Can household value thin bleach treat water

[mushypea1001]

Hi

I read somewhere that bleach can be used to treat water , I checked the ingredients list on the back of my tesco value bleach and it was the same as being recommended. If so it means for50p i have the capability to treat a 1000+ litres of water.
I can't find the link on the internet again and all the others are conflicting in the doseage.
If this is legit it would mean that the water purifying tablets being sold are over priced shite????
Anyone shed some light on this.
(

[latrocinium]

I don't have any details for you but I seem to remember reading that somewhere too.

[pseudonym]

Bleach loses strength in its container over time, Check the “sell by date” and use bleach that is less than three months old.


http://www.agwt.org/content/shock-chlor ... -procedure

http://chemistry.about.com/b/2012/04/03 ... f-life.htm



I rotate mine out by having a "clean the council wheelie bins day" just call me Mr Fun

[jansman]

Hi

I read somewhere that bleach can be used to treat water , I checked the ingredients list on the back of my tesco value bleach and it was the same as being recommended. If so it means for50p i have the capability to treat a 1000+ litres of water.
I can't find the link on the internet again and all the others are conflicting in the doseage.
If this is legit it would mean that the water purifying tablets being sold are over priced shite????
Anyone shed some light on this.
(

The Tesco value bleach,you will see is LESS than5% sodium hypochlorite. It is why it is cheap. I suspect it is about 2%.
The standard mantra is 4 drops per litre for clear filtered water. If it is 5% concentration. Tesco bleach I would use 8 drops. It has to smell JUST of chlorine. I actually store this bleach and some 5% from work. I have filtered rainwater and disinfected using both bleaches. And drank it. No problem.
In fact I have drunk rainwater from the barrel tap as it is and not died!
My(low tech )system is this: let a bucket of water stand for a few hours to settle. Then tip most of it through a cloth. Then disinfect and leave for an hour. Drink.
In abscence of bleach, I would do all of the above, then boil.

[nickdutch]

I still will feel more comfortable using UV-C light to kill germs in water to drink rather then to use bleach, just for safety's sake

[jansman]

Oh, I forgot to mention that bleach , after a year generally is only half as potent as when fresh. I know this as I am COSSH. Qualified. No point using a chemical if it don't work.

[jansman]

I still will feel more comfortable using UV-C light to kill germs in water to drink rather then to use bleach, just for safety's sake

It is a viable system Nick. Only problem is Northern Hemisphere Winters with (very) low light conditions.

[MrPickles]

Maybe low light but the uv concentrate is really high I Know this thanks to my uv shading glasses.

[jansman]

Interesting. Nick has raised the subject of the SODIS system. I am going to have to look into it I think.

[nickdutch]

I still will feel more comfortable using UV-C light to kill germs in water to drink rather then to use bleach, just for safety's sake

It is a viable system Nick. Only problem is Northern Hemisphere Winters with (very) low light conditions.

A UV - C wand emits a variey of Uv light that is higher in frequency than anything tha gets through our atmosphere. I have two. one for surface and food disinfection and one for smaller items and to kill all organics n a glass of water. They are powered by 4 batteries, being 6 Volt. So long as you have a power source, you can have germ free surfaces and foods and water that has the germs in it killed to the point of making it safer to drink.

Google for UV-C Wands Water Purification and you will be amazed with what you see.