Which of the following is NOT listed as a method for treating drinking water during a disaster?

• A. Boiling
• B. Distilling
• C. Chlorinating with household bleach
• D. Filtration through a coffee filter

Answer: (D)

The important point is that disaster water treatment relies on methods that reliably kill or remove pathogens. Boiling exposes water to heat long enough to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Distillation uses a heating/condensing process that leaves many contaminants behind, effectively removing microbes and dissolved substances. Chlorinating with household bleach adds a disinfectant that inactivates microorganisms. Filtration through a coffee filter, however, can remove only larger particulate matter and does not reliably remove most pathogens or dissolved contaminants, so it isn’t considered an effective standalone method for making drinking water safe in disaster situations.