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how to remove bleaching powder from water
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General Health
Question #13915
8 days ago
27

how to remove bleaching powder from water - #13915

Ira

I am really stressing out right now because I accidentally spilled a ton of bleaching powder into my home's water tank while cleaning. I thought I was being careful, but now I'm super worried about my family drinking that water! It was a good amount of bleaching powder and I just don't know how to remove bleaching powder from water effectively, you know? I've tried flushing the tank with fresh water, but my neighbor said that might not be enough to get rid of it completely. Honestly, I started Googling how to remove bleaching powder from water and all I found were like generic tips that didn’t feel right for this situation. Can anyone share practical tips or tricks on how to remove bleaching powder from water safely? Do I need to do something special with the pipes as well? It feels like a lot. My kids keep asking about water and I don’t wanna freak them out, but I’m really not sure we can just drink it like that. What about boiling the water?? Does that help with how to remove bleaching powder from water? Or should I just be calling a professional? Just feeling kinda lost and really need some advice here!

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Doctors’ responses

In situations like this, practicality and safety are key. Bleaching powder contains calcium hypochlorite, which acts as a disinfectant by releasing chlorine. Now, the good news is that chlorine, while effective for disinfection, can be neutralized. But first, I wouldn’t recommend drinking or using the water for consumption until you’re sure it’s safe. To remove or reduce the bleaching powder in your tank, you should begin by draining and discarding the contaminated water from the tank. Rinse it thoroughly by flushing it multiple times with fresh water to dilute and eliminate as much of the residual chemical as possible. Do this several times to ensure you’re effectively minimizing the presence of the chemical in your system.

Next, consider using activated carbon filters, which are effective at adsorbing chlorine and can further purify the water. You can install these filters in your water line or directly at taps for extra precaution. Boiling water isn’t effective in removing chemical contaminants like chlorine, so steer clear of relying on that method in this scenario. Also, you might want to call a plumbing or water purification professional if you suspect the amount of bleaching powder is still significant after your attempts. They can perform specific tests to measure chlorine levels and assure that all traces of it have been adequately removed.

Regarding the pipes, running fresh water through them repeatedly as you’ve done with your tank can help flush out any remaining chlorine. Once you’ve completed these steps, I’d suggest conducting a chlorine test on your water to verify that levels have returned to normal. You can purchase inexpensive test kits from a hardware store or online to do this. Given concern for your family’s safety, if any doubt lingers, using bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes until you’re certain about the purity of your house water is wise. Lastly, if anyone in the household experiences symptoms like nausea, throat irritation, or respiratory issues, it would be prudent to seek medical advice immediately.

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