How to Make and Use Safe Drinking Water

Hydration, First Aid and Hygiene

When we prepare for an emergency, one of the most important considerations is safe drinking water. It will keep us sufficiently hydrated without exposing us to water-borne hazards. Safe water also ensures we can properly clean wounds and maintain good hygiene, both significant health risks in a disaster.


Even if we store safe water in advance, that supply may become contaminated or inaccessible. It is critical to ensure we have the appropriate supplies on hand and skills to disinfect and filter water. Learn the best methods for water purification and storage before an emergency or disaster strikes. 


ALIVEKits offers a full range of products to help you prepare and use safe drinking water. 

  • Aquamira® Water Treatment Drops and Tablets – Chlorine Dioxide
  • Aquamira® Water Filtration Straws and Systems – Cyst, Bacteria and Virus removal >99.9%
  • Geigerrig® Hydration Engines and Packs – reservoirs and pressurized systems that can be used for hydration, wound cleansing and hygiene
  • HydraPak® Water Storage Solutions – water storage, reservoir cleansing tablets and accessories, drink containers

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How to Make and Store Your Own Safe Drinking Water

The best source of safe drinking water is water you store before an emergency. It is recommended that you store at least one gallon per person per day, with enough for at least three days. One option is to purchase factory-sealed bottled water (check the expiration date and replace as needed).


Another option is to store your own water containers, following these guidelines[1].

  1. Collect the water from a safe supply.
  2. Store water in clean, sanitized containers. You can also use food-grade plastic buckets or drums.
  3. Seal water containers tightly.
  4. Label with the date it was stored and the expiration date (6 months later).
  5. Store in a cool, dark place.
  6. Replace water every six months.

If you don't have access to pre-stored water in an emergency, you have many other options to purify water when you need it. These are the important things you need to know.

The Don'ts and What Not To's

Don’t drink or attempt to purify water if…

  • you haven’t taken the necessary steps or don't have the right supplies to make it safe.
  • you suspect it is unsafe because of sewage (human or animal), chemicals, oils, poisonous substances or other contaminants.
  • it is dark colored, has an odor or contains solid materials.

Never reuse a container that held toxic substances such as cleaners, pesticides, chemicals or oil. 

The Do's and How To's

You should purify if your tap water is unsafe or if the water is obtained from one of these sources:

  • Outdoor faucet, hose or pump
  • Rainwater
  • Lakes
  • Rivers and streams
  • Natural springs
  • Ponds, unless the pond is stagnant, dark colored or has an odor

Regardless of the source, the following steps should be followed to make the water safe. Using more than one method for disinfection and filtration may increase the likelihood of safe water.


STEP 1 – PRE-FILTER  Always pre-filter if the water is cloudy or contains small amounts of debris.

  1. Collect the water. If you use a container for this step, it should not be used later for purified water unless it is first thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.
  2. Allow the water to settle.
  3. Pour or draw off the water into a clean container through a clean cloth, coffee filter or paper towel.

STEP 2 – DISINFECT  There are several options for disinfecting water. It is important to note that none of these steps, on its own, will remove 100% of contaminants from the water[2].


Option 1: Boil – best method to kill disease-causing organisms but may not remove all chemical pollutants.

  1. Bring the water to a rolling boil and keep it there for at least 1 minute. For elevations above 6,500 feet, maintain a rolling boil for at least 3 minutes.
  2. Let the water cool before drinking.

Option 2: Treat with liquid chlorine bleach – can kill most harmful or disease-causing viruses and bacteria but is not effective against more resistant organisms, such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia parasites.

  1. Use unscented household liquid chlorine bleach.
  2. Follow the instructions on the label for disinfecting drinking water. If the label does not give instructions, check the “Active Ingredient” part of the label to find the sodium hypochlorite percentage and follow the tables provided by the CDC (link provided at the end of this article). We recommend printing several copies. Keep one with your bleach containers and another in your emergency kit(s).
  3. Stir or shake the mixture well.
  4. Let it stand for at least 30 minutes before drinking the water.
  5. Store the disinfected water in clean, sanitized containers with tight covers.

Option 3: Treat with chlorine dioxide liquid or tablets – kills bacteria and is effective against Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Follow all manufacturer instructions carefully and correctly.   


STEP 3 – FILTER AGAIN  Even if your disinfection (step 2) wasn’t 100% successful, using a certified filtration product can help remove additional water-borne threats. Look for a product that is rated to remove >99.9% of cysts, bacteria and viruses.

  • Drink your disinfected water through a certified water filtration straw or system. 
  • Attach an in-line filtration system to your reservoir to clean wounds or wash your hands.

Don't wait until it's too late!

Buy certified water treatments, filtration, delivery and storage solutions from ALIVEKits!

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References and Additional Online Resources