Making Drinkable Water

Weather or construction related damage to water pipes often means that the water in your home becomes dangerous to drink. If there is a storm coming, the safest course of action is to fill bathtubs and pitchers of water just in case there is an issue. However, sometimes there is no warning and, thus, no time to conserve water before it becomes non-potable. If this is the case, there are a few ways to make your water safe to drink.

Boil Water

A common way to kill bacteria in water is by boiling it. Fill a large stock pot with water and bring it to rolling boil for five minutes. Unless you need the water to bathe while waiting for water heater repair Pleasanton CA, allow it to cool before drinking. If there seems to be sediment in the water, filter it through a clean dishcloth, paper towel or coffee filter. Make sure to store it in a sanitized container.

Use Disinfectant

Although it seems distasteful, water can be made fit to drink with household unscented bleach. Use 8 drops of bleach per gallon of water. If you need to sanitize dishes, soak cleaned items in a sink full of water plus 1 tablespoon of bleach for 2 minutes. Be careful about keeping bleach away from small children who may mistake it as safe to drink if they see you using it to create drinkable water.

Find Alternate Sources

If boiling is not an option, and you have no bleach, don’t panic. There are a few unconventional ways to get a little water while waiting for repairs. Check your canned goods for fruit and drink the liquid. Any ice cubes that were made before the water notice went into effect are still usable. As a last resort, you can drink clear water from your toilet tank (but not the bowl) if there is no chemical disinfectant present such as drop-in deodorizers.

Waiting for water lines to be repaired may seem endless. However, with a little planning and good sense, you can endure it.