3 Ways to Make Drinking Water Safe at Home
Unsafe water spreads typhoid, cholera and diarrhoea. Three simple ways to make drinking water safe at home in Kenya: boiling, chlorine treatment and safe storage.
- Written by
- Primegala Clinical Team
- Published
- Reading time
- 1 min read
Short answer: Make water safe by boiling it (a full rolling boil for at least one minute) or treating it with chlorine following the product instructions, then store it covered in a clean container and pour it out rather than dipping cups in.
Typhoid, cholera and many cases of diarrhoea spread through contaminated water. These three habits protect your whole family.
1. Boil it
Bring water to a full rolling boil for at least one minute. Let it cool covered.
2. Treat it
Water treatment products containing chlorine are widely available in Kenyan shops. Use exactly the amount on the label and wait the stated time (usually 30 minutes) before drinking.
3. Store it safely
- Use a clean container with a lid and, ideally, a tap.
- Don't dip cups or hands into stored water.
- Clean the container regularly.
Plus: wash your hands
Wash hands with soap and water after using the toilet, after changing nappies and before preparing or eating food.
Fever, stomach pain or diarrhoea that won't settle? Read malaria or typhoid: how to tell or book a visit.
At Primegala
General Outpatient
Walk in any time for coughs, fevers, aches, infections and check-ups.
- Open 24 hours, every day, including public holidays
- Maili Sita, opposite Kiamaina Primary School
- SHA accepted for eligible services