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Three Letters Re: Clarification on Calcium Hypochlorite for Water Purification

Jim,
It has been almost 20 years since I had a chemistry class, so you may want to check this with a chemist. Wanderer posted the following comment:

“I stopped at the local Big Box lumber yard and they had Calcium Hypochlorite, (a.k.a. Pool Shock) it was concerning as it states 50% Calcium Hypochlorite and 50% Other Ingredients. Making it a 50% available Chlorine.
In common language, … is this adequate? It does not seem to be of the 70% goal you mentioned on your earlier post.”

He was referring to the EPA web site comment:

“… since the calcium hypochlorite has an available chlorine equal to 70 percent of its weight.”

The Wanderer’s comment about his purchase making 50% available chlorine is not quite right. Calcium hypochlorite, Ca(ClO)2 will ‘release’ chlorine and oxygen ions when mixed with water. The EPA comment actually means that pure calcium hypochlorite can release enough chlorine ions equal to 70% of the weight of the amount of the compound used. For instance, if 1 ounce of pure calcium hypochlorite is mixed with water, 0.7 ounces of chlorine ions will be released. If the mixture that Wanderer bought is 50% inert, then using one ounce will only release 0.35 ounces of chlorine ions. Also, I am not sure of the density of calcium hypochlorite, but any measurement like this should be sure to differentiate between mass and weight. If the density is close to one, then using a volume measure for ‘ounce’ is probably good enough. If not, then the amount used should probably be measured on reasonably accurate scale (and not a balance). Please check my work if you can.
Thanks, – M.W.

Sir,
I have found granular calcium hypochlorite at our local Kinetico (water softener) store. They sell a package of two 8 oz bottles distributed by a company called Better Water Ind., Inc. 209 North Tyler Street, Tyler, MN 56178, phone: 507-247-5929. [At their site] click on their “products” link and scroll down to “BWI Certified Chlorine.” I notice that they have [packaging ] available from 3.5 pound jars up to 100 pound drums! The product is sold as a well sanitizer pack called “Well Safe” and comes with one 8 oz bottle of granulated chlorine (73% calcium hypochlorite) and one 8 oz bottle of chlorine pellets that are 73% calcium hypochlorinate.- Opus

Good Evening:
I also went to my pool supply store to obtain calcium hypochlorite. They had Poolife brand “TurboShock.” It was $14.85 for 5 pounds. Active ingredient:calcium hypochlorite 78% and other ingredients 22%. No one was aware of the substance of the other ingredient. I called the National Poison Control Hotline to find out. They also stated the ingredient was not known but, was a [inert] filler of sorts and not harmful.
I’m satisfied. I could decontaminate my well and everything else [for a long time] with 20 pounds of Turboshock. – Lauralei

Letter Re: Storing Ethanol Blend Gasoline?

Jim,
Here in the DC area the gasoline supplies are by law blended with (I think) 15% ethanol. I’m familiar with the requirements for storing standard gasoline, but have no idea if the ethanol blend poses any problems for long term storage. Do you have any advice or knowledge that you can share with your readers on this? – Shawnee

JWR Replies: Sorry, but that goes beyond my expertise. Perhaps some of the blog readers would care to comment.

Letter Re: “Ural” Russian Motorcycles with Sidecars

Jim,
I saw a great motorcycle here in North Idaho that I thought would be of interest to the readers of SurvivalBlog. I spotted a fellow gassing up a motorcycle with a sidecar and I decided to take a quick look. It looked like an excellent restored WW2 era motorcycle, something that conjured up thoughts of Steve McQueen in the movie ‘The Great Escape‘. I found out though that this bike was in fact brand new, a Russian copy of the German BMW motorcycle–www.imz-ural.com for lots of info. The paint scheme was Camouflage and the [Ural Patrol model’s] very handy sidecar’s wheel is attached to the drive shaft to facilitate 2WD. The owner stated that the bike is very dependable, loves the dirt roads in the area and averages around 31 m.p.g. This struck me as a very useful mode of transportation if and when the price of fuel climbs even higher. With the sidecar it would make a great grocery-getter or you use your imagination. Seems the technology, now 70 yrs old, was reverse engineered so it is nearly identical to its German counterpart. This might be something worth looking into. Best Regards – Jason in North Idaho

Odds ‘n Sods:

Petromax Lanterns: This gent on The FALFiles is selling the genuine article–originally from German Bundeswehr surplus.

