State of Emergency in Ohio: They can’t even boil their Water

Surviving Argentina ^ | 8/4/14 | Ferfal

[Kartographer]

The situation is very bad. It seems that water in the area is contaminated due to algae in the area, mostly in Lake Erie, which releases a toxin called microcystin when it decays. The algae grows best in warm, shallow waters like those of Lake Erie. It can’t be boiled, boiling only concentrates the toxin. What about filters? Even filters such as Berkey filters have their limitations. They are capable of filtering pathogens and microorganisms, but getting rid of a cyanotoxins is a different story. The way I would deal with the situation would be this: I’d drink the water I have stored, and refill with rain, which in Ireland you would have the opportunity to do so every couple days. While weather is a disadvantage here in general terms, mostly due to the cloudy weather, at the same time the abundance of water is a key strategic asset. Its no accident either. I came here taking into account both the pros and cons, and the availability of water is something I take very seriously. If you look at the rule of 3 it says you cant live 3 minutes without air, 3 hours of exposure, 3 days without water or 3 weeks without food. In just a matter of days, shortages and price gouging of water became the norm in Ohio.

[Kartographer]

Advisories and warnings are usually issued and signposted at the affected waterways if toxins are detected and exceed allowable limits. Advisories will alert you to the severity of the bloom and will be updated regularly as to if the water should be avoided or is safe. Here are the usual precautions to follow if toxic blue-green algae is detected: Avoid using the water. This means avoid swimming, bathing, or showering and do not allow children, pets, or livestock to drink or swim in the water.
 Avoid drinking the water. The toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating the water with camping-style filters. Boiling the water may in fact release more toxins into the water. Avoid cooking with the water because food may absorb toxins from the water during cooking. Exercise caution with respect to eating fish caught in water where blue-green algal blooms occur. You should not eat the liver, kidneys, and other organs of fish caught in the water.
 Do not treat the water with a disinfectant like bleach. This may break open algae cells and release toxins into the water. http://www.dogheirs.com/dogheirs/posts/306-blue-green-algae-cyanobacteria-and-how-it-can-harm-your-dog

[Whenifhow]

Thanks for the info. This is the best, most concise info I have seen so far regarding water utilization, and solutions.

While some may say the crisis was not serious, it could have been and it could affect other bodies of water. The local radio said that they were expecting this bloom in Sept, so an incident may happen in the future.

Oregon is a suburb of Toledo that was not affected by the ban, primarily because of $10k (more precise) testing equipment.

Toxin tests vary
May be why Oregon was able to treat early
http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2014/08/04/Toxin-tests-vary-may-be-why-Oregon-was-able-to-treat-early.html

Excerpt:
But part of the problem with managing the algae toxin is that while minuscule concentrations have been deemed dangerous for drinking, the testing is imprecise, and lake conditions can be variable within small areas and short time periods, the Oregon plant superintendent said.

Snip
While the cost of equipping its own lab for the microcystin testing was $10,000, “that investment is definitely paying off,” said Paul Roman, the city’s director of public service.

[reg45]

That’s exactly why ozone works so well as a disinfectant.

[Steven Tyler]

Anyone have experience with UV water purifiers?
I bought a Steripen brand that works via hand crank. The unit is sitting on a shelf, just in case!

[Bigg Red]

Thanks for posting this.

[bgill]

How did this go from a deadly menace to all clear in 48 hrs? Methinks the crisis was non-existant based on no reports of mass fatalities.

Exactly. It's right up there with that magical never before used on humans ebola serum that had Brantly going from his death bed to no more rash and big thumbs up on everything else in an hour. There's been far too many flash emergencies with miracle cures this week.

[yorkiemom]

“Magichem Bleach Tabs (makes 10 gallons of bleach per card- 4 cards per order) $24.95”

Would this be similar -or better than -calcium hypochlorite?

[BobL]

“Would this be similar -or better than -calcium hypochlorite?”

Don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was repackaged Pool Shock...except 1000 times more expensive.

[Kartographer]

Similar, but I like having it pre-measured.

[Kartographer]

Great for a bug out bag.

[PA Engineer]

According to an African paper I read, the toxins can be dealt with using large amounts of chlorine, but most of us would have no way to determine how much to use.

Not true. I posted the links on a previous thread. Mycotoxin can be treated with .5PPM chlorine at a pH of 7 or below for 20 minutes. I would use 1 to 3 PPM. Ozonators are also very effective, but more costly. A pool test kit and gallon of bleach is sufficient in most cases (as tools) to oxidize the toxins. This is at a cost of under $20.

1 to 3 PPM are not large doses of chlorine. We treat our well water (sulfur reducing bacteria) with an injection system variably depending on season from 1 to 3 PPM.

[PA Engineer]

Anyone have experience with UV water purifiers?

Does not work with Mycotoxin. Oxidation and ozonation are proven treatments.

[BobL]

Good point! Maybe add these to my iodine tablets (which I do have). They should last forever and are very easy to use. A bit pricy, but likely worth it as an easy and quick way to help purify water and something that can keep for many years.

[IYAS9YAS]

I haven’t seen anything on storage other than do not store calcium hypochlorite in metal or near metal.

Made the mistake of storing a small plastic container of chlorine tablets for the pool above my washing machine in the laundry room. Had to replace all the hinges for the cabinet it was in. They were all corroding. Didn't take it long, one summer, and that was it. Everything went outside after that.

[Kartographer]

My thinking too is if you are on the move and you need to sertilize items, surfaces, etc.. you can quickly make a gallon of bleach for such clean-ups. Better than lugging a gallon of bleach around.

[firebrand]

I just saw a picture of this “water” on Facebook. Those algae are sick!

[firebrand]

But don’t boil it too long or you concentrate the fluoride.

[yorkiemom]

“Great for a bug out bag.”

Ok, I’m sold. The calcium hypochlorite I have is bulky. And smelly. I don’t really want it next to the food bars I have in our BoBs!

[Buckeye McFrog]

This emergency was over by late Monday.

Every year algae blooms on Lake Erie cause problems for municipal water systems. They have to adjust their chemistry to keep algae-produced toxins out of the water supply.

Apparently on Saturday whoever was running the Toledo Municipal Water Plant was asleep at the switch.

[Marcella]

I have a Berkey and didn’t get any pool shock as I didn’t want to deal with the storage. I will get these tablets, glad you found them.