How Safe Is Disinfected Water?

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(Tried this post on another BBoard, with no response. Thought I'd test the water here. Maybe I'm just stupid, and this is a non-issue, but some of us are ill (not me, thank God), or live with ill persons, and this *feels* like a potentially good question to ask for them:

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Following is a link to one of the best articles I've seen (this from the EPA) detailing methods to disinfect water.

http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/faq/emerg.html

I am considering a fall-back stopgap of disinfecting water (if we exhaust our bottled water supply) by using chlorine bleach (or measured OTC tablets) as the article describes. But I've been thinking about that, and have come up with some questions.

When we take antibiotics, one common side effect is diarrhea. Correct me if I am in error, but isn't this caused by the killing off or reduction of beneficial bacteria in our intestines? Chiefly the good e-coli? Now, if we are drinking water that has been disinfected by household bleach, or even iodine treatment, aren't we exposing our intestinal friends to the same effect as antibiotics? And, if we are drinking this water long-term, not merely as a camping or travel necessity, isn't there a serious risk of at least dehydration (from diarrhea) for persons with weakened or already compromised gastrointestinal systems? Wouldn't they, at least, be better off drinking boiled water? Anyone know?

-- Jim Young (jyoung@famvid.com), December 15, 1999

Answers

Chlorinated water is fine to use. If you're concerned about the effects of the chlorine, you can let it sit out overnight in an open pan to let the chlorine vent out of the water. (This is the same thing goldfish owners do with tap water to make it safe for the fish to live in, as the chlorine can kill the fish.) After letting it sit out overnight, the water may taste rather flat, so pour it back and forth between two pitchers a few times to aerate it.

-- Ann M. (hismckids@aol.com), December 15, 1999.

Jim the board where I think you would be most likely to receive an answer, or find something in the archives, would be the TB2K Preparation Forum:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a.tcl?topic=TimeBomb%202000%20%2 8Y2000%29%20Preparation%20Forum

Good luck.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), December 15, 1999.


Thank you all for your comments and assistance.

-- Jim Young (jyoung@famvid.com), December 15, 1999.

Jim...

Yes. Anti (against) biotics (bio=life) does mean against life.

Anti biotics kill the good bacteria as well as the bad, hence the terrible perpetual sickness of one kind or another takes place when people have been long time antibiotic abusers. Take note that you can say: "Well, I don't TAKE anti biotics". Question: Do you eat meat from the supermarket? If you do, you are eating anti biotics from the incredible array of "medicines" that feed lot people pour into cattle to avoid the diseases that come from being packed into lots with thousands of others, no place to run or exercise, standing in manure all day every day.

For your y2k preps, you can store tablets containing live bacteria for a while, but you should also have plenty of sauerkraut and other ways of making fermented products. Done correctly , this will help to re establish the good bacteria in the small and large intestine.

We have one product which stores for at least a year without losing most of it's effectiveness. It comes from Herbalife, which we have represented for nearly 18 years. Here is our website, which also shows other things that are important to store, such as Garlic , Multi Vit/Min/herbal, etc. And Vt C. We have arranged for our y2k prep people that we meet on the net and chat to buy at dealer prices. Some of them have gone ahead and signed up to get products for their families, etc. Delivery is only two days to the UPS truck, so plenty of time left. http://success.herbalife.com/bobbydiane/

I can find other things that you can make. You want to store plenty of organic apple cider vinegar. You can use Braggs brand or whatever and save some in the bottom so that you can make your own from fresh apples each year.

GOD bless you Jim.

-- Robert Cadle (bobby1776@earthlink.net), December 16, 1999.


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