No, you should never put bleach in drinking water tanks, especially not standard household bleach. Bleach is a powerful disinfectant, but it’s not designed for direct consumption and can be extremely harmful if ingested. Using it in your drinking water can lead to severe health issues.
Why You Should Never Put Bleach in Drinking Water Tanks
It’s a common question for those concerned about water safety, especially when dealing with stored water or potential contamination. However, the answer is a resounding no. While bleach is effective at killing germs, it’s crucial to understand the distinction between disinfecting surfaces and making water safe for drinking.
Understanding Household Bleach and Its Dangers
Household bleach, typically containing sodium hypochlorite, is a corrosive chemical. It’s designed to kill bacteria, viruses, and mold on non-porous surfaces. When you add it to water intended for drinking, you’re introducing a chemical that can cause immediate and long-term health problems.
- Ingestion Risks: Swallowing even small amounts of improperly diluted bleach can lead to nausea, vomiting, and severe irritation of the mouth, throat, and stomach.
- Chemical Burns: Concentrated bleach can cause chemical burns to internal tissues.
- Long-Term Effects: Chronic exposure to even low levels of bleach in drinking water could potentially have more serious health consequences, though this is less documented than acute poisoning.
Safe Water Disinfection Methods for Drinking Water
Fortunately, there are safe and effective ways to disinfect water for drinking purposes, especially when you need to purify stored water or water from an uncertain source. These methods are specifically designed for potable water.
Chemical Disinfection Options
When using chemicals to disinfect drinking water, it’s vital to use products specifically approved for this purpose.
- Water Purification Tablets: These tablets, often containing chlorine dioxide or iodine, are formulated to kill microorganisms without leaving harmful residues. They are a popular choice for camping and emergency preparedness.
- Liquid Chlorine Dioxide: This is a more potent disinfectant than household bleach and is often used in emergency water treatment. It’s effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens.
- Iodine: While effective, iodine is generally recommended for short-term use only, as prolonged consumption can affect thyroid function.
Non-Chemical Disinfection Methods
For those who prefer to avoid chemicals, several other methods can make water safe to drink.
- Boiling: This is the most reliable method for killing most disease-causing organisms. Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute (or three minutes at altitudes above 6,500 feet).
- Filtration: High-quality water filters, such as those with a pore size of 0.2 microns or smaller, can remove bacteria and protozoa. However, filters do not typically remove viruses.
- UV Treatment: Ultraviolet (UV) light can inactivate viruses, bacteria, and protozoa by damaging their genetic material. This is often used in portable UV purifiers.
When Might Someone Consider Disinfecting a Water Tank?
People might consider disinfecting a water tank for various reasons, such as:
- Long-Term Storage: Water stored for extended periods in tanks can become stagnant and potentially harbor bacteria.
- Emergency Preparedness: In disaster situations, stored water might need to be treated before consumption.
- Suspected Contamination: If there’s a concern about a breach in the tank or contamination from external sources.
However, the method of disinfection must be appropriate for the tank’s intended use, especially if it’s for drinking water.
Comparing Safe Water Disinfection Methods
Here’s a quick look at some common methods for making water safe to drink:
| Method | Effectiveness Against Pathogens | Ease of Use | Cost (Initial) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling | Excellent (kills bacteria, viruses, protozoa) | Moderate | Low | General purification, emergency situations |
| Water Tablets | Good (kills bacteria, viruses, protozoa) | High | Moderate | Camping, hiking, emergency kits |
| UV Purifier | Excellent (inactivates bacteria, viruses, protozoa) | High | High | Regular use, travel, when chemical taste is disliked |
| Microfilters | Good (removes bacteria, protozoa; not viruses) | High | Moderate | Removing sediment and larger organisms |
| Household Bleach | NOT RECOMMENDED FOR DRINKING WATER | N/A | N/A | Surface disinfection ONLY |
How to Safely Treat Stored Water in a Tank
If you have a water tank for potable water storage and need to treat it, follow these guidelines:
- Assess the Situation: Determine why you need to treat the water. Is it for general use, or is there a suspected contamination?
- Use Approved Products: Purchase water purification tablets or liquid chlorine dioxide specifically designed for drinking water.
- Follow Instructions Precisely: Each product has specific dosage and contact time requirements. Overdosing can be as dangerous as underdosing.
- Allow Contact Time: Let the treated water sit for the recommended duration to ensure disinfection.
- Consider Aeration: After treatment, you might want to aerate the water (pour it back and forth between containers) to help dissipate any residual chemical taste.
Always prioritize products labeled for drinking water purification.
People Also Ask
### Can I use bleach to clean my RV water tank?
While you can use a diluted bleach solution to sanitize an RV water tank, it’s crucial to follow specific RV maintenance guidelines. The bleach must be thoroughly flushed out multiple times afterward to remove all traces before the water is safe to drink. Never use undiluted bleach, and always use a bleach product suitable for this purpose, not just any household bleach.
### How much bleach do I need to disinfect 100 gallons of water?
For emergency disinfection of potable water, the CDC recommends using unscented, regular household liquid bleach (5-6% sodium hypochlorite). For every gallon of water, add 8 drops of bleach. For 100 gallons, this would be 800 drops, which is approximately 1.5 to 2 ounces. Let it stand for 30 minutes. However, this is for emergency, short-term use, and not for routine tank storage.
### What happens if you drink water with bleach in it?
Drinking water contaminated with bleach can cause immediate symptoms like burning in the mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In more severe cases, it can lead to internal burns and damage to the esophagus and stomach. It is a serious poisoning risk.