| > | | | | contaminated water and know that if water |
| One thing you probably don't think about on a daily | | | | doesn’t look clean, it needs to be cleaned up |
| basis is the importance of emergency water | | | | before we drink it. |
| purification in times of disaster. Without water, our | | | | The human body is mostly made up of water, and |
| basic and most essential need, we would not be able | | | | that water needs to be replaced constantly. Thirst is |
| to survive. But are you aware of what it actually | | | | nature’s way of reminding us we need a drink |
| takes to purify water? Keep reading to discover this | | | | of water. However, if a disaster contaminates the |
| and more... | | | | drinking water, there needs to be some type of |
| During 2008, floods ravaged many parts of the | | | | emergency water purification plan in place to help get |
| United States. People in the devastated areas faced | | | | everyone through. Purification may take the form of |
| the loss of property, livelihood, and went without | | | | boiling the water, filtering it, adding chemicals, or a |
| power for weeks on end. Flooding can be particularly | | | | combination of the three. |
| hard on the supply of fresh water, and it may | | | | Many people think that adding common household |
| become difficult to find water to drink or cook with. | | | | bleach to contaminated water will purify it and make |
| There are four things that could be in unpurified | | | | it safe to drink and cook with. To some extent, this |
| water that anyone faced with a situation like this | | | | is true, because the chlorine in the bleach kills the |
| needs to think about: bacteria, viruses, parasites, and | | | | microorganisms that can make us sick. Unfortunately, |
| poisonous chemicals. | | | | though, it can also kill the good bacteria that our |
| You probably already realize that drinking water filled | | | | bodies need in order to function properly. For this |
| with these things could be hazardous to your health. | | | | reason, it is recommended that iodine be used to |
| We’ve all seen pictures of people in third | | | | chemically treat water. Iodine is a good element to |
| world countries drinking from polluted water sources | | | | use for emergency water purification processes. |
| and heard the gruesome details about the disease | | | | Adding 3 drops to a quart of clear water or 6 drops |
| epidemics that result. The people just don’t | | | | to a quart of cloudy water will kill the bacteria and |
| realize what they’re doing to themselves. Here | | | | other pathogens making the water safe for human |
| in the U.S., though, we should all be aware of what | | | | consumption. |
| we could be doing to our bodies if we ingest | | | | |