[at-l] Where germs live

[jbryankramer at msn.com (J Bryan Kramer)]

When you get chlorine up above 10 ppm it isn't that it is so toxic that you
won't want to drink the problem is that it tastes very bad. I don't have my
reference here but you have to get aquous chlorine level up very high before
you have a toxicity problem. EPA limits chlorine in drinking water because
they are concerned about the formation of Trihalomethanes and other products
which may have a long term toxicity. Generally water in city mains is kept
below 1 ppm.

Bryan

"Si vis pacem para bellum"

>
> You are right Bryan, but chlorine is a tricky chemical to handle.
>  And many
> people won't understand or believe that the percentages make that much
> difference.  After all look at the list below.  Many people would
> feel that
> the difference between 1% and 4% is not that much difference -- it is even
> less that the two percentages you were talking about.  But 1% calls for 40
> drops and 4% calls for 8 drops -- 5 times as much for 1%.
>
> What if somebody added 40 drops of 4% to a gallon of water?
> Chlorine is not
> always a good product to drink.  Like most toxic chemicals (or
> any chemical
> for that matter), a minor difference can have a disasterous effect.
>
> The stockmen in my case mixed it too strong.  My tiny batch was
> mixed right.
> I knew what to do and was use to doing it.  Granted, it was not for
> drinking.  But the threshold between "safe" and "poisonous to the body" is
> not always a great deal.  Some toxic, poisonous materials only require a
> drop or two more to be too much.  Hikers -- even smarts ones -- often make
> dumb mistakes.  Besides making it too strong, Hikers might mix it too weak
> and drink some "germs" that will make them sick.
>
> Sorry, I should have explained a bit more but I was trying to
> save time and
> space.  Also, when I mention germs, I mean all "small" life forms that can
> cause illness.
>
> William, The Turtle
>
> PS  Also notice that at 7 to 10 percent, you only need 4 drops.
> I wonder if
> 12.5 would only require 1 or 2 drops.  Imagine what 40 drops would do to
> you.
>
> FROM A SITE ON DIASTER PREPARDEDNESS by the Miss. State
> University Extension
> System
>
> http://msucares.com/disaster/faq3.html
>
> Boil water at a rolling boil for 10 minutes. A pinch of salt added to each
> quart of water improves taste. You can also purify water with two
> chemicals:
> chlorine bleach and iodine.
>
> Chlorine bleach (unscented) such as Clorox or Purex. Check the label to be
> sure that hypochlorite is the only active ingredient. Do not use
> bleach that
> contains soap.
> Use the following amounts:
>
> 1 % chlorine - Add 40 drops of bleach/ gallon of water
> 4 to 6% chlorine - Add 8 drops of bleach/gallon of water
> 7 to 10% chlorine - Add 4 drops of bleach /gallon of water
> Mix bleach into the water and let stand for 30 minutes. Water
> should have a
> slight chlorine odor. If it doesn't, repeat the process and let the water
> stand for an additional 15 minutes.
>
> Iodine. Iodine from your medicine chest can also be used to purify water.
> The iodine should be 2/United States Pharmocopeia(U.S.A.) Strength. Add 20
> drops/gallon of clear water, and 40 drops/gallon of cloudy water.
>
> Water purification tablets are available at drugstores. Follow
> manufacturer's directions.
>
>