The rule is that all water is dirty and unsafe to drink. It doesn't matter if you get water from a fast moving, crystal clear stream or a lake filled with algae. All of the water is dirty and filled with nasty viruses, protozoa, bacteria and in some cases, chemical …show more content…
The heat will kill the bacteria, viruses and protozoa that may be lurking in the water, completely invisible to the naked eye. Boiling water will not kill or neutralize chemical contaminants. The water doesn't have to boil 10 minutes. As soon as you see the bubbles on the surface, the water has become hot enough to kill the various contaminants. Boiling for 10 minutes is a waste of water. Dead is dead and boiling the water longer does not kill the harmful bacteria and what not any better.
Solar Purification
If you simply cannot boil the water, putting the water in a water bottle and lying it in the direct sun for about 6 hours will suffice. If it is a cloudy day, you will need to leave the water out for at least 2 days. Only use clear, plastic bottles preferably with the number 1 in the center of the recycling symbol. You may want to run the water through a filter if it is particularly cloudy.
Purification Tablets
This is a quick and easy way to purify water on the go. The tablets are typically made with chlorine. The chlorine is effective at killing off bacteria, viruses and protozoa in the water. They require about 30 minutes to