How to Treat Water Parasites

If you are a victim of an earthquake, flood or other disaster that has disrupted your water supply, it is important to sterilize your water before consumption. This is especially important if you plan on collecting water directly from a lake, shallow well or stream. Water from these areas are prone to microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and protozoan species. These microorganisms can cause severe diarrhea and other illnesses. It is possible to sterilize your drinking water by applying a few methods.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 gallon untreated water
• Antibacterial soap
• Cooking pot or saucepan with lid
• Stove
• Container (made of either glass or food-grade plastic)
• Household chlorine bleach
• Medicine dropper

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Instructions

• 1

  Boil ½ gallon of collected, untreated water in a clean, large pot or saucepan for about 10 minutes. Boiling will kill all microorganisms present including Cryptosporidium, Giardia and any other waterborne pathogens. Cover the pot and set aside to cool for about an hour.

• 2

  Transfer the boiled water into a clean glass or food-grade plastic container. Food-grade plastic containers include juice packets, soda bottles and water bottles. Clean the containers thoroughly using antibacterial soap and water before using them. Avoid using plastic milk bottles because it is hard to remove milk fat and protein residues, which can allow microorganisms to grow during storage.

• 3

  Add bleach to the water if you plan on storing it for future use. Put eight drops of household liquid chlorine bleach into the water using a clean medicine dropper. Do not use bleach that has added perfumes or soaps to the water. Cap the container and shake vigorously for several minutes to mix the solution. Set aside for about 30 to 60 minutes.

• 4

  Open the container after one hour and smell it. It should smell like bleach. Repeat step 3 if it doesn't smell like bleach. The chlorine smell will go away in a few days.

• 5

  Cap the containers tightly and place a label on them with the date you added the bleach. Bleach treated water will last about six months. Replace the water after six months.