Ir al menú principal Ir al contenido principal Ir al pie de página Para Medicare Para Proveedores Para Agentes Para Empleadores English Para individuos y familias: Para individuos y familias Médica Dental Otros seguros complementarios Explorar cobertura a través de tu empleador Cómo comprar seguros de salud Tipos de seguro dental Período de Inscripción Abierta vs. Período Especial de Inscripción Ver todos los temas Comprar planes de Medicare Guía para miembros Buscar un médico Ingresar a myCigna
Inicio Centro de información Biblioteca del bienestar Purifying Your Drinking Water

Purifying Your Drinking Water

Overview

Few things are more important to your health and survival during a long emergency than having water that is safe to drink. Knowing how to purify water can help you if your regular water supply becomes contaminated or if you are in a place where clean water is not available. Even if you have stored clean water to use in an emergency, you may run out before the emergency situation has ended.

Water purification can greatly reduce your chance of getting sick from bacteria, viruses, and other living organisms in the water. You can disinfect water using one of the following methods.

  • Bring the water to a rolling boil for 1 minute.

    If you are at an elevation of 5,000 ft (1,000 m) or higher, boil the water for 3 minutes. This is the most effective purification method. But it may be impractical if you need large quantities of water. It also requires a heat source, which you may not have in some emergency situations. If fuel or power for your heat source is limited, bringing the water to a boil will usually disinfect it, even if you cannot boil it for the recommended time.

  • If you can't boil water, add 8 drops—which is about 1/16 tsp (0.3 mL)—of household liquid bleach for each gallon of water. Stir, and let it stand for 30 minutes. (If the water is cloudy, let it settle and filter through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter before adding bleach.)

    If the water does not smell slightly like bleach after 30 minutes, add 8 more drops of bleach. Let it stand for another 15 minutes. You should notice a bleach smell.

  • If you don't have bleach, you can use iodine or chlorine purification tablets or drops.

    You can get these at stores that sell camping equipment and at some drugstores. Follow the instructions on the package. Purification tablets are not as effective as boiling or disinfecting with bleach. But they do kill some types of organisms.

  • Use water filters that can get rid of some microorganisms and improve the taste of water.

    There are many different types of filters. So be sure that you know what kinds of organisms your filter is effective for.

None of the purification methods described above eliminates heavy metals, salts, chemicals, or radioactive dust or dirt (fallout) from water. Many of these substances can be removed by distilling water, a more complicated method of purifying water.

Current as of: October 24, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

© 2024-2025 Ignite Healthwise, LLC.

Enlaces relacionados

Disasters and Other Public Health Threats Travel Health Giardiasis

<cipublic-spinner variant="large"><span>Loading…</span></cipublic-spinner>

Page Footer

Quiero...

Obtener una tarjeta ID Presentar un reclamo Ver mis reclamos y EOB Verificar la cobertura de mi plan Ver la lista de medicamentos con receta Buscar un médico, dentista o centro dentro de la red Buscar un formulario Buscar información del formulario de impuestos 1095-B Ver el Glosario de Cigna Comunicarme con Cigna

Audiencia

Individuos y familias Medicare Empleadores Agentes Proveedores

Sitios seguros para miembros

Portal myCigna para miembros Portal para proveedores de cuidado de la salud Cigna para empleadores Portal de recursos para clientes Cigna para agentes

Información sobre The Cigna Group

Acerca de Cigna Healthcare Perfil de la compañía Empleos Sala de prensa Inversionistas Distribuidores The Cigna Group Administradores externos Internacional Evernorth

 Cigna. Todos los derechos reservados.

Privacidad Asuntos legales Divulgaciones sobre productos Nombres de la compañía Cigna Derechos de los clientes Accesibilidad Aviso sobre no discriminación Asistencia idiomática [PDF] Reportar fraude Mapa del sitio Configuración de cookies

Aviso legal

Los planes individuales y familiares de seguro médico y dental están asegurados por Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc. y Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Los planes de beneficios de salud y de seguro de salud de grupo están asegurados o administrados por CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC) o sus afiliadas (puedes ver un listado de las entidades legales que aseguran o administran HMO para grupos, HMO dentales y otros productos o servicios en tu estado). Los planes o pólizas de seguro para lesiones accidentales, enfermedades críticas y cuidado hospitalario son distribuidos exclusivamente por o a través de subsidiarias operativas de Cigna Corporation, son administrados por Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company y están asegurados por (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT), (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA) o (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), anteriormente llamada Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. El nombre Cigna, el logotipo y otras marcas de Cigna son propiedad de Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA y NYLGICNY no son afiliadas de Cigna.

Todas las pólizas de seguros y los planes de beneficios de grupo contienen exclusiones y limitaciones. Para conocer la disponibilidad, los costos y detalles completos de la cobertura, comunícate con un agente autorizado o con un representante de ventas de Cigna. Este sitio web no está dirigido a los residentes de New Mexico.

Al seleccionar estos enlaces saldrás de Cigna.com hacia otro sitio web que podría no ser un sitio web de Cigna. Cigna no puede controlar el contenido ni los enlaces de sitios web que no son de Cigna. Detalles