If you’re camping and forgot your pot (rookie move), you can use household bleach—but not the fancy scented kind with “fresh rain” or “ocean breeze.” You want plain, unscented sodium hypochlorite with 5–9% concentration. Add 8 drops per gallon, stir, and let it sit for 30 minutes. It’ll smell slightly like a swimming pool, but that’s the smell of victory.
E. Coli in Your Water? 5 Easy Ways to Remove it (US Guide
Iodine tablets are another option, though your water will taste like a first-aid kit. Don’t use iodine if you’re pregnant or have thyroid issues—seriously, read the bottle. But for a weekend warrior, these little tablets are like tiny ninjas that assassinate E. coli. Just don’t expect Michelin-star flavor.
