“they could strain pond water through cloth and add 1/4 tsp bleach per gallon. It won’t be delicious and it sure ain’t perrier, but it’s better than dying of thirst.”
Interesting that you cite the 1/4 tsp of bleach per gallon.
My wife has been a nurse for a long time, and she brought this formula up in discussions with a couple of friends who have loved ones back in the aftermath of Sandy.
She told them to strain the water through a pillow case or any cloth lining metal/ lining plastic strainers into a gallon container with the 1/4 tsp of bleach.
Then, when you want drinking water, pour the treated water into a Brita Filter container or similiar filter system to get rid of the chlorine taste.
Use the treated strained water for sponge baths and other actions needing germ free water.
The Washington (state) department of health has the amount of bleach to use on it’s website. The brita filter is a good idea as well, but if you haven’t prepared well enough to store water I wonder if you’ll have one of those?
Unfortunately it’s probably too cold to use the SODIS method for water purification.
Make sure it’s fresh bleach <= 6 mths old or so.