You can have as many guns, zombie hammers and machetes as you want. Without clean water, you’re pretty much screwed. You won’t always be able to lug bottled water around with you, so what do you do? Here are two of the simplest ways to purify water.
Boiling
By far the most reliable and easy way to purify water. Bring it to a rolling boil for a few minutes, and you should kill off any parasites or germs that are lurking. The higher you are above sea level, the longer you’ll need to boil it.
Tip: Cover the pot to conserve fuel and decrease boiling time.
Warning: Using wood or other fuels which give off smoke could attract any nearby zombies. Try to use gas where possible.
Bleach
That’s right, you can use ordinary household bleach to purify water. In fact you’ll find that after natural disasters, aid workers give out bleach to victims so they can purify their own water. Make sure the bleach you’re using has Chlorine, and is NOT scented/coloured etc.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Filter out any particles with paper towels, coffee filters, or at the very worst a piece of cloth. Either way, get out as much as you can.
2. Put your water into a clean container.
3. Use the following ratios (assuming Chlorine content of between 5%-6%):
– 4 drops per litre
– 16 drops (1/4 teaspoon) per gallon
4. Stir it well and let it stand for 30-40 minutes.
5.It should have a slight smell of bleach which is normal. If not, repeat step 3 and wait 15 minutes.
Drops to Teaspoons Conversion Table
8 drops = 1/8 teaspoon
16 drops = 1/4 teaspoon
32 drops = ½ teaspoon
64 drops = 1 teaspoon
192 drops = 1 Tablespoon
You can carry a relatively small bottle of bleach which will purify a LOT of water. Of course, if you’ve already got a water purifier in your zombie kit, you’re good to go 🙂