World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
UK ‘Black Sky event’ plan tells households to drink water mixed with bleach
Developed over time first seen 2 hours ago
The Department of Health and Social Care has prepared emergency radio advice for a “Black Sky event”, a prolonged power cut that disrupts internet and water supplies. The guidance explains how households without stored water could make some alternative sources safer to drink, including, as a last resort, treating water with carefully measured household bleach.
The BBC’s emergency broadcasts are planned to operate from a secure studio stocked with three days of food, fuel and water, using communications that do not depend on the internet. Households are advised to store at least three days’ drinking water, at three litres per person. The scripts recommend filtering collected water and, where possible, boiling it or using in-date purification tablets; bleach is described as an alternative, with about a quarter of a teaspoon per 10 litres and a 15-minute wait.
- Sources
- 2
- Outlets
- 1
- Left · Centre · Right
- 0 · 0 · 2
In short
- Emergency radio scripts cover a prolonged national power cut.
- Households are advised to store three litres per person daily.
- Filter and disinfect alternative water only if needed.
How this story developed
- 33 minutes ago The Department of Health and Social Care has prepared emergency radio advice for a “Black Sky event”, a prolonged power cut that disrupts internet and water supplies.
Explained simply
A “Black Sky event” is a prolonged power cut that could disrupt essential services, including internet and water supplies. The term is used for a scenario in which normal ways of getting information and meeting basic needs may be unavailable.
The Department of Health and Social Care has prepared advice for emergency radio broadcasts, which the BBC plans to transmit from a secure studio using communications that do not rely on the internet. The advice is intended to help households prepare, including by storing drinking water in advance.
It also describes ways to make some alternative water sources safer if stored supplies run out, such as filtering and boiling water or using purification tablets. Carefully measured household bleach is included only as a last resort; the guidance gives specific quantities and a waiting time.
Coverage · 2 sources
Bias meters
From 2 rated sources.