First wash container with soap and hot water. Rinse. Sanitize container using 1 tablespoon of chorine bleach per gallon of water. Shake and let soak for at least 2 mintues. Empty bleach. Rinse with clean water or better yet, let air dry completely (chlorine will escape as a gas).

Before closing home-filled water bottle, add 5-7 drops of chlorine bleach per gallon of water.

The Boy Scouts of America method for sanitation of drinking water is as follows:

1. Filter the water to remove as many solids as possible.

2. Bring it to a rolling boil and boil it for a full minute.

3. Let it cool at least 30 minutes.

4. Add eight drops of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of cool water . (14PPM - Use common household bleach; 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite should be the only active ingredient; there should not be any added soap or fragrances Water must be cool or chlorine will dissipate and be rendered useless.

5. Let the water stand 30 minutes.

6. If it smells of chlorine, you can use it. If it does not smell of chlorine, add eight more drops of bleach and let it stand another 30 minutes. Smell it again. You can use it if it smells of chlorine. If it doesn’t, discard it an find another water source.

7. The only accepted measurement of chlorine (or water treatment agents) is the drop. A drop is specifically measurable (1/20 mL; 0.002192982 fluid oz). Other measures such as "capful" or "scant teaspoon" are not uniformly measurable and should not be used.