Clean water

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 262, 8 November 1988, Page 3

Clean water

Man can live without clothes, without shelter, and even for some time without food. Without water however, man soon perishes.

In New Zealand we are blessed with a bountiful supply of water. In our homes water is available at the turn of the tap, and outdoors, there is a n abundance of lakes, rivers and streams. In an emergency, however the public water supply may be disrupted for a long period of time and the availability of water may be vital to your survival. With careful rationing 30 litres (7 gals) for drinking and food preparation can last a person for two weeks. Nearly all houses have up to 200 litres (40 gals) in the hot water cylinder and may also have a similar amount in the supply tank in the roof space. This should be safe to use without treatment. Water from all other sources intended for drinking, washing fruit and vegetables to be eaten raw and for brushing teeth must be trcated to make it safe. If you have any doubts that the water source is not completely safe, treat it yourself before drinking. To make water safe: • Strain water through several layers of clean cloth into a clcan container, • boil vigorously for at least three minutes, and then • store the water in the container in which it was boiled. Water treated in this way is safe to drink immediately though it may taste flat. Taste will improve if left standing for several hours. Some General Points: • Where no public water supply exists, homes may have a private water supply. This may be a spring, a well, or rain water collected from the roof. Unless your roof is painted in a non-toxic paint, the first rainwater after painting o r cleaning should be discarded. Springs and wells fed from decp underground are safer than surface water. Shallow wells can be unsatisfactory, especially if septic tanks are used for sewage disposal nearby. • Clcan drinking water can be obtained

by mixing ten drops of household bleach with four and a half litres of water and leaving for three minutes. • Rivers, streams and creeks. Take water from upstream o f towns, factories, houses and other possible sources of contamination. Water should be taken from well beneath t h e surface where the flow is fast moving. • Lakes and surface water. Water is likcly to be contaminated if there are septic tanks in the area. Septic tanks are commonly found in rural scttlements and small communitics, and sometimes in popular seasonal holiday resorts. • Snow and ice. Often not as pure as they look, particularly in popular areas and near resorts. Mclt and treat bcfore drinking.