E.coli found in Colonial Beach, VA water supply

[BryanK]

Just as a heads up for anyone in the area visiting from out of town or whoever may live there. We got a notice today stating that E. coli has been found and not to drink or use any of the public water. This sucks, but thanks to you gentleman who have shared your emergency preparedness knowledge, we're gtg for a little while.

http://news.fredericksburg.com/newsd...rinking-water/

While on the topic, does anyone know a good way to sterilize said water enough to wash dishes with? Boiling it, then dumping it in the tub is an idea I have, but is there a chemical way to sterilize the water enough for cleaning with? Thanks in advance for any replies.

[tonyz]

Pool shock.

I searched here quickly but could not find the specific posts (the "be prepared" thread and others probably have great info on mixture but too long for me to read at the moment).

So, FWIW here is one link from outside...hope it helps.

"Add one heaping teaspoon of granular calcium hypochlorite to two gallons of water, or 5 ml. to 7.5 l. of water. This mixture produces a solution similar to bleach.

Use one part of this solution to 100 parts of water to be treated. Allow the mixture to sit for at least 30 minutes before drinking. If the smell of chlorine is too strong, pour the pure water from one container into another several times to allow the chlorine to dissipate.

WARNINGS: Do not breathe the toxic fumes from the pool shock. Store away from anything flammable, including paper, gasoline, oil, oily rags, and paint solvent. Additionally, do not store near any type of ignition sources, such as lawn mowers, generators, etc."

http://thesurvivalmom.com/wp-content...r-Purifier.pdf

[LarryW]

Found this which might help.

http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/drinki...pdf/E_coli.pdf

The bleach additive is what I'd heard to counter the bacteria, but it's important to let the bleach-mixture set for a while before using it for washing dishes, etc.

Damn sure a problem, though.

Good luck!

[BryanK]

Thank you all for the replies thus far. However, my desire to self sustain has been overruled by the little misses. Considering our 14 month old, she has reserved a slot at a relatives house to ride it out in. I greatly respect the advice from the folks here at PS.com, but how does that saying go? Happy wife, happy life?

[The Reaper]

The pool shock was the correct answer.

Get the kind without algecides, mildecides, brighteners, scents, etc.

Make a stock solution and use it to treat all tap water in the contaminated area before consumption, to include bathing or washing.

Do not use the tub (or trashbags) unless you are out of suitable containers. A five gallon bucket can work well, especially with a lid and a spigot. Probably $5 or less at the big box store.

I saw a great tip the other night.

Someone calculated how much shock was required to make a 1:1600 solution and then poured it into drinking straws before heat sealing the ends of the straw.

In an emergency, you cut the end off the straw and dumped the contents into a 16 ounce bottle of water to make the 1:1600 solution required to purify 200 gallons of water.

The really neat part was that he used an entire bag of shock to fill straws, and had a fistfull of straws to hand out to anyone he met who needed them.

As noted, do not drink the solution, use the recommended amount to purify the water, wait the required time for the chlorine to take effect, clean the threads of the canteen or bottle you plan to drink from with the purified contents, and shake up the container and leave it open for a little while after purifying to let some of the chlorine smell escape.

Watch the calcium chloride, it is very nasty stuff, especially dangerous near ammonia or products containing glycerine.

Iodine can work as well, but not povidone iodine, as I understand it. Bleach will work too, but it must be pure bleach with no additives, brightners, whiteners, etc., and it is only good for six months or so.

Gray water can be captured and used for watering plants, etc.

When you come back home, open the lowest water faucet in your house (normally the outdoor hose bib) and let the water run for a while. Then turn off the water heater breaker and dump the hot water supply as well, or drain it with a hose. They normally use extra chlorine when service is restored, so be aware and I would recommend letting the restored fresh water sit in the pipes for a little while after flushing the lines and before resuming using it again.

If you were on a well, no worries, you would be GTG.

Best of luck.

TR

[BryanK]

Originally Posted by Brush Okie

That is actually the best choice.

Indeed

Originally Posted by The Reaper

The pool shock was the correct answer.

Get the kind without algecides, mildecides, brighteners, scents, etc.

Make a stock solution and use it to treat all tap water in the contaminated area before consumption, to include bathing or washing.

Do not use the tub (or trashbags) unless you are out of suitable containers. A five gallon bucket can work well, especially with a lid and a spigot. Probably $5 or less at the big box store.

I saw a great tip the other night.

Someone calculated how much shock was required to make a 1:1600 solution and then poured it into drinking straws before heat sealing the ends of the straw.

In an emergency, you cut the end off the straw and dumped the contents into a 16 ounce bottle of water to make the 1:1600 solution required to purify 200 gallons of water.

The really neat part was that he used an entire bag of shock to fill straws, and had a fistfull of straws to hand out to anyone he met who needed them.

As noted, do not drink the solution, use the recommended amount to purify the water, wait the required time for the chlorine to take effect, clean the threads of the canteen or bottle you plan to drink from with the purified contents, and shake up the container and leave it open for a little while after purifying to let some of the chlorine smell escape.

Watch the calcium chloride, it is very nasty stuff, especially dangerous near ammonia or products containing glycerine.

Iodine can work as well, but not povidone iodine, as I understand it. Bleach will work too, but it must be pure bleach with no additives, brightners, whiteners, etc., and it is only good for six months or so.

Gray water can be captured and used for watering plants, etc.

When you come back home, open the lowest water faucet in your house (normally the outdoor hose bib) and let the water run for a while. Then turn off the water heater breaker and dump the hot water supply as well, or drain it with a hose. They normally use extra chlorine when service is restored, so be aware and I would recommend letting the restored fresh water sit in the pipes for a little while after flushing the lines and before resuming using it again.

If you were on a well, no worries, you would be GTG.

Best of luck.

TR

I appreciate the assistance TR. This took us a little by surprise, and to be honest, I didn't have a tentative plan prior to the issuance of the boil notice. I have stocked food and drinking water, but the thought of treating water to do the dishes, laundry, bathing, etc. hadn't crossed my mind in prior preparations. Thanks again.

To all,

If this information that's been shared helps any of you, should you find yourselves in a similar situation, then I guess it was worth being a sacrificial lamb

Stay safe.