I cannot boil my water. How do I disinfect my water to make it safe to drink?
Follow the steps below to properly disinfect water for drinking, cooking and/or brushing teeth.
If tap water is clear:
Use unscented bleach (bleach that does not have an added scent)
Add 1/8 teaspoon (8 drops or about 0.75 milliliters) of unscented household liquid bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) of water
Mix well and wait 30 minutes or more before drinking
Store disinfected water for up to 5 days in a clean container with a cover. Water used after this time needs to be disinfected once again
If tap water is cloudy:
Pour through a clean cloth or coffee filter
Use unscented bleach (bleach that does not have an added scent)
Add 1/4 teaspoon (16 drops or 1.5 milliliters) of unscented household liquid bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) of water
Mix well and wait 30 minutes or more before drinking
Store disinfected water for up to 5 days in a clean container with a cover. Water used after this time needs to be disinfected once again
How does boiling water make it safe to drink?
Disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites are destroyed by high, sustained heat. Boiling does not remove them from the water, but it does kill them, preventing them from causing illness.
I don’t like the taste of boiled water. What can I do?
To improve the taste of boiled water you can:
Pour cooled boiled water back and forth from one clean glass or container into another to add air to the water, or
Let the water stand for a few hours, or
Add a pinch of salt to each quart of boiled water
How long should water be boiled?
Follow the steps below for the safest and most effective method of water disinfection.
Fill a pot with water
Heat the water until bubbles break the surface
Once the water reaches a rolling boil, let it boil for 1 minute
Turn off the heat source and let the water cool
Pour water into a clean container with a cover for storage