How to clean polluted water after a storm
(Baonghean.vn) - After a storm, lack of clean water is a common situation. To have safe water for immediate use, people should choose to treat water from dug wells or drilled wells.
» Nghe An: Nearly 110,000 households lack water for daily use after the storm
Contaminated water - a potential danger after the storm
After each storm, domestic water sources are mostly seriously polluted by garbage, feces, animal carcasses, etc. that flow into wells and regular water tanks with floodwater.
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| Many disease-causing bacteria exist in contaminated water. |
In the composition of contaminated water tanks in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams... we can find real killers such as Naegleria fowleri - also known as brain-eating amoeba, Anabaena cyanobacteria that specializes in producing neurotoxins that cause respiratory arrest.
Besides, E.coli bacteria in animal feces and Salmonella in polluted water must be mentioned, they cause many intestinal and digestive diseases such as typhoid, diarrhea...
Not to mention the chemicals, heavy metals, and pesticides from the soil that also mix with the water source. The most dangerous is probably arsenic - a colorless, odorless, tasteless substance that contaminates water but can cause death if ingested in an amount the size of a corn kernel. So how do we remove toxic substances from contaminated water sources?
How to filter clean water from polluted water after a storm
In the face of the situation that many households in the province do not have clean water to use after the storm, to have safe water for immediate use, people should choose dug well water or drilled well water for treatment. In case there is no underground water source, it is necessary to use water from ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, and canals. It is necessary to choose the places with the least possibility of pollution, trying to get water as far from shore as possible for treatment.
1. Purify with alum
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| Using alum to filter water is a traditional method that is highly effective. Photo: Internet |
Use a piece of alum about half the size of a finger joint and dissolve it in a ladle of water. After the alum dissolves, pour the ladle of water into a bucket or basin, stir well, wait about 30 minutes after the residue has settled to the bottom, then decant the clear water. Water cleaned with alum is only used for bathing, it needs to be boiled or sterilized if used for drinking.
2. Boil
Boiling water is the most effective way to kill harmful bacteria. However, the downside of this method is that it cannot remove toxic minerals or heavy metals that do not evaporate if mixed in the water.
You can use a clean cotton cloth or gauze to filter out the residue after boiling the water.
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| Boil water for about 5 minutes, the heat will kill more bacteria. Photo: Internet |
3. Disinfection with water purification tablets and water treatment chemicals
Cloramin B or Cloramin T tablets:Dissolve 1 Cloramin B or Cloramin T tablet in a bucket of water, then pour it into the water tank and stir well. The water must have a chlorine smell to be effective. Wait about 30 minutes before using. One 0.25g Cloramin B tablet can clean about 25 liters of water. However, it should be noted that the water used for disinfection should not be taken directly from rivers, streams, ponds or lakes, but must be made clear.
Aquatabs Tablets:Put 1 Aquatabs 50mg tablet in a basin containing about 15 liters of water, cover it, leave it for about 30 minutes and it can be used. This is also a disinfectant in tablet form. Water disinfected with Aquatabs can be used for drinking directly, but should be boiled before drinking.
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| You should choose well water or drilled well water for treatment. Photo: Internet |
Chlorine and iodine:The two commonly used chemicals are chlorine (also known as bleach) and iodine, which have antibacterial properties. Chlorine and iodine are only used to disinfect well water after it has been clarified. For each liter of water, add about 10 drops of chlorine. You can double the amount if the water is cloudy or colored. For iodine, add 5 drops of 2% iodine to about 1.5 liters of water.
The disinfectant must be stirred thoroughly, then left for 30 minutes. If there is no chlorine smell, more chemicals must be added. After being clarified and disinfected, the water must still be boiled before drinking.
It is necessary to check whether the water source after the flood is polluted and can be used to have measures to treat the water to ensure safety.
Note: Do not disinfect at the same time as using alum because alum will absorb chlorine, making chlorine ineffective. When disinfecting, water must have a chlorine smell to meet the requirements. In case of overdose of water purification tablets or disinfectant chemicals, wait for the water to lose its strong chlorine smell before using. When in contact with disinfectants, wear rubber gloves, masks, etc. Water purification and disinfection measures help people have a clean source of drinking water on site during the rainy season, ensuring health and preventing diseases. In addition, other common hygiene measures need to be taken such as thoroughly cooking food and drinking water, not drinking raw water or unsanitary ice, washing hands with soap before eating and drinking, after using the toilet, collecting garbage or working, etc. At the same time, people also need to use clean water sparingly to limit water shortages./. |
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