Potable
Water
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DISCUSSION: Safe potable water is essential to the army. Water that is not properly treated can transmit such diseases as typhoid and paratyphoid fevers, bacillary dysentery, cholera, poliomyelitis, and common diarrhea. In some areas, water may also be the means of transmitting infectious hepatitis, schistosomiasis, and amoebic dysentery. Lessons from Operation DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM showed that units should use a planning factor of at least 7 gallons of water per soldier per 24-hour period.
LESSON(S): Treat the individual water supply with one iodine tablet per a quart size canteen if the water is clear, Two tablets if the water is cloudy, let stand for 5 minutes with the cap loosened and shake to permit leakage to rinse the thread around the neck. Tighten cap and let stand for 20 minutes. Calcium hypochlorite maybe used, add one ampule in one-half canteen cup of water, dissolve, then pour one canteen cap of the solution in the canteen shake and let stand for 30 minutes.
WATER CONTAINERS: The best containers for small quantities of water (5 gallons) is plastic water cans. Water in plastic cans will be good up to 72 hours, compared to metal which will only be good for 24 hours. However, you should change the water in your canteen at least every 24 hours. Water in trailers, if kept in the shade, will last up to 5 days. If the temperature outside exceeds 100o F, the temperature of your water must be monitored, and when it exceeds 92o F, it should be changed, as bacteria will multiply. If not changed, you will end up with a case of diarrhea. Ice in containers will keep water cool. If ice is put in the water trailers, the ice in it must be removed before the trailer is moved as the floating ice may destroy the inner protection of the trailer.
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