Everyone is sold out of hand sanitizer. No worries, as long as we have water, we can make our own. What if our supply is contaminated or the stores are shut down? We can solve both of these calamities and disinfect surfaces with a visit to your friendly neighborhood pool store.
Not All Heroes Wear Capes
Swimming pool companies are an essential service, there is no doubt about that. Neglecting water chemistry only leads to bigger and badder issues down the line. We know this. But did you know your pool pro has life-saving chemicals on their trucks? That’s right, folks, Calcium Hypochlorite (shock) can be used to sanitize drinking water.
The survival of the human race is in your hands! Ok, I may be exaggerating. Mass hysteria is contagious. Whether it is a storefront, a service company, a commercial center, backyard pools, or a means of keeping your family’s water supply safe, here are some step-by-step instructions for turning that yucky poison…into life-sustaining water or a kick-ass hand sanitizer.
Wash Your Hands!
Liquid bleach is a groovy disinfectant and can be used as a hand sanitizer, but not right out of the jug. Bleach can destroy a TON of organisms that cause disease by chemically disinfecting it. But bleach has about a 6 month to 1-year shelf life depending on its storage conditions. It starts to diminish in potency immediately after it is made.
Calcium hypochlorite, if stored properly, has a 3-5 year shelf life. Besides, It is relatively inexpensive, especially when you compare the strength. According to Clorox, the active ingredient in liquid bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is very sensitive to light and heat. They recommend storing bleach at room temperature, somewhere between 50°-70°F. Ikr, 50°F?
Under these conditions, it degrades 20% per year after 6 months. Storing at higher temperatures expedites this degradation. But to what degree?? See what I did there? Because of shipping and storing, it cannot be adequately controlled. Since there would be no way to measure the potency, it could fail to do the trick, putting your family at risk.
Oddly, the EPA’s Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water instructions recommends the exact same doses as the CDC’s instructions for Hand sanitizer, though the CDC advises against drinking it. Hopefully, this doesn’t come to that.
If You still want to use the old school route, follow as so
- Add 2 Teaspoons of non-concentrated regular bleach (not scented, and definitely not splashless) per one liter of water
- Stir well (do not shake)
- Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes before drinking.
- If the water is cloudy or you can see visible particles, you will want to filter the water first, and it is a good idea to double the dose.
You can use Granular Calcium Hypochlorite to disinfect water
- Add and dissolve one heaping teaspoon of high-test granular calcium hypochlorite ( apx ½ ounce ) for every 2 gallons of water., or 5 milliliters (apx 7 grams) per 7.5 liters of water.”
The Process
Ideally, you would want a 78% Cal-Hypo, but oftentimes, 68% or 73% is what’s readily available.
http://surviveourcollapse.com/how-to-get-in-touch/#wpcf7-f1143-p165-o1
Cal-Hypo-chondriacs
First, we will be making a stock chlorine solution. Then we will be using that solution to disinfect the water.
- One Teaspoon pool shock per gallon of water.
- You need PPE
- Goggles & gloves
- An empty chlorine bottle or bleach bottle, a funnel, a shot glass and measuring spoons
- Cal-Hypo 68% or greater
- It is advised that you only make one gallon, or whole gallons, to keep the math from making your eyes cross.
- Put on your protective gear and fill the bottle with water.
- Measure 1 level teaspoon and add to a bottle of water
- Put the cap on and swish the water around. If you smell it, it will smell just bleachy.
You have successfully made your bleach stock. Now, label this bad boy. This stuff has power ???? Now you’ll want to grab an all-purpose jug, Old juice jugs are ideal because of size and the screw-on cap. The smaller the container, the better. Shoot for a 64 oz jug.
EPA TIP:
- One part chlorine to 100 parts water. So in a 64 oz bottle, that would be .64 oz. To simplify, lets call that ⅔ of an ounce. https://www.backdoorsurvival.com/how-to-use-pool-shock-to-purify-water/
- A shot glass with measurements on the side is ideal. If you don’t have one, you (are a liar and ) may use Table spoons. 2 tablespoons equal 1 oz, so ¾ would be 1.5 tablespoons. That’s right…we can do the math.
BE SURE TO PUT THE SHOCK IN THE WATER AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
- Try not to splash the solution. We don’t want bleach spots on your fav jammies.
- Outdoors is recommended, If you follow this remedy, you will not die. You will not get diarrhea and you will not throw up. That is, from your water concoction. Using the shot glass for your Tennessee whiskey may yield these ailments.
- If the water tastes funny, pour it back and forth between containers. This actually works for all water. Not just home-purified.
Similar Article COVID-19 Pool Water Transmission & Pool Service Lockdown?
Storing the Shock
- Make sure you follow the SDS guidelines for storing shock. Keep in a cool, dry place, tightly sealed etc.
What if I want to Sanitize surfaces to prevent the coronavirus?
We are not chemists, and this serves as a guide only.
For the entire EPA Instruction and more detailed information on sanitizing drinking water, please visit www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water
ref: https://www.backdoorsurvival.com/how-to-use-pool-shock-to-purify-water/
These are extremely distressing times that we are in. The staff at Aquatic Facility Training & Consultants and Pool Operator Talk News does not want to see anyone get hurt. Please follow the instructions of your local legislators. If you are given a shelter-in-place order or are put on quarantine, Please Stay in your F**king House!
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Can I add a fragrance to the mix for hand and surface sanitizer?
As the compatibility of chemicals is unknown I would strongly advise against it. Besides, I Love the Smell of Chlorine in the morning. ?