how to know when MMS has gone bad?

Once the ClO2 is used up purifying puddle water, there is little active ingredient left to help you.

ppm, parts per million.

Purifying lake water before hand might be the answer.
1-3 drops per gallon over night , I think that this is unactivated MMS.
Someone will confirm.

Dawna said:

what is ppms? what is the test? if it's that strip...no I didn't bring a pack of them, I brought baggies of sodium chlorite that I had weighed at home, each bag needs to be mixed with 1/3 cup water.

It seems you are making 22.4% sodium chlorite, aka unactivated mms. It is important to stir the solution often with a non-metallic utensil. Distilled water is preferred, but if not available, then use the cleanest water you can find.

Here is a short video slide show on making 22.4% SC

I like Ray's idea to purify the water first....one drop a gallon, one hour is what I think my book says, but 2 drops overnight would be safest. Then there's no doubt on the strength.

I took Jim's class in PV a year ago, however I didn't bring my instruction book with me...just in case...but I measured the crystals all out and wrote on the baggies how much citric acid to add and how much water to add, so I'm not afraid of the strength being wrong. I have no recollection of the % I am making.....

It's just amazing how quickly the sodium chlorite dissolves in soft lake water, how clear it is. The color in the photo above is how the color looked when it was mixed with hard water and wouldn't ever dissolve.

I tell everyone that distilled water is best....however.....we don't have stores that carry that! Best I can do is Sprite.

Thanks for all the help.