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Wild10Basecamp

Water

Purify water with unscented household bleach

Regular 5–6% sodium hypochlorite bleach is a WHO-recognized emergency water treatment when you have no filter or fire.

Water 30 min practice
All skills
Warning: Never use scented, color-safe, or additive bleach. Bleach does not reliably kill Cryptosporidium — boil or filter when parasites are a concern.

Step-by-step

  1. Filter cloudy water through cloth or let it settle until reasonably clear.

  2. Add 2 drops of unscented 5–6% household bleach per liter of clear water; use 4 drops per liter if the water is cold or still turbid.

  3. Stir and let stand for at least 30 minutes.

  4. The water should have a slight chlorine smell. If not, repeat the dose and wait another 15 minutes.

  5. If chlorine taste is too strong, pour between two clean containers a few times to aerate before drinking.

Warning: Never use scented, color-safe, or additive bleach. Bleach does not reliably kill Cryptosporidium — boil or filter when parasites are a concern.

Related outdoor skills

Educational reference only. Wilderness conditions change fast — practice in low-stakes settings, take a certified wilderness first-aid course, and confirm regional regulations before you rely on any of these skills in the field.