Safe Drinking Water at Home

18 items · Home · Easy difficulty · 15 min

Quick, practical steps to keep your home drinking water safe and clean.

• Protect your water source

  Prevent contamination at the source before treatment is needed.

• Clear the area around the source of trash and animal waste

  Remove debris and droppings within about 3 meters to lower contamination risk.

• Keep wells, pipes, and inlets covered and sealed

  Proper covers reduce debris and insect entry at the source.

• Keep livestock and chemicals away from the water source

  Avoid grazing, storage, or washing near the source to prevent contamination.

• Check water clarity by holding a sample up to the light

  Cloudy water (high turbidity) needs settling or filtration before disinfection.

• Treat water before drinking

  Choose an appropriate point-of-use treatment each time before drinking.

• Boil water until it reaches a rolling boil for 1 minute, then cool covered

  Longer boil times (e.g., 3 minutes) may be needed at high altitude.

• Add unscented household bleach to disinfect as directed

  Use only unscented bleach and follow manufacturer instructions; wait before drinking.

• Use a certified drinking-water filter and follow maintenance instructions

  Choose filters rated for bacteria/viruses or turbidity as needed and change cartridges on schedule.

• Store treated water safely

  Keep treated water protected from recontamination after treatment.

• Use clean, narrow-neck containers with tight lids for drinking water

  Narrow necks reduce the chance of hands or dirt entering stored water.

• Dispense water using a clean tap or ladle to avoid touching the water

  Avoid dipping cups or hands directly into storage containers.

• Clean and dry storage containers at least once a week

  Wash with clean water and soap, rinse, and let containers air dry fully.

• Wash hands before collecting or handling drinking water

  Hand hygiene prevents transferring germs into containers.

• Smell and taste a very small sip; stop if water smells or tastes unusual

  Chemical smells, strong tastes, or rotten odors may indicate contamination.

• Arrange professional water testing annually or if contamination is suspected

  Test for bacteria, nitrates, and local chemical risks using an accredited lab.

• Keep a simple log of treatments and test dates

  Record when you boiled, filtered, chlorinated, or had lab results.

• Teach household members how to collect, treat, and store water safely

  Share step-by-step routines so everyone follows the same safe practices.

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