Quote Originally Posted by jim View Post
What are your feelings on using iodine vs. bleach ?
Well iodine is useful but kills far less than bleach (cyclosporine especially), It's multitool however, great for people with kids or in a bob as a backup treatment to a filter and also for foot ailments like fungus, minor cut treatments instrument sterilizing etc. Something where ounces count I'd take iodine over bleach.

Having said that I HATE iodine water. I mean I fucking hate the stuff, it makes my stomach quench just thinking about it. The anti iodine tabs they sell for a few bucks are just vitamin C. 50mg of vitamin C added to the water after the iodine has done it's job works great to remove the taste, Emergen C packets or chewable tabs divided down and crushed into the water leave no taste.

You can also run into an un diagnosed Iodine allergy if you are in a group. Iodine and shellfish are not mutually inclusive allergies. Also those with thyroid problems may not deal well with iodine treated water, and if you can convince a kid to drink iodine water I'd be impressed.

Here's the formula for treating with different types of common Iodine;
Iodine Tincture & Iodine Topical Solution 2% 8 drops/liter.
Lugol's Solution 5% 4 drops/liter. *
Povidone-Iodine (Betadine®) 10% 4 drops/liter.
Tetraglycine hydroperiodide (Globaline®, Potable Aqua®, EDWGT®) 8 mg 1 tablet/liter

*Lugol's Solution also contains 10% potassium iodide, increasing the dose of iodine ingested. (yes the same stuff they sell in anti radiation tabs)

Potable Aqua is honestly the worst tasting and looking of all the iodine treatments. Lugols has an extra stomach quenching problem for me.

Quoting Cody Lundin's book, If it looks like light beer and tastes like it will choke a camel that's enough Iodine.

In short Iodine for on the move and bleach for bug in.


Quote Originally Posted by olopc View Post
How long is the water with Chlorine good for? Mine is a couple of years old. May be time to drain and refill.
As above if it's still sealed and out of direct light it's fine.

Quote Originally Posted by rbeau30 View Post
Wulf, How much and where/when is your water classes you mention... I am very much interested in attending to see if I am doing things properly.

However, I have/plan on further treating my stored water when/if i need them.

My current process:
- Save 2-liter soft drink bottles as I use them.
- When I do homebrewing at home I use my left over sanitizer (Star-San)to sanitize the clean 2-liter bottles, and immediately fill/seal the bottles with Aurora Tap water.
- Stack the bottles in a cool-dry crawlspace under the house using repurposed 2-liter bottle plastic trays that hold 8.
http://www.ar-15.co/forums/showthread.php?t=52612
Last class thread was lost in the crash, pretty much the same as this one except people showed up
http://www.ar-15.co/forums/showthread.php?t=45217

Your process is fine as long as you don't open them it'll be good for a few decades, it may go flat and taste mildly of soda though. If you go for clear 2 liters they can be used as SODIS treatment later on if you have to.

Apparently i may be instructing or a "consultant" soon... still in negotiations.