I will be heading south to the islands soon and am wondering how much bleach to add to water I take on in the islands.
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Bleach isn't the answer, Deb...
Adding enough to each fill to do any good would make your water taste and smell like a laundry....not only couldn't you drink it, you couldn't even cook with it. You need to contact a water purification expert for real water purification methods. You may be better off with a water maker, 'cuz the prices have come WAY down. And from what I've heard about the price of fresh water in the islands, that may be the least expensive way to go.
Adding enough to each fill to do any good would make your water taste and smell like a laundry....not only couldn't you drink it, you couldn't even cook with it. You need to contact a water purification expert for real water purification methods. You may be better off with a water maker, 'cuz the prices have come WAY down. And from what I've heard about the price of fresh water in the islands, that may be the least expensive way to go.
not so
i don't think that is true about the amount to add. If i am correct to purify the water you only need to use about 1oz per 10 gal...and at that rate it doesn't smell or taste any different then the stuff out of city water systems. water makers are EXPENSIVE and unless you use allot of water the cost is not that expensive...rain is free and i have filled my tanks many times that way....even at $0.50 gal my tanks only take $25 to fill ....Hell we pay more than that for DESIGNER WATER here in the USA...FWIW
i don't think that is true about the amount to add. If i am correct to purify the water you only need to use about 1oz per 10 gal...and at that rate it doesn't smell or taste any different then the stuff out of city water systems. water makers are EXPENSIVE and unless you use allot of water the cost is not that expensive...rain is free and i have filled my tanks many times that way....even at $0.50 gal my tanks only take $25 to fill ....Hell we pay more than that for DESIGNER WATER here in the USA...FWIW
4 oz bleach to 10 gallons needed to purify
according to section 10.8 in the A-1 192 code covering electrical, plumbing, and heating of recreational vehicles for use in a new system a used one that has not been used for a period of time, or one that may have been contaminated. You'd definitely taste and smell it. Nor should a solution that strong be left in the tank for more than 24 hours without risk of damage to a metal water tank and/or the rubber parts water pumps and valves. It's intended to purify and recommission a system that's become polluted, not as a "water treatment" for each tankful. There are methods and other chemicals that are intended to purify water...contact a water purification expert to learn about those. Btw...anyone who can afford to spend $1.50/pint for "designer water,"--most of which is just filtered tap water anyway--can afford a water maker.
according to section 10.8 in the A-1 192 code covering electrical, plumbing, and heating of recreational vehicles for use in a new system a used one that has not been used for a period of time, or one that may have been contaminated. You'd definitely taste and smell it. Nor should a solution that strong be left in the tank for more than 24 hours without risk of damage to a metal water tank and/or the rubber parts water pumps and valves. It's intended to purify and recommission a system that's become polluted, not as a "water treatment" for each tankful. There are methods and other chemicals that are intended to purify water...contact a water purification expert to learn about those. Btw...anyone who can afford to spend $1.50/pint for "designer water,"--most of which is just filtered tap water anyway--can afford a water maker.
Potable Water
You can add 8 to 16 drops of Ultra Clorox bleach (do not use the scented bleach which has other chemicals added) to a gallon of a water and wait 30 minutes for the bleach to disinfect the contaminated water. To ensure that the bleach has disinfected the contaminated water you should have a slight taste of bleach, if not add a few more drops and wait 15 minutes. Once you know that you have added the correct amount of bleach to disinfect the contaminated water, you can aerate the purified water by pouring it back and forth between clean containers to help dissipate the bleach and make the water more drinkable. You can also add "Kool-Aide" or other drink flavored packets to mask the taste. Preventing contaminated water from entering your potable or drinking water supply system is the best policy. You should use a purifying water filter attached to the hose supplying water to your on-board potable water tank. If this is not possible, than you have to assume that your on-board water system has been contaminated and is not potable water (i.e. drinking water). If you use the water for cooking, but it must be boiled. You should make only as much potable water from the on-board contaminated water as you need, to ensure that you have purified the water enough to kill the germs. When you get to a port with potable water, you can sanitize your on-board water system by added an extremely excessive amount of bleach to sanitize the system and flush it and then add potable water just as Peggie has stated in her previous post. Clorox web site. http://www.cloroxlaundry.com/usage_disinf_water.shtml?page=disinfecting Fair Winds, Clyde
You can add 8 to 16 drops of Ultra Clorox bleach (do not use the scented bleach which has other chemicals added) to a gallon of a water and wait 30 minutes for the bleach to disinfect the contaminated water. To ensure that the bleach has disinfected the contaminated water you should have a slight taste of bleach, if not add a few more drops and wait 15 minutes. Once you know that you have added the correct amount of bleach to disinfect the contaminated water, you can aerate the purified water by pouring it back and forth between clean containers to help dissipate the bleach and make the water more drinkable. You can also add "Kool-Aide" or other drink flavored packets to mask the taste. Preventing contaminated water from entering your potable or drinking water supply system is the best policy. You should use a purifying water filter attached to the hose supplying water to your on-board potable water tank. If this is not possible, than you have to assume that your on-board water system has been contaminated and is not potable water (i.e. drinking water). If you use the water for cooking, but it must be boiled. You should make only as much potable water from the on-board contaminated water as you need, to ensure that you have purified the water enough to kill the germs. When you get to a port with potable water, you can sanitize your on-board water system by added an extremely excessive amount of bleach to sanitize the system and flush it and then add potable water just as Peggie has stated in her previous post. Clorox web site. http://www.cloroxlaundry.com/usage_disinf_water.shtml?page=disinfecting Fair Winds, Clyde
Not to Worry
Not sure what islands you are referring to but if it is the Bahamas you will do just fine. Recently returnrd from a 6 month cruise thru the Abacos and beyond and never had water purification issues. Most of the water is either brought in by pipeline from the mainland or rainwater stored in cisterns. Drink freely. The Bahamians do. But if you are really concerned just a few drops of Clorox in your water tank will not harm you.
Not sure what islands you are referring to but if it is the Bahamas you will do just fine. Recently returnrd from a 6 month cruise thru the Abacos and beyond and never had water purification issues. Most of the water is either brought in by pipeline from the mainland or rainwater stored in cisterns. Drink freely. The Bahamians do. But if you are really concerned just a few drops of Clorox in your water tank will not harm you.
might try a ceramic filter
like they use for backpacking. I've drank out of creeks after filtering with no ill effects. They are cheap and easy to use for drinking water. They won't remove all viruses but viruses don't last long in clean water. The filters don't do well with dirty water. But with clear water that is suspect they do well. Backpacking we usually pump from a small stream or spring that we could probably drink out of without treatment but don't want to take the chance. Most of what I've read has said that the watermakers are just too expensive and energy hungry for most cruisers. Catching rainwater works in many areas. We plan to have a tarp rigged to catch rainwater.
like they use for backpacking. I've drank out of creeks after filtering with no ill effects. They are cheap and easy to use for drinking water. They won't remove all viruses but viruses don't last long in clean water. The filters don't do well with dirty water. But with clear water that is suspect they do well. Backpacking we usually pump from a small stream or spring that we could probably drink out of without treatment but don't want to take the chance. Most of what I've read has said that the watermakers are just too expensive and energy hungry for most cruisers. Catching rainwater works in many areas. We plan to have a tarp rigged to catch rainwater.
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