Water & Clorox - Pacific Crest Trail

imported
#1

I might need to get my head checked because I think I’m going to use bleach as my primary water purifier this coming summer. Last summer, hiking at home around Lake Superior, I got into the habit of using bleach on my three day trips because it was quick and cheap. Since last May, I’ve used bleach on almost 10 trips and I haven’t died nor have I turned yellow nor have my intestines burned through.

I use two drops per liter, sometimes three, depending on the water source. If I encounter a “bad source” with things floating in the water, I simply prefilter with a bandana. Bleach seems ideal for a long distance hike because I can “borrow” a tea spoon of bleach from any laundromat or hotel janitor. On the AT I used aqua mira.

But, it seems too good to be true, doesn’t it? A practically free and easy-to-find-at-any-trail-town water purifier.

I bring this issue to table because, as you guessed, it is bleach and, well, doesn’t intuitively seem healthy. HOWEVER. I have asked a physician if I were to drink bleached water, with a ratio of 2 drops for each liter, for over 120 days, the length of thru hike, and her response was that there would be no adverse health effects. Also, the Clorox website says, bleach can be used for emergency water purification and that one should let the water sit for 30 minutes.

I have never encountered any discussion on this matter on trailforums or in any of the literature (handbooks, etc.). I wonder what you know about the health effects of using bleach for water purification. I’d love to hear what people know.

Merry Christmas!!! Nightfever

Nightfever

#2

I have seen the effects of what improperly treated water can do to the body, even a mild case can halt a thru-hike. Although much of the bacteria may be killed with a few drops of bleach (how much I do not know), the amount of pollutants from industries is another issue. Microfiltering is one of the best know methods other than distilling. Also, if you order a mixed-drink in Mexico, don’t eat the ice.

jj

#3

I used it for my thru hike. There are no real health risk using it (Although some people will try and tell you different…I think they think you are using a gallon of per liter) Anyway 2 drops per liter and wait a half and hour is correct. The plus is weight for sure. The time is not really a factor because once you take into account taking out your filter and setting it up and pumping water…and putting it back you are talking 10 to 15 minutes. The biggest draw back is if you don’t have moving water that or has a waterfall of some kind or is deep enough to dip you bladder in you have a hard time getting water. (only happened a couple of times and I had a small plastic cup that I would use…of course I would have to walk back up to my backpack to get the cup)
Safe? Yes
Light? Yes
Water that taste like Bleach? No
Do I like water filters? Yes
But I use bleach rather than a filter because of wieght, its safe, it doesn’t break, its cheap, and water taste…well like water.

SweetAss 03

#4

Both the Navy and the Coast Guard routinely use bleach for purifying potable water in holding tanks of ships. I would think it perfectly fine and there should be no adverse effects so long as the proportion is right. BTW, I thru hiked the SHT this past summer and live in Trego, Wi. The hike was most enjoyable.

Nimblefoot

#5

I have windered why folks don’t use hydrogen peroxide. in addition to purifying the water the extra oxygen is supposed to give you more energy?

Ed Wright

#6

Chlorine Dioxide which is Aqua Mira’s effective ingredient is the safest method to disinfect water. It’s what cities use to kill all the bugs in the water that runs into the tap at your house. Having said that, most of the rest of the third world uses chlorine. Incidentally, the Sweetwater purifier solution is just double-strength liquid bleach and it is EPA approved, so…


The problem with liquid bleach is it unstable and loses it’s effectiveness fairly quickly; the strong smell every time you open the bottle is the hypochlorite evaporating out of the solution. That isn’t a problem when youre doing your whites in the washer and pouring in a cupful but it sure could be on the trail when it’s just a drop at a time. If you do decide to use bleach, use it it the powdered form, calcium hypochlorite. A teaspoonful makes two gallons of Clorox-strength bleach. It is available at any pool-supply store as POOL SHOCK although you have to read the label and make sure it says Calcium Hypochlorite as they do make Pool Shocks from different chemicals. Costs 8 bucks for a 2lb bag, enough to disinfect an entire poolful of water


