Each adult needs at least 2 quarts (roughly 2 l) of water per day and each child, 1 quart (1 l) of water per day.
You may use water from rivers and ponds, well water or bottled water (which has an expiration date!) Make it potable using one or more of the following methods.
- Boil water rapidly for 1 minute. At higher altitudes, boil water for three minutes.
- Disinfect water with chlorine or iodine if boiling is not possible. Chemical disinfection is more efficient in warm water. If instructions are not available on the bottle, the EPA suggests to disinfect 1 quart of clear water by putting 10 drops of 1% bleach, or 2 drops of 4-6% bleach or 1 drop of 7-10% bleach. Cover and let sit for 30 minutes. Double the quantity of bleach if the water is cloudy, colored or particulary cold. Water should smell slightly of chlorine, if not, double quantity of bleach.
- Chlorine and iodine tablets can be purchased for water disinfection. If instructions are not available, add one tablet to each quart of clear water and let sit for 30 minutes.
- Tincture iodine will also work. Add 5 drops of 2% USP (United States Pharmacopeia) tincture iodine to 1 quart of clear water and let sit for 30 minutes. It the water is cloudy, colored or very cold, add 10 drops.