3 ms·

Bleach isn't great against certain parasites[1]. Also, bleach breaks down over time[2]. It's possible this method might not suffer from either or both of those

Bleach isn't great against certain parasites[1]. Also, bleach breaks down over time[2]. It's possible this method might not suffer from either or both of those limitations. If so, that could be pretty useful. At least for certain purposes like emergency preparedness. --- [1] "Disinfectants can kill most harmful or disease-causing viruses and bacteria, but most disinfectants are not as effective as boiling for killing more resistant germs, such as the parasites Cryptosporidium and Giardia." (https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/making-water-safe.html https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/making-water-safe...) [2] "When properly stored away from heat and direct sunlight, Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach will last up to a year. After a year, the natural breakdown of the sodium hypochlorite bleach active into salt and water rapidly accelerates, and the active ingredient concentration becomes too low for EPA registered uses like sanitizing or disinfecting." (https://www.clorox.com/learn/how-to-tell-when-a-bleach-bottle-was-made/ https://www.clorox.com/learn/how-to-tell-when-a-bleach-bottl...)

exabrial 3y ago
You need to read the fine print on the website you linked as well as independent studies on beach. Start with the MSR field guide with their chlorinator and their whitepapers, which unlike the CDC, actually publishes their scientific results. The cover the use of bleach for other methods of producing free chlorine. Bleach works just fine in those those parasites, which are your main threats everywhere. I’ve followed the field guides on the and drank water from sources known to be contaminated, and despite the CDC, I’m alive, miraculously. The key is to reduce the biological load in the water first. That’s why I had additional information about filtering, which is not listed on the CDCs guide. The CDC is putting protocols out there for the lowest common denominator. If you add bleach to a gallon of muddy water of course it’s not going to do anything.
- amluto 3y ago
  Not sure which MSR guide you mean, but this one agrees with my recollection: https://www.msrgear.com/blog/water-treatment-101-cryptosporidium/ https://www.msrgear.com/blog/water-treatment-101-cryptospori... Cryptosporidium is relatively easy to remove by filtration, and not so easy to kill with chlorine. Even chlorine dioxide seems to kill cryptosporidium rather slowly: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/backpacking-water-filter/aquamira-water-treatment-drops https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/ba...

exabrial 3y ago

You need to read the fine print on the website you linked as well as independent studies on beach. Start with the MSR field guide with their chlorinator and their whitepapers, which unlike the CDC, actually publishes their scientific results. The cover the use of bleach for other methods of producing free chlorine. Bleach works just fine in those those parasites, which are your main threats everywhere. I’ve followed the field guides on the and drank water from sources known to be contaminated, and despite the CDC, I’m alive, miraculously. The key is to reduce the biological load in the water first. That’s why I had additional information about filtering, which is not listed on the CDCs guide. The CDC is putting protocols out there for the lowest common denominator. If you add bleach to a gallon of muddy water of course it’s not going to do anything.

amluto 3y ago
Not sure which MSR guide you mean, but this one agrees with my recollection: https://www.msrgear.com/blog/water-treatment-101-cryptosporidium/ https://www.msrgear.com/blog/water-treatment-101-cryptospori... Cryptosporidium is relatively easy to remove by filtration, and not so easy to kill with chlorine. Even chlorine dioxide seems to kill cryptosporidium rather slowly: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/backpacking-water-filter/aquamira-water-treatment-drops https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/ba...