bleach, is anyone actually using it?

Cheers, yes I understand that town water is usually treated with chlorine.
The water I will be using will be taken from western rivers and private dams, just want to clean it up for showers etc.

brilliant advice, thanks ill check out our local farm and produce shop tomorrow. Let you know how I go.

While you’re there ask them for some Alum, it will clear the water.

For showering we just filter it

Stephen,

I am a knock about sort of a bloke but I don't reckon I could come at drinking the water I showered in - no matter what you treated it with !!

Or did I misunderstand you ?

Ken

Bear in mind that Epson Salts is also a hell of a laxative. Take one teaspoon in a glass of water, light the touch paper and stand back.

Hi Ken

What I was referring to, was after the water had been settled, I still would not drink it without further treatment to kill all harmful bacteria.

And no, I would not drink the shower water either.......lol



Cheers




Stephen

Hi Keith

Yes that would've very interesting.....lol




Cheers



Stephen

Ahhh Epsom salts.

Saw that years ago on the bush tucker man series and do you think I could remember it, I thought it was condies crystals, that's what a lot of time does to an aging memory, and you cant buy condies crystals without a prescription any more, just as well hey.

Thanks for giving my memory a shunt back on the right track.

Do you remember the old 1960/70's snake bite kit with condis (potassium permanganate) crystals? A plastic bulb filled with condis that opened across the middle. It had a sharp, vicious looking cutting blade jutting from one end that you used to cut across the bite area, suck the poison out then drop in the load of condis crystals. Thanks god the First Mildura South Scouts never suffered a snake bite lol.

Cheers and safe travels,

Mick

Water in a bucket, syphon off the top,
you can do that without adding anything. After 8 hours surely anything will settle with our without additives

If it did, dams would be clear!
It would surprise you how turbid even tap water can be when you fill a swimming pool, that is why pool contractors use Alum.

Alum or aluminium sulphate is used extensively in water purification ie sewerage treatment plants, paper and pulp manufacturers etc. My understanding is that the "solids" are separated from the H2O and can be easily captured and disposed of. Not clear on what residual effect it has on the H20 afterwards though. I think it is the major constituent in Stingose too.

My research showed Aluminium Sulphate is the main additive in the treatment for town water supplies. I assumed they had already checked the health and safety aspects, so good enough for me to use as washing water. It is pretty amazing to watch the algae and colour start to collect and drop after even a few minutes. In Africa, they add a small amount of bleach after settling with alum if they are going to drink the water.

Hey CSeaJay

Have a look at the Blog that it did about this very subject, posting in my above reply.

To get perfect clear water from natural settling with Murray River water, it took 2 weeks, and my photos show natural settling overnight, with the water still very murky.



Stephen

CseaJay,

Suspended clay doesn't just "settle after 8 hours", you need a flocculant,

Trevor's advice is sound but I'd add one small addition..........make the powdered alum into a solution, using hot water and once the powder is dissolved, add to the water to be cleared. Results will be much quicker, and more efficient. Adding a small amount of hydrated lime will neutralise the acid effect of the alum, after the water is clear.

As well as Epsom salts, mentioned by Stephen L, and alum sulphate, I've seen various other flocculants such as Ferrite of Iron, cement powder, calcium carbide, wood ash and boiling. Alum is probably the best, but can be a very efficient laxative if too much is used, and one wishes to drink it.

No amount of filtering will clear suspended clay from river or dam water, except very expensive reverse osmosis equipment, but the filter will remove anything that might block the shower rose, or valves in the 12v pump.

Was going to suggest to qldcamper that he checks here for water sterilising agents, but bleach from Aldi might be the cheaper option. We never used any sterilising agent for domestic water, showering/washing, in over 20 years, while living down the Diamantina River.

Bob

I grew up on tank water which was never treated. During cane firing season the tank water ran grey from the good old Qld snow. Not sure my ‘cityfied’ constitution could cope these days haha.

Gbc,

When I was 17, and still knew everything, I was working for friends whose only water supply was a rain water tank. The water was clear & clean, but mozzies were breeding in it.

The family were going away for a few days, and I was directed to place a small amount of kero into the tank, to kill the mozzie larvae. So, being much wiser than my employer, I added over half a cup of kero.

You know, after a couple of weeks, you do get used to the taste of kero.............

Bob