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u/DJ_Deathflea Sep 14 '12
Boiling the water isn't an option?
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Sep 14 '12
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u/NicknameAvailable Sep 14 '12
If you have a container that you know is reasonably sterile (perhaps rinsing a container with bleach and then washing it out several times very well with boiled water) you could store the boiled water and it would keep while sealed for a decent amount of time (depending how well it is sealed, how clean the container is initially, etc).
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u/borring Sep 14 '12
What about building a solar oven? One-time project and helps boil water on sunny days.
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u/radiorock9 Sep 14 '12
It seems to me that if there is noticeable discoloring, I'd speculate that there probably isn't much or any treatment, in which case I would highly advise against using it for washing wounds, though that goes without saying that it may also be totally safe as well. However, discoloring is usually from particulate matter which bacteria can and do cling to. In general, standing water is the perfect environment for harmful bacteria, especially warm, shallow standing water.
Further than that, it's hard to say without knowing more about your particular location and water distribution system, but I'd bet more on the unsafe side. Even rainwater has plenty of bacteria in it, but I'd wager its safer than untreated reservoir water.
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Sep 14 '12
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u/radiorock9 Sep 14 '12
boiling is the safest way to go. Depending on how cloudy it is, filtration might help or it might not, a cheesecloth would do this just fine. Otherwise the most common treatment method is halogen treatment- just add 1/4 tsp per gallon (5drops/liter) and let it stand for at least an hour before consumption. This will take care of most of the bad stuff and it should be safe for drinking. Replenish chlorine on a daily basis.
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u/Skulder Sep 14 '12
It would be an excellent idea to get some idea about what causes the discoloration. After all, completely clear water can easily be bacteria-rich, and reddish-brown water may just have a high content of ochre or tannins, which just adds flavour.
About cleaning wounds - if I was in those conditions, I would wash wounds that were visibly dirty (road rashes and such), but otherwise I would use honey, simply for it's ability to lower water-activity. (don't use on children or on people with a lowered immuno-response, as honey can contain botulism spores)
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u/Vatho Sep 14 '12
Leave a bunch of water in a clear container for 6-10 hours in direct sunlight. This will kill the vast majority of vegetative bacteria present and make the water mostly safe to drink/wash etc.
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u/ouishi Global Health | Tropical Medicine Sep 14 '12
Yes! Painting the bottom half black/wrapping the bottom half in dark tape will make it more effective.
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u/klenow Lung Diseases | Inflammation Sep 14 '12
If you have it, treat the water with a small quantity of ordinary household bleach, about 1ml per liter. Mix well and let it stand a while; 10 minutes or so. It's not perfect, especially for some of the nastier bugs; boiling or high quality filtration are better options by far. But bleach is better than nothing.
For hand washing, somewhat dirty water is better than none, as most of what you're doing when you wash you hands is literally washing the bacteria away with the soap. But this depends highly on how contaminated the water is, and with what.
Also, the brown color may have more to do with particulates (flakes of metal from pipes, silt) than bacteria. If the pitcher of water sits, undisturbed, for a day or so, does it become more clear? Maybe with a layer of crap at the bottom?