If you’re an avid hiker or you spend a lot of time out in nature, you know how important safe water can be. It only takes one instance of unsafe water to upset your stomach or land you in the hospital, and when you’re out in nature it’s not always easy to find a safe water source. That matters, because it’s not like you can always carry gallons of water on you as you’re enjoying and exploring the great outdoors.
The good news is that water purification drops, also known as water treatment drops or water purifying drops, are easy to store, carry and use, as long as you remember to bring them with you before your next excursion. Better yet, if you have a cabin or some remote place that has a questionable water supply, you can use water purification drops to ensure that the water you’re drinking is safe.
Let’s take a look at how chlorine dioxide water treatment drops work.
Why Chlorine Dioxide?
It might not sound safe, but chlorine dioxide is an ideal chemical compound that uses simple drops for water purification. Municipalities have been using it for years to treat their city water supplies, and you can use it, too, to help disinfect and make any water source safe to drink.
At room temperature, it’s a sort of amber-yellow, but once you drop it into water it dissolves quickly. As a disinfectant, chlorine dioxide destroys bacteria, viruses and even parasites that can get you sick. In fact, the EPA recognizes and suggests using chlorine dioxide as water purification drops to help create drinking water.
When chlorine dioxide is added to drinking water, it can also remove unpleasant tastes and smells, which can help make that water easier — and more tasty! — to drink. That’s because it kills bacteria and algae that can be off-putting to your sensibilities, and it’s also why it’s a common ingredient in personal hygiene products, mouthwashes and other products.
How To Use Our Water Purification Drops?
With one of our chlorine dioxide water purification kits, it’s easy to treat water so that it’s safe to drink. Simply add two drops from the Part A bottle with two drops from the Part B bottle in a small glass container such as a shot glass. Swirl the contents for a few seconds, then let the mixture activate for 30 to 60 seconds. Then add it to 16oz of water. Note that a mixture of one drop of Part A and one drop of Part B will purify 8oz of water — please adjust the mixture depending on how much drinking water you want to create.
To keep each bottle fresh, store them in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight or excessive heat. We like storing ours in the fridge or a dark pantry, only removing them when it’s time to head out. If you’ll be bringing the bottles with you, don’t place them in a pocket where they’ll warm up next to the skin. Deep in a dark backpack is best, as well as avoiding front or top pockets. Our product doesn’t expire or go bad as long as it’s stored properly.
As for how long the treated water will stay clean, that depends on other factors. Treated water that is stored out of sunlight and air temps of less than 75 degrees Fahrenheit can stay clean for about four years. If the water is exposed to heat or sunlight, simply treat the water again to have safe and clean drinking water.
Check out our selection of water purification drops!
