What to Do to Keep Your Drinking Water Safe

Are you one of the many Americans who are concerned about the quality and safety of their drinking water? Have you just been advised to boil your water before bathing or drinking it? If this is the case, do you know how to properly treat your water at home to ensure that it is as safe as possible?

The Water Quality Association performed a survey that found 75% of Americans have concerns about the quality of their water at home. Half of those surveyed were worried about contaminants in their water. Such high numbers are undoubtedly related to research regarding nitrates in well water. Also, scientific data has proven that even the tiniest contaminants in the drinking water may lead to cancer and heart disease.

With the numerous natural disasters that have occurred in recent years, people have begun to educate themselves on preparedness for an emergency. One essential aspect of survival during an emergency is safe drinking water. One easy way to prepare for an emergency is to keep several gallons of safe, clean bottled water on hand.

If you are in a situation where you cannot access safe drinking water or run out of your supply, here are some alternatives to help ensure your safety and good health. First, you must be able to decide if your water is safe for drinking or bathing. Even water used for cooking should be treated. If you are even slightly unsure about the purity of the water, treat it. Water that contains contaminants such as bacteria can cause serious illness, for example, typhoid or hepatitis.

Although these methods are not 100% perfect to eliminate all contaminants, most microbes will be removed. Treating your water with more than one method will increase the effectiveness. Salts and heavy metal contaminants will not be removed.

Place water in a large container to allow the particles suspended in the water, time to fall to the bottom of the container. Another method to remove such particles is to strain the water. Using a clean cloth or several paper towels, pour the water from one container to another allowing it to flow through the cloth or paper towels. This step will remove a large portion of the sediment.