Make Creek or Rain Water Safe to Drink With No Power
Clearest water you can find, then make it safe. Here are three ways that need no electricity — slowest and surest first.
1. Boil it (surest)
Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute — 3 minutes above ~6,500 ft (2,000 m). A real rolling boil is the goal.
2. No heat: plain bleach
Use regular unscented household bleach: 8 drops (about 1/8 tsp) per gallon of clear water. Stir, wait 30 minutes. It should smell faintly of chlorine — if not, repeat once.
3. Cloudy water first
Let it settle or filter through a clean cloth before you treat it — treatment works on clear water.
4. Sun (SODIS), a fallback
Fill a clear PET bottle, lay it in full sun 6 hours (2 days if overcast). Not as sure as boiling — use only if you must.
Common questions
How much bleach per gallon of water?
About 8 drops (1/8 teaspoon) of plain, unscented household bleach per gallon of clear water. Stir and wait 30 minutes; a faint chlorine smell means it worked.
How long do you boil water to make it safe?
One minute at a rolling boil at most elevations; three minutes above about 6,500 feet (2,000 m).
Can you drink rainwater?
Rain is usually cleaner than surface water, but treat it the same way if you're unsure of how it was collected.
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General preparedness information, not professional advice. For medical, structural, or dangerous situations, get real help when you can.