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SurvivalBlog reader J.E. mentioned: “I ran across this link via a productivity site: Free e-textbooks for a myriad of subjects, at http://www.textbookrevolution.org/ Very useful, with of course the standard disclaimer about not depending on electronic documents being accessible in a ‘situation’.” #1 Son adds: Our readers that have home-schooled kids may find this useful as well.

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Jim K. forwarded this link to a site with some interesting photos of improvised up-armored civilian “contractor” vehicles in Iraq. As the old Doobie Brothers song goes: “Oh Blackwater, keep on rollin’…” I suspect that some of the contractor vehicles in The Big Sandbox also now carry anti-IED jammers. (Commercial off-the-shelf CREW-2 equivalents.) Or if they don’t, they should!

Note From JWR:

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Letter Re: Retreat Locale Recommendations in Texas

Dear Mr. Rawles,
In answer to your query, let me share a few observations:
1. Gillespie and Kerr Counties are a paradise. The Guadalupe is a good river, and there is a lot of fertile and secluded canyon-bottom where folk can live their lives in peace. Those secluded canyons are frequently bordered by godless rocky outcrops. The other good thing about that part of the world is that the Germans that populate the area don’t tolerate lawlessness. Period. Fredericksburg in Gillespie is so German that municipal politics is still Protestant-Catholic. Kerville is little different. New Braunfels is similar, but is too close to the Interstate.
2. Other than the undesirable proximity to San Antonio, Atascosa county is a good pick. Farmland is exceptionally fertile. Most notable crop is Poteet strawberries.
3. McMullen is pretty country, but you’re a touch closer to Mexico than you might want. In the period of the Republic, the original border of Texas was the Nueces river. There was something of a no-man’s land between the Nueces and the Rio Grande. I’d be a touch sensitive about moving down there.
4. Van Zandt is a touch too close to Dallas. If I were going to East Texas, which is generally the most fertile part of the state, I’d move further south and East toward Palestine and Rusk. Note that the state prison population is concentrated in East Texas, and this may have an adverse impact on social stability. In Texas, the pre-industrial pattern of settlement was entirely water dependent. Generally speaking, I-35 represents a major (inactive) fault-line, the Balcones Fault. There is a dormant volcano in Austin, about 11 miles from I-35 (pilot knob). Each of the major towns (San Antonio, Austin, Waco, Dallas) along I-35 is located at the point of highest navigation, where planes and forests of East Texas break into rockier and more arid ground. Each was the site of Indian encampment prior to white settlement. The buffalo and the Indian followed the fault line for 5,000 years before we got here.
Generally speaking, there is a lot of incredibly fertile farmland (the blackland prairie and the piney woods in East Texas, and, in the West, the usable land is almost entirely within stream beds. The Hill Country West of I-35 from Lampasas to San Antonio has great aquifers. The land is can be really hard and arid if you are far enough west of 35 to be removed from the major centers of population, but, if you get in a good valley, it’s beautiful.
If I had to make this decision from the hip, I would recommend counties where you find a lot of German town names in central Texas. There are still people down there that speak a German accent with a trace of English. [JWR Adds: I agree. Those German immigrants had a good eye for water sources and fertile ground.]
Just so you’ll know, I abundantly resented of one of your plot choices in “Patriots”. Your decision that Texas would be one of the states pacified by the UN Goon Squad is not in touch with the mentality and level of armament of the people of Texas. To put this in perspective for you, I had lunch today with a member of the state legislature who has a ‘Secede’ bumper sticker on the back of his truck. Otherwise, I thought the book was quite compelling. Keep up the good work. Best Regards, – K.A.D.

Letter Re: Recommended Pre-1899 Action for a Custom Bolt Action Rifle Project

Sir::
I am looking for a non-FFL Mauser type action in 8mm for conversion to .444 Marlin. I desire [something] similar to 1888 Commission rifle or compatible [as a source] for a complete bolt and receiver. I would consider complete rifle, if shootable. Money is no object, if is the object spelled cheap. I am direct and on fixed income yet desire to do this project. – Pete

JWR Replies: For building a pre-1899 bolt action chambered in .444 Marlin your best starting point (read: strong, yet, inexpensive) is a Model 1893 Oberndorf (Turkish contract) Mauser. The same action is suitable for re-barreling to 7 x57 Mauser, 6.5 x 55 Mauser, 8×57 Mauser .257 Roberts, and even .308 Winchester. (Since these actions were all deeply re-heat treated when they were arsenal converted to 8×57 Mauser in the 1930s.) A great source for complete Model 1893 rifles is The Pre-1899 Specialist. (One of our advertisers.) They sell these rifles for $100 less than Sportsman’s Guide. Tell them that Jim Rawles sent you.

