Stocking up on pool shock for water purification

[Nickelless]

I'd been wondering how to store bleach long-term since it breaks down in just a couple years, and then I found some threads on Survivalblog about storing pool shock for water purification.

http://www.survivalblog.com/cgi-bin/mt43/mt-search.cgi?search=%22pool+shock%22&IncludeBlogs=2&limit=20

It hadn't crossed my mind (I don't have a pool) :biggrin: but tonight I just bought my first 15 pounds of pool shock from Wally World. Any of the rest of you stocking up on it? Now might be a good time before the summer ends and pool shock might not be as readily available.

[AgAuGal]

What would be the application ? Did not know bleach broke down after a couple of years, if it has not been opened or just a shelf life issue? Looks like I'll be getting rid of some bleach. But pool shock for the same applications you would have used bleach??

[Armed.peasant]

Have you looked at the Berkey water filters? I know they are not cheap, but have clean drinkable water is priceless.

[ToBeSelfEvident]

Pool shock is in dry form that stores for many years. You use it to make one gallon of bleach at a time. Bleach is excellent for killing bacteria in water. Then you can use a filter like a Berkey to filter the bleach out.

[ttazzman]

What would be the application ? Did not know bleach broke down after a couple of years, if it has not been opened or just a shelf life issue? Looks like I'll be getting rid of some bleach. But pool shock for the same applications you would have used bleach??

Yes liquid bleach degrades and becomes less potient over time opened or not.

as for application....i know i currently use liquid bleach once a year or so to pour down into my well down the sides of the casings etc.....would also be needed in any form of water storage for purification

[budfox]

Have you looked at the Berkey water filters? I know they are not cheap, but have clean drinkable water is priceless.

Yep, they are excellent. I have the portable ones too..

[Claimjumper]

Pool shock is in dry form that stores for many years. You use it to make one gallon of bleach at a time. Bleach is excellent for killing bacteria in water. Then you can use a filter like a Berkey to filter the bleach out.If you can't filter it, I don't think it takes very long for bleach to "completely evaporate" if left with a large surface area exposed to the open air.

[Eat Beef]

ttazz, do you have a submersible or a jet pump? I ask because I dumped a gallon of bleach down my casing with the jet still in it, and had to change the leathers within a month. I'm not sure if the bleach did it in or if it was just a coincidence, but I've been afraid to try it since.

[Eat Beef]

If you can't filter it, I don't think it takes very long for bleach to "completely evaporate" if left with a large surface area exposed to the open air.

Pouring it back and forth between two containers helps, too.

[CrufflerJJ]

What would be the application ? Did not know bleach broke down after a couple of years, if it has not been opened or just a shelf life issue? Looks like I'll be getting rid of some bleach. But pool shock for the same applications you would have used bleach??

Pool Shock (calcium hypochlorite) is good for purifying water. Regular household bleach breaks down in as little as 3-6 months or so. If you've got umpteem gallon jugs stashed away, you're wasting your money.

NOTE that the dry Pool Shock also has a shelf life. If you Google "calcium hypochlorite shelf life", it looks like the dry stuff is good for 2-5 years, depending on your storage conditions. A higher temperatures results in shorter shelf life.

Still better than 3-6 months.....

[ttazzman]

ttazz, do you have a submersible or a jet pump? I ask because I dumped a gallon of bleach down my casing with the jet still in it, and had to change the leathers within a month. I'm not sure if the bleach did it in or if it was just a coincidence, but I've been afraid to try it since.

submersible........i havent had any issues.......i usually open the cap ....pour 1-2 gal of clorox around the casing (sterilize the casing).....then i hook up a hose and have the pump circulate clorinated water around and back down the well casing for a hour or so(rinse off the casing)........then i usually let it sit over nite(kill any thing in the well and water system)....then i run the hose till the clorine smell is gone(rinse).....then i replace the carbon whole house filter i have at the house...

PS: carbon filtration is the only way i know to remove clorine from water

[Eat Beef]

Thanks TT, submersibles have no leathers, so it couldn't cause a problem.