From central and south-central New Hampshire (Manchester, Concord, etc.):

1. Take Interstate 93 North to Route 104 East (Exit 23).
2. Take Route 104 East to Route 3 North (near Meredith).
3. Take Route 3 North to Route 25 East (intersection in Meredith).
4. Take Route 25 East to Route 16 North (near West Ossipee).
5. Take Route 16 North to Pinkham Notch Visitor Center/Joe Dodge Lodge, which is located on the left side of Route 16 approximately 12 miles north of the Glen intersection.

Chlorine bleach commonly used in laundry can also be used to sterilize water. At least when it comes from bleach where the active ingredient is sodium hypochlorite.

Use 5 drops of bleach per each half gallon of water to be purified, and allow it to sit undisturbed for half an hour to make it safe for drinking. Letting it sit several hours more will help reduce the chlorine taste, as the chlorine will slowly evaporate out.

(The 1980 reference below offers a figure of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite in bleach, while a check of the 2002 bleach on my own shelf says it has 6% sodium hypochlorite)

Don't have suitable bleach to apply to your water? Then you can use 2% tincture of iodine for the purpose, adding 10 drops to each half gallon of water to be purified, and letting the water sit undisturbed for 30 minutes before drinking.

Can Clorox® Regular-Bleach be used to disinfect water?

A. Yes. When boiling of water for 1 minute is not possible in an emergency situation, you can disinfect your drinking water with Clorox® Regular-Bleach as follows:

1. Remove suspended particles by filtering or letting particles settle to the bottom.
2. Pour off clear water into a clean container.
3. Add 8 drops of Clorox® Regular-Bleach (not scented or color-safe) to one gallon of water (2 drops to 1 quart). For cloudy water, use 16 drops per gallon of water (4 drops to 1 quart).
4. Allow the treated water to stand for 30 minutes. Water should have a slight bleach odor. If not, repeat and wait another 15 minutes. The treated water can then be made palatable by pouring it between clean containers several times.

What organisms does Clorox® Regular-Bleach kill?

A. Bacteria
Staphylococcus aureus (Staph.)
Salmonella choleraesuis
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep.)
Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli)
Shigella dysenteriae

Fungi
Trichophyton mentagrophytes (can cause Athlete's Foot)
Candida albicans (a yeast)

Viruses
Rhinovirus Type 37 (a type of virus that can cause colds)
Influenza A (Flu virus)
Hepatitis A virus
Rotavirus
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)*
Herpes simplex Type 2
Rubella virus
Adenovirus Type 2
Cytomegalovirus

Iodine

For those travelers wishing to avoid the weight and complications of a filter or pump system, iodine can be a way to kill germs and sterilize water before drinking. Iodine does not get rid of any impurities in the water, however, so if the water is dirty or has small floating particles in it, it will still not be drinkable.

Iodine comes in various forms, the most common being tablets or droplets. Droplets can be added to a thermos of water, then left to sit for a while. Tablets should be place din the water and allowed to dissolve fully. Iodine must mix well in with the water, so a quick shake or stir can be helpful to get the water mixed. Iodine takes a certain amount of time to work, however, so be sure to leave the iodine in the water for at least 10 minutes, to be sure all the germs are killed.

Campground Water Sources

If you are staying in a campground or extensive campsite, chances are there will be a potable water source on-site. This means that you will not have to go looking for water, or have to carry water from a distant location. Check the public restrooms of your campsite, there may be a tap outside with fresh water. As always, check to make sure the tap is clearly marked as potable before you drink it. Non-potable water is still safe for cleaning clothes or other campground necessities, but should not be drunk or ingested. Non-potable water can be sterilized, however, with a thorough boiling. Boil the water for at least 10 minutes, to make sure all parasites and germs are killed, then let cool before drinking.