Odds ‘n Sods:

“No sheep in the house!” In recent weeks we have been pasturing our small flock of Jacob sheep inside the fenced acre right near our house, to work the grass down. (The goal has been to minimize wiildfire danger.) While here at the house, the sheep have been getting into a little mischief. Yesterday our ram developed a taste for the leaves on our grape vines. So I’ll have to put up a small protective fence. They’ve also decided that our front porch is the safest place to sleep. So every morning we get to sweep the “Rasinets” off the porch. Charming. The latest outrage came when someone left the front sun porch door open. Soon, the porch was crowded with sheep, milling around, no doubt searching for the source of their C-O-B sweet feed. So I had to shoo them out with shouts of “No sheep in the house!” And of course they left a few souvenir Rasinets.

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Survival Blog reader R.O. e-mailed this comment: : “I suggest than everyone read (or re-read) Ayn Rand’s novel “Atlas Shrugged.” It was required reading while I was in grad school in the 1960s. Da**ed if most of it isn’t coming true today.

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Rourke flagged this article: Home Sales Decline in 28 U.S. States and District of Columbia. Rourke noted: “This is just the beginning of a market that will be be flooded with homes for sale, as people can’t afford to refinance at higher rates, or can’t afford the gas for [a] commute.”

 

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable.
Favorable conditions never come." – C.S. Lewis

Letter Re: Clarification on Calcium Hypochlorite for Water Purification

Hello James,
In reading your post on Tuesday May 16th on Water Purification, I have done some looking into this important topic. The link you provided from the EPA web site states below verbatim:
“Granular Calcium Hypochlorite. Add and dissolve one heaping teaspoon of high-test granular calcium hypochlorite (approximately 1/4 ounce) for each two gallons of water. The mixture will produce a stock chlorine solution of approximately 500 mg/L, since the calcium hypochlorite has an available chlorine equal to 70 percent of its weight. To disinfect water, add the chlorine solution in the ratio of one part of chlorine solution to each 100 parts of water to be treated. This is roughly equal to adding 1 pint (16 oz.) of stock chlorine to each 12.5 gallons of water to be disinfected. To remove any objectionable chlorine odor, aerate the water as described above.”
I stopped at the local pool supply store to inquire about what they would recommend for drinking water purification. I was brought to everything but Calcium Hypochlorite. I had to ask the employee if he could verify this because it is important that I not get the wrong item. He continued to say “…this is what you want…” I asked another employee that was not privy to my discussion, and she said,…. “…this here is what you want…” Again, not the product I was looking for. In fact out of four employees, I was shown four different products. The female clerk was very inquisitive and very insistent. I told her that I thought it had calcium in it and she became even more awkward. I felt as if I was to be added to some list just for wanting to purify my water. I left there with the wrong product and was asked for my name on the receipt, (I paid cash). I wanted to bring this up as my guess is that there are those who choose to do something “illegal” with this product and it makes it harder for normal law abiding folk like myself to purchase.
I stopped at the local Big Box lumber yard and they had Calcium Hypochlorite, (a.k.a. Pool Shock) it was concerning as it states 50% Calcium Hypochlorite and 50% Other Ingredients. Making it a 50% available Chlorine.
In common language, … is this adequate? It does not seem to be of the 70% goal you mentioned on your earlier post. I think there is an equation that we need that is missing. The EPA site states there is an available 70% chlorine based on weight. Is this to be constructed as true for ALL Calcium Hypochlorite being equal to this ratio? What about the 50% OTHER INGREDIENTS? To make things more confusing, they offered another brand of this that had 47% Calcium Hypochlorite.
Please help close the gap on this topic as it is such an important one. – The Wanderer

JWR Replies: The problem with most retail store employees these is that they are marginally qualified to run a cash register, but little else. To most of them pool water chemistry is an arcane art–not rational science. Don’t ask them chemistry questions!

