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How to Use Chlorine & Bromine to Purify Water

In most emergency situations, your local officials and health departments will guide you on how to disinfect water. The two methods generally used consist of boiling water or treating it with chemicals such as chlorine bleach, iodine or bromine. Boil water when possible; it kills all microorganisms that can cause disease. Use chlorine as a second choice; it kills most but not all disease-causing organisms. If possible, use a standard household chlorine bleach of about 5.25 percent chlorine. Bromine works best to disinfect water for swimming and hot tubs rather than for drinking.

Things You'll Need

  • Bottle of plain, unscented chlorine bleach
  • Eye dropper
  • Containers with covers
  • Measuring spoons (optional)
  • Bromine tablets
  • Bromine test strips
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Instructions

  1. Chlorine Bleach

    • 1

      Choose a bottle of 5.25 percent or 6.0 percent liquid chlorine bleach such. Make certain the bleach has no fragrance, soap or phosphates.

    • 2

      Add two drops of regular liquid chlorine bleach to one qt. of contaminated water, or eight drops of chlorine to one gallon of contaminated water. Eight drops equals 1/8 tsp. For five gallons of water, add 40 drops of liquid bleach, or 1/2 tsp.

    • 3

      Stir the water well after adding the chlorine and let it sit for 30 minutes before using it. The normal taste has a chlorine aftertaste.

    • 4

      Store the purified water in clean containers with tight covers.

    Bromine

    • 5

      Insert bromine tablets into your hot tub dispenser according to your hot tub instructions, and fill the tub with water. Keep the dispenser filled, but remove it when using the hot tub.

    • 6

      Add bromine tablets to your swimming pool to purify the water according to your pool's instructions. Check the bromine levels three to four times each week to maintain them. In hot temperatures and humidity, you may need to add bromine daily.

    • 7

      Keep the bromine readings in your swimming pool between 2.5 and 4.0 parts per million (ppm), the ideal reading for purified water. Test the bromine by dipping a test strip about 18 inches into the water, holding the strip out of the water for the time specified on the container, then checking the color--using the container's chart--for the bromine reading.

    • 8

      Add more bromine if the level falls below 2.5 ppm. Use an automatic chemical feeder or a pool floater.

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