June 16, 2006

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COLLEGE STATION – Experts are predicting another active hurricane season in 2006, and Texans learned after Hurricane Rita that a dependable water supply may not be available.

Water is important to human survival, said Texas Cooperative Extension water resources specialist Dr. Monty Dozier.

Humans should drink at least 2 quarts of water each day, he said. However, supplies may be cut off because water cannot be pumped into homes. Still, Dozier wrote in Disinfecting Water after a Disaster, water can be made safe through disinfection.

"After a disaster, listen to your local authorities," he said. "They will tell you if your tap water is safe to drink or use for cooking and bathing."

If the water is not safe, use bottled water or boil or use bleach to disinfect water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and bathing.

Boiling water, Dozier said, is the best way to kill bacteria that could make you or your family sick. Use clean containers to boil water, and follow these steps: 1. Strain the water through a clean cloth, coffee filter or paper towel into a container to remove any sediment or floating matter. 2. Boil the water vigorously for at least 1 minute. 3. Allow the water to cool before use.

"To improve the taste, you may add a pinch of salt to each quart of boiled water, or you can pour the water back and forth from one clean container to another," he said. If boiling the water is not possible, it can be disinfected, he said.

To disinfect water, strain it as described in step 1 and add unscented household bleach or iodine.

The amount of added bleach will vary according to the available chlorine. Amounts are available on the label. For instance, for common household bleach with 4 percent to 6 percent chlorine, add eight drops per gallon.

If the water is cloudy, then 16 drops should be added per gallon.

After adding the bleach to the water, the container should be stirred or shaken vigorously, Dozier said. Let the water stand for 30 minutes. The water should be safe to use if a slight chlorine odor remains. If not, add the same amount of chlorine again and let it stand for 15 more minutes, he said.

Tincture of iodine can be used at five drops of iodine per quart of water. Ten drops should be used if the water is cloudy. Let the water stand for 30 minutes, Dozier said.

If water is hard to find, other sources may be tapped, he said. For instance, water sources around the home include water heaters, water beds, toilet tanks (not bowls) and water pipes.

"If it is necessary to select an emergency water source, remember that underground water, such as that obtained from wells or springs, is less likely than water from surface sources to contain contamination that would be harmful to your health," he said.

However, if underground water is not available, surface water from a creek, lake or pond (in that order) may be used after disinfection, he said.

"However, under emergency or disaster conditions, particularly during floods, these sources may become dangerous to use," he said. "Unless you are assured otherwise by test results (which can be provided by a laboratory), no water should be presumed safe, and all water should be disinfected during such emergencies."

Local county health departments can provide information about how well-water can be tested.

Water that has a dark color or an odor, or that contains floating materials, should not be used.

Disinfected water may be stored in clean, sanitary glass or plastic containers, he said.

Further information about disinfecting water after a disaster is available free from publication ER-002 at the Extension Bookstore, http://tcebookstore.org/ . Click on the link, "Disasters and Emergencies."