- What are water purification tablets?
- Comparison table of best water purification tablets
- How does water purification tablets works?
- Different types of ingredients contained in water purification tablets
- Are water purification tablet safe?
- Do water purification tablets affect the taste of water?
- Advantages and disadvantages of water purification tablets
- Best brand of water purification tablets in the market
- What to consider when buying water purification tablets
- Here is review of Top 10 Best Water Purification Tablets
A long time ago military used the cloth to drain water impurities and then boil water for few minutes. The method was very effective, but it took more time for the army to get safe water for drinking. The method was hazardous because they were using firewood to boil water that made easy for an enemy to locate. All those setbacks made researchers introduced another alternative, and a water purification tablet was born. In this article, you will learn Top 10 Best Water Purification Tablets that you can use to purify water.
What are water purification tablets?
Water purification tablets there are chemicals put in water to kill micro-organisms and other impurities found in water to make it safe for human use.
Comparison table of best water purification tablets
Name image effectiveness ingredients treatment time shelf life where to buy
Aquatabs 
100 packs treats 200 quarts Troclosene Sodium 30 minutes 5 years Buy here
Potable Aqua 
2 tablets 1liter Tetraglycine Hydroperiodide 35 minutes 4 years Buy here
Polar Pure Iodine 
2,000liters Buy here
Katadyn Micropur 
1tablets 1liter Chlorine Dioxide 30min up to 4 hours 5years buy here
Aquamira 
30 gallons Chlorine Dioxide 30 min 4 years buy here
55 Gallon Water Preserver Concentrate 
55 gallons ph-balanced sodium hypochlorite 5 years buy here
MSR Aquatabs Water Purification 
60 liters buy here
Quake Kare 
1 tablet-1 liter buy here
Coghlan's Drinking Water Tablets 
1 tablet-1 quartz buy here
Mightie Company Worlds 
buy here
Ef chlor Portable water purification tablets 
50 gallons buy here
Where to use water purification tablets
For outdoor activities
The water purification tablets and portable water filters are best fit for outdoor activities such as hiking. Reason being of its lightweight and don’t take big space in your bag.
Emergency disaster
During times of flood, hurricanes, earthquake and other disaster water tablets are used to purify water.
Military, peacekeepers use the water tablets, and soldiers to clean water for drinking.
It is also used by international travelers who visit countries with the poor water treatment system, don’t have safe water and during emergency times.
How does water purification tablets works?
Water purification tablet has different ingredients, and each requires different quantity, water temperature, and time to take effect or work.
Most of them work the same you put water in the container, add the tablets, wait for 30 minutes to dissolve and to be effective.
Different types of ingredients contained in water purification tablets
Chlorine-based tablets
The tablets contain an ingredient called Halazone. It is used in areas with low hygienic and best to remove E. coli bacteria in the water. The only disadvantage once opened is used within a maximum of three days
Chlorine bleach tablets
The chlorine bleach tablets you will wait for 30 minutes to one hour to your water ready for drinking. The tablet is the best alternative, right for the long term, and widely used.
Chlorine dioxide based tablets
It is effective against impurities such as viruses, bacteria, and cysts. The only side effect once used for a long time it causes certain body tissue changes the standard color to gray. Also, you will have to wait up to four hours to get ready water for drinking.
When stored in an airtight condition may be retained for years
Iodine crystals tablets
The method works on different water condition. If the water is cold, you allow staying for more than 30 minutes to do its work and if the water is warm within 30 minutes the water is safe for human consumption. The downside of the tablet in cold water some cysts are not killed and if you consume non-dissolved crystal can be deadly.
The best part if it is not exposed to air the shelf life can be virtually endless.
Iodine tablets
The tablet is best to kill parasites, pathