Chapter 8 of 14

VII. Water and Milk Pasteurization

Contaminated drinking water or milk kills thousands of people each day, especially children. The Word Health Organization (WHO) reports that 80 percent of illnesses in the world are spread through contaminated water. Studies show that heating water to about 65 degrees to 70 degrees Celsius (150 degrees Fahrenheit) is sufficient to kill coliform bacteria, rotaviruses, enteroviruses and even Giardia. This is called pasteurization.

Pasteurization depends on how hot and how long water is heated. But how do you know if the water got hot enough? You could use a thermometer, but this would add to the cost, of course. When steam leaves the canning jar (with lid on tight) and forms "dew" on the inside of the cooking bag, then the water is probably pasteurized to drink. (The goal is to heat to 160 degrees Fahrenheit for at least six minutes.) With a stripe of black paint scraped off the jar, one can look through the bag and into the jar and see when the water is boiling - then it is safe for sure.

Think of all the lives that can be saved simply by pasteurizing water using a simple Solar Cooker!