Does this actually work? "Never drink any water found in nature without first treating it, either by boiling, using a portable water filter or UV sterilisation (by the sun). An example of UV sterilisation is to fill a clear (not coloured) water bottle and place it in the direct sunlight for at least 3 hours which will allow the suns UV rays to sterilise the water and make it safe for drink." I had never thought leaving a bottle of water in the sun could sterilise water. https://www.theblondenomads.com.au/5-bush-survival-tips/
Clear PET in direct sunlight for 6 hours. But 6 hours of direct sunlight might not be possible! It all depends on your location! https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/sun-clean-water.htm
Thanks Justin. Great article. Where I am, leaving in the sun for 6 hours is very feasible. It was interesting to read that it works in low temperatures. I automatically thought you would need high temperatures, but thinking about it logically, seeing as it's the UV rays that do the work, temperature isn't really an issue. I wish I had a chemistry set. I would love to test this.
You can actually get water test kits at a lot of home and garden stores. Make sure you test before and after you do the experiment!
Can you? I didn't realise. I'll have to make some enquiries. And yes, don't worry, I'll definitely test before and after ...
Why stop with ultraviolet? Industry goes gamma. http://www.radioactivity.eu.com/site/pages/Food_Processing.htm "Gamma rays are used industrially to ensure standards of hygiene in the food we consume. Over 20,000 tonnes of produce get sterilized every year in France, either by gamma irradiation or accelerated electrons."
Yes, but it's perfectly safe, don't you know. Surely you trust the Government to ensure our food is adequately processed.