An Alternative to Calcium Hypochlorite, by TLS - build your own generator (w/instructions) + library

The Survival Blog ^ | 11/21/15 | TLS

[Kartographer]

I have read articles and posts, as well as listened to preppers discuss the use of Calcium Hypochlorite (Cal-Hypo) as a water sanitizer in The-End-Of-The-World-As-We-Know-It (TEOTWAWKI) situations. I owned a swimming pool business for over 20 years, and during that time I used Cal-Hypo, Sodium Dichloro-S-Trianzinetrione (Dichlor), and Sodium Trichloro-S-Trianzinetrione (Trichlor) extensively in both commercial and residential swimming pools. I also installed and maintained many salt-chlorine generator systems. Every time I read about someone planning to use Cal-Hypo for long-term storage to provide water sanitation in TEOTWAWKI, I cringe. Cal-Hypo has many serious shortcomings. The disadvantages are:

Cal-Hypo degrades and loses potency over time. It has a limited shelf life. Cal-Hypo gives off corrosive chlorine gas as it deteriorates. Cal-Hypo is a powerful oxidizer that can cause fires or worse, if used or stored improperly

[Kartographer]

I don't have a problem with Calcium Hypochlorite myself it is what I store, but here is and alternative for you review.

Hat tip to Tilted Irish Kilt for the reference.

[Kartographer]

Preppers’ PING!!

[Jack Hydrazine]

It’s much healthier to use an ozone generator to disinfect water. You can find them at Amazon and other places on the internet.

[Kartographer]

That maybe true, but then you have to think about power. I prep in the keep it simple mode. Besides if you drink city water you have been more likely or not drinking Calcium Hypochlorit treated water for years.

Montgomery Scott: Aye, sir. The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Ozone generators use about the same amount of amps and volts as the hypochlorite ones.

[Jack Hydrazine]

I don’t drink city water because it tastes rather bad.

[Hostage]

Great info thanks. Will digest and come back with any questions.

Water is essential. Beans and bullets for trade, and water for life.

[Hostage]

Salt also but question is how much and how long in reference to daily needs?

[Roos_Girl]

At some point i had run across information regarding the civilian rations of salt during the Civil War. If you can find that it might be a good starting point for you.

[Hostage]

Thanks.

[TigersEye]

Is liquid bleach unacceptable? I’ve heard survival instructors say that 8 drops will disinfect a gallon of water. I figured I’d use a teaspoon, which is 76 drops, and be quite sure. That’s not enough to taste or cause any health concern.

[Kartographer]

Liquid bleach has a short shelf life also the manufactures have been playing with the formals lately and making it unsuitable and unsafe to use.

[Kartographer]

I just mix the Calcium Hypochlorite to make the base and then add the appropriate amount to the number of gallons I am treating. Then run the drinking cooking water though a gravity ceramic filter NO electricity at all.

[mumblypeg]

How do you store your cal-hypo?
I’ve been keeping mine in empty red plastic containers that originally held Folgers coffee.
Should I put it in glass jars instead? If so, what kind of lids?
Thanks in advance.

[TigersEye]

Thanks, I didn’t know that it lost strength. Have they tinkered with all liquid bleaches or is that just the scented ones? I don’t buy scented bleach.

[5thGenTexan]

I bought chlorine bleach tablets. Much longer shelf life than liquid chlorine bleach. You can get them on Amazon.

[PA Engineer]

How do you store your cal-hypo?

I use canning jars with plastic lids. I also wax seal the top to prevent out gassing. The wax seal also prevents air intrusion that will cause further oxidation. I store the jars in a dark location. So far I have had no problem with them.

I have a well with the classic rotten egg smell issues. We have a 120 gallon holding tank and a 40 liter chemical tank with an injector pump. We have been treating water for 21 years. I use pool shock at times when I run out of blue label bleach.

[Kartographer]

That’s how I store mine in old all plastic coffee ‘can’.

[Kartographer]

Use regular household bleach, which the only active ingredient is ‘sodium hypochlorite’.

At one time bleach contained a concentration of 5.25% - 6% sodium hypochlorite. but now days bleach may contain a concentration of approximately 8% sodium hypochlorite almost 1/3 third more so you you need to be careful when treating small amounts of water.

Here is a chart I found that shows the difference:

Water - Bleach Ratio For Purifying Drinking Water

(5-6% Sodium Hypochlorite)
numbers are ‘rounded’

1 Quart water, 2 drops bleach
1 Gallon water, 8 drops bleach
5 Gallons water, 1/2 teaspoon bleach
10 Gallons water, 1 teaspoon bleach
50 Gallons water, 5 teaspoons bleach

Water - Bleach Ratio For Purifying Drinking Water

(8.25% Sodium Hypochlorite)
numbers are ‘rounded’

1 Quart water, 1 drop bleach
1 Gallon water, 5 drops bleach
5 Gallons water, 3/8 teaspoon bleach (or three 1/8th teaspoons)
10 Gallons water, 3/4 teaspoon bleach
50 Gallons water, 3.5 teaspoons bleach

[TigersEye]

Thanks! I had no idea the formula was being fiddled with. Amazing how powerful bleach is. A gallon of bleach could purify a heck of a lot of water.

Let’s see; 1 gal = 58,369.65 drops divided by 8 = 7,296

That would hydrate me for a while.