A couple of things about calcium hypochlorite: it is extremely corrosive, even more so than liquid bleach because it is so highly concentrated. A couple of grains dropped accidentally on your clothing will burn a hole in them after a day or so. Also, it absorbs moisture out of the air rapidly and begins to clump up. It still remains effective but is very hard to portion out when it gets damp. The best procedure is to use two airtight containers, one the size of a small pill bottle that holds 2 teaspoons and a smaller one. ( I use a nitroglycerin pill holder) Keep the larger bottle tightly sealed and use it to replenish the smaller one. The smallest pinch of calcium hypochlorite is enough for a liter of water. The perfect measuring spoon is the tiny little plastic one that comes with Emergen-C electrolyte, available at health food stores, one spoon per liter.

two ounces of calcium hypochlorite is more than enough to do the whole trail in this fashion, although you’ll still have to find a way to periodically replace the stuff in the big bottle due to clumping. (maildrop)


You can refer to the EPA’s website at this page for the effective use of liquid bleach and calcium hypochlorite to disinfect water:


http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/emerg.html

swift

swift

#7

Two problems with using bleach. As Swift mentioned, it quickly looses it’s effectiveness once the bottle is opened. The real problem with bleach is it does not kill either Giardia or Crypto. It’s been proven that even at the high concentrations used at public pools, that Giardia and crypto survive. So using bleach to control the two biggest water concerns that hikers have is not very effective. You would be much better off using Aqua Mira which is a totally different chemical compound than bleach.

Moose

#8

Do you know why household bleach cannot kill Giardia or Crypto when a solution like Sweetwater claims to be able to do so? Is it because they are viruses?

Nightfever

#9

Do you know why household bleach cannot kill Giardia or Crypto when a solution like Sweetwater claims to be able to do so? Is it because they are viruses?

Nightfever

#10

Night, The Sweetwater stuff and household bleach are identical in chemical composition, both have sodium hypochlorite as the active ingredient. The only difference is in concentration. I think that chlorox is 2% and Sweetwater is 5% solution. As far as the claims go you should contact the EPA directly since they are the ones who certify chemical and methods of water purification. I hear all kinds of things about all kinds of ways to make water safe and it gets to the point where it is hard to tell what is hype, truth, and urban legend. The EPA has the last word on what a manufacturer can claim, whether it is chemical or mechanical filtration and purification,
Katahdyn, First Need, or MSR. I think they will be your definitive authority on what bleach can and cannot do as well.

swift

swift

#11

Both Giardia and Crypto are parasites that have a “hard shell” unlike other types of water contamination. Here’s a link to a CDC website that talks more about crypto. I extracted some info for you.
http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001201-d001300/d001269/d001269.pdf
Chlorination is widely used to disinfect water
because it destroys bacteria within a reasonable
contact time and provides long term protection.
Chlorine, readily available at a low cost, is easy to
handle and is also effective in controlling algae.
Chlorine also has its limitations. Its solutions are
only moderately stable, and organic matter as well
as iron and manganese can interfere with the
action of chlorine. Low levels of chlorine
normally used to disinfect water are not an
effective treatment for the parasite Giardia. A
relatively high chlorine level must be maintained
for at least 30 minutes to kill Giardia. High
chlorine concentrations can have objectionable
tastes and odors, and even low chlorine
concentrations react with some organic
compounds to produce strong, unpleasant tastes
and odors.

Moose

#12

How is it that everyone is so well informed on Trailforums?

Nightfever

#13

County and I used bleach on our thru-hike of the AT, without any ill effects. According to the “hype, truth, and urban legend” I’ve heard, nothing is proven to kill giardia, save bringing water to a boil. Who knows.

Marzipan

#14

To a search on bleach(or chlorine) and you’ll find some more information. Some posts/threads are accompanied with specific reference materials (including Wilderness First Aid manuals). That’s how we’re all so informed;)

Kineo Kid