A granular (dry powder) “pool shock” product that lists only Calcium Hypochlorite as the active ingredient should be safe to use for water purification. The problem with other varieties is that they include other algaecide or fungicide chemicals that are probably not safe for human consumption. Ditto for using liquid bleach for the same purpose.ou want to buy Calcium Hypochlorite bleach. Do NOT buy bleach with fabric softeners, scents, et cetera. Keep in mind that bleach solutions break down and weaken with time (anticipate a 24 month shelf life), but that dry granular bleach stores indefinitely.

Re: > What about the 50% OTHER INGREDIENTS?

Those are most likely inert filler. But that may differ widely, depending on maker/brand. You’ll have to look at the label carefully. Be certain that there are no other chemicals, dyes, scents, et cetera before using any chlorine product for water purification!

Letter Re: Packing Priority and Vehicle Signs to Facilitate G.O.O.D.

I have read your blog as well as your book “Patriots” for a long time now, along with other web sites and articles. I find great information, some of which I must print out and save. I started an accordion folder with printouts, sorted by type, such as…food, shelter, skills, firepower, etc. Can’t leave these on a computer since retrieval without electricity would be impossible.
I believe the more probable catastrophe will be an economic one, possibly related to terrorist activities and have planned accordingly. I have my small retreat, eight acres in the North Georgia mountains, four acres in woods, the rest in farmable pasture land.One half acre in garden and fruit now, and another acre available prepared with little effort. I have a strong year round creek on one property line and a shallow well that gives plenty of water. I figure that if times get truly bad I can expect family nearby (as many as 15) to want to come stay with me. I cannot refuse them and am planning accordingly. I have drafted letters and e-mails to be sent last minute telling them what to expect. I tell them if they plan to come to proceed in the following manner:

1- Acquire all available cash, (savings, checking, stashed, mad money, etc)
2- Fill up one vehicle with gas. (Purchase, empty other car, lawnmower, etc)
3-Refill as much prescription drugs as they can afford, even using credit cards. Don’t worry about insurance, just pay the price.
4- Leaving just enough room for people, pack the car in this order of value:
a-Non perishable foods, spices, etc.
b-Medicines and medical devices
c-Arms and ammo, knives, axes, maintenance items,
d-Clothes, heavy duty everyday wearable, don’t forget out
of season clothes
e- Cooking and preserving items, dishes, pots, supplies
f-Any fuels and oils, kerosene, motor oil, charcoal. propane
g-Tools, battery operated items (radios)
h- Mattress (not box springs), linens, towels, etc.
i-Personal items, brushes, books, razor,
5- Have some means of communication, cell phone, C.B. or walkie-talkie for on the road.
Bottom line is: DON’T ARRIVE EMPTY HANDED. They won’t be turned away, but let them know something is expected.

I have rated each person as to capability to work and defend the homestead and expect each to do a fair share of any duty assigned. Some will be able to guard homestead, some would be of little use in that capacity, at least at first. Proper motivation and training can happen along the way.

One item that I have thought of that may not occur to others preparing is [purchasing a pair of ] magnetic [vehicle door] signs. I have several of these made up for my vehicle. One says simply— SOIL SURVEY. I have put this on the side of my truck while out scouting and placing caches and no one questions me walking about with notepad or digging tool. Best not to be seen, but sometimes hiding in plain sight is a good alternative. Other signs could include:

EMERGENCY TRANSPORT MAINTENANCE
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
SURVEY
MAPPING DEPARTMENT
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
FORESTRY INSPECTION
EMVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

None of these are meant to infer any government or official capacity and if questioned, I intend to state that I am an independent contractor.The proper wording might even come in handy in a bug-out situation getting past a rookie roadblock operation.
Good luck and continued success with your endeavors. – PeacePipe in North Georgia

JWR Replies: Needless to say, folks, but never attempt to impersonate a government agent. The “private contractor” idea might work, especially if it is backed up with some business cards with your name the same job title. But honesty is the best policy. If your retreat is across state lines, then get your next driver’s license and vehicle registration in the state where you have your retreat property. There is no more compelling story–especially if it is substantiated by a state-issued driver’s license–than a truthful one: that you just want to get home. When the Schumer hits the fan, you will be referring to your second home–that you will doubtless want to make your full time residence.