Use calcium hypochlorite tablets for water purification?
Don’t try this at home based on what I say! I am just starting to learn things. I understand that whatever I do is at my own risk, and I don’t intend to do anything for a long time. I don’t pretend that I know a lot just because I am posting a long question with a few links in it.
“The internet” (https://www.backdoorsurvival.com/a-preppers-guide-to-bleach/) has told me that I may be able to use calcium hypochlorite powder for water purification. (If my math is right, then that article is telling me to do that at a ratio of about 0.8*10^(-5) to 1 by volume.)
So I have 5 questions:
1. Is this correct?
2. If yes to #1, what safety precautions should I take (other than being careful about storage and using proper protection and caution when mixing)? Are there some brands that are likely to be better than others?
3. If yes to #1, would it make sense to use crushed calcium hypochlorite tablets instead? (first one I found here: https://www.usabluebook.com/p-354074-usabluebook-calcium-hypochlorite-chlorination-tablets-45-lb-pail.aspx)
4. If yes to #1, what shelf life can I expect for properly-stored calcium hypochlorite powder, and what steps can I take to maximize shelf life?
5. If yes to #3, what shelf life can I expect for properly-stored calcium hypochlorite tablets, and what steps can I take to maximize shelf life?
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6 Answers
There are a lot of water purification tablets available.
Just because a prepper said it is okay to use, why not rely instead on something proven effective? You can get Aquatabs at REI and a pack will last for years unopened.
I’m sorry, but I feel uncomfortable giving you advice on this subject because I don’t know enough to give you good advice!!!
You might want to watch this as it’s a prepper from Alaska talking about the dangers of pool shock. I did notice that the shock she was holding was already in powder form & she discusses how to “safely” store it, how long it will last, & what NOT to do.
In full transparency, I don’t know her nor how reliable her info even is, but I believe in looking at ALL sides of the coin!!! Maybe you’ll run into another video that tells you everything that you need to know!!!
I hope somebody more knowledgeable than me comes along & answers everything you need to know.
@zenvelo That’s a good point, but you actually went pretty easy on me.
Your criticism actually underestimates how reckless it would be for me to use pool shock tablets for water purification (given what I know currently).
A prepper actually didn’t tell me that I can use the tablets, they only used the powder. So currently, this method is based on what I pulled out of my a** based on what one prepper said from an article that was linked to from another article that I found on google (yikes).
Having said that, that’s why I’m doing background research. It would be nice to be able to use the shock tablets because they are much cheaper than the tablets sold for camping, but as you say it may not be possible.
Do more research on the questions you asked, then proceed however you think best.
Your criticism actually underestimates how reckless it would be for me to use pool shock tablets for water purification (given what I know currently).
Kind of sounds like you want a reaction from us.
@smudges Do more research on the questions you asked, then proceed however you think best. That’s why I’m here! I appreciate the vote of confidence though. It sounds like you might know more; care to share?
You can also see that I did a little more research based on my self-replies.
Kind of sounds like you want a reaction from us. I more just want to demonstrate that I’m not acting overly reckless, impressionable, or unreflective. But reactions are nice. :)
In other news, a reddit poster has made a good case for using dichloroisocyanurate instead (and warned about some of the issues with calcium hypochlorite): https://www.reddit.com/r/preppers/comments/terej1/use_calcium_hypochlorite_tablets_for_water/i0uby4t/?context=3
However, I think both are somewhat hazardous to store if you’re not careful….
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