have 2 to 3 weeks worth of Chlorine to treat water on hand at any given time because it is so #$%^ dangerous.

 

[Illini Warrior]

Chlorine bleach starts to degrade immediately after manufacture (see post #161) and posted warning from Clorox. Hence the above post.

still don't need to bother testing - if using old bleach for any reason just adjust accordingly - you should be doing a smell & taste test as you do a drinking mix >>> start with the standard number of drops and adjust with a few more ...

 

[Old Gray Mare]

still don't need to bother testing - if using old bleach for any reason just adjust accordingly - you should be doing a smell & taste test as you do a drinking mix >>> start with the standard number of drops and adjust with a few more ...

Nope. Not happening, not if I can help it. I rather spend the $5 and have the peace of mind of knowing the concentration is right than take a pulled out my hind quarters silly wild a$$ guess that maybe its right... and maybe that way out of date bleach worked...? Maybe?

If you guess wrong; you realize dysentery can kill in a WTSHTF scenario where appropriate health care is unavailable? Not to mention other waterborne diseases and parasites?

No. My life and the lives of my family are worth more to me than five bucks.

 

[Illini Warrior]

Nope. Not happening, not if I can help it. I rather spend the $5 and have the peace of mind of knowing the concentration is right than take a pulled out my hind quarters silly wild a$$ guess that maybe its right... and maybe that way out of date bleach worked...? Maybe?

If you guess wrong; you realize dysentery can kill in a WTSHTF scenario where appropriate health care is unavailable? Not to mention other waterborne diseases and parasites?

No. My life and the lives of my family are worth more to me than five bucks.

nobody is telling you not to - but don't get into buffaloing people - especially the newbies - that the chem treating of water is some elaborate scientific lab experiment >>>> there's already enough confusion with just using 1% Chlorox - without dreaming about using concentrates and pool shock ....

 

[JF&P]

I am blessed to have found property in the country that is my live in bug out location. I have a large freshwater creek running through the property and yes I have several filters available. Plus I have lots of Mountain House stacked in the spare bedroom.

 

[1911user]

This info may deserve it's own thread in the Prep section in the future, but I'll drop it here for now.

This 28 page service bulletin covers how to use pool shock to cleanse pools, disinfect water (treatment plant down to individual use), cleanse equipment, agricultural uses, house disinfection after flooding, etc.
This is worthy of downloading and saving in multiple locations. It's the real deal on how to use calcium hypochlorite (powdered bleach AKA pool shock).


https://www.westlake.com/safety_gui...t 73 Service Bulletin approved 02-14-2014.pdf <---------------------- Service Bulletin link

It was written and EPA approved in 2014 by the company that sells this pool shock: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F44CVMQ

This was written by one company but applies to all roughly 70% calcium hypochlorite-only pool shock. You don't have to buy the 50 pound bucket for $128 (amazon link above) for the use instructions to apply. It would be a nice start for a small improvised water treatment plant though.

This deserves posting again.

Also, the reason liquid bleach weakens is the chlorine gas slowly permeates out through the plastic container walls. The chlorine doesn't break down, it escapes.

 

[ReneeT]

This deserves posting again.

Also, the reason liquid bleach weakens is the chlorine gas slowly permeates out through the plastic container walls. The chlorine doesn't break down, it escapes.

So, what about transferring the chlorine bleach into glass jugs or bottles? Does that slow down the break down rate? Thanks!

 

[1911user]

So, what about transferring the chlorine bleach into glass jugs or bottles? Does that slow down the break down rate? Thanks!

I have not done that, but it could help. It's going to need a good seal to stop the chlorine gas though.
One concern might be buildup of pressure in the glass container over time. I'm not enough of a chemist to know if that is a real concern or not.

I'm taking the approach to mix up small amounts of bleach from pool shock (calcium hypochlorite) as needed.