Disinfect: Learn how to disinfect your water to make it is safe from Naegleria.
If you are unable to use 1) boiled or 2) sterile/distilled or 3) filtered water, you can use chlorine bleach to treat the water using the following instructions. If the water being treated is cloudy or murky (turbid), those particles may protect Naegleria from being killed by the chlorine. Because of that, we recommend filtering cloudy water first to remove particles and then using a double dose of chlorine disinfectant. The protocol below for disinfection with bleach is intended only to be used for nasal rinsing and not to be used for routine or emergency drinking water disinfection. We have added an extra amount of bleach to this protocol for an additional safety factor that is higher than that used for treating drinking water. If you need to disinfect drinking water, please see Emergency Water Supply Preparation.
If the water is clear:
- Obtain a medicine dropper and add the number of drops shown in the table below of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach for the amount (one gallon or one quart/liter) of clear water to be disinfected. Use the % sodium hypochlorite shown on the label (either 4 to 5.9% or 6 to 8.25%).
If the water is cloudy, murky, colored, or very cold:
- Filter water through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter
OR
- Allow any sediment to settle to the bottom of your container, then carefully pour the clear water from the top into a clean container with as little disturbance of the sediment layer as possible.
THEN
- Obtain a medicine dropper and add the number of drops of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach shown in the table below for the amount (1 gallon or 1 quart/liter) of clear water to be disinfected. Use the % sodium hypochlorite shown on the label (either 4 to 5.9% or 6 to 8.25%).
- Stir the mixture well.
- Let it stand for 30 minutes or longer before you use it.
- Store the disinfected water in clean, sanitized, covered containers.
Disinfection of Water Used for Nasal Rinsing
|
Drops for Clear Water |
Drops for Cloudy Water |
Percent Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite) Used |
1 quart or liter |
1 gallon
|
1 quart or liter |
1 gallon |
4–5.9% |
5 |
20 |
10 |
40 |
6–8.25% |
4 |
13 |
8 |
26 |
If liquid bleach is not available for disinfection, solid chlorine tablets or powder may be used. Two common forms that may be available are chlorinated isocyanurates and calcium hypochlorite. See below for links that may be helpful in mixing disinfecting solutions using solid chlorine tablets or powder. Because there are so many different types and sizes of tablets available (containing different amounts of chlorine), you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for disinfection.