A disaster may disrupt electricity needed to pump water into the home and/or contaminate your water supply. Unless absolutely certain your water supply is not contaminated, purify all water before using it for drinking, preparing food, brushing teeth, or washing dishes. If the water contains floating material, strain it through a clean cloth before purifying it. Following are three methods for ensuring safe water for emergency use.

Boiling:
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommend that you bring the water to a rolling boil and boil it for at least one minute. Cool before use and don't contaminate boiled water with dirty utensils, hands or containers. Add a pinch of salt to each quart of boiled water to improve the taste.

Chemical treatment:
Any of the following three (3) chemical treatments will purify water.

• Chlorine bleach. Household bleach is a good disinfectant for water. Before using, check the label to be sure hypochlorite is the only active ingredient. Do not use bleach that contains soap. The amount of chlorine in bleach bottles is variable. The following table states the amount of product needed to purify water.

Percent chlorine	Add per gallon water
1%	40 drops
2 to 6%	8 drops
7 to 10%	4 drops
unknown	10 drops

Mix the bleach thoroughly in the water and let it stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight chlorine odor. If it doesn't, repeat the dose and let the water stand for an additional 15 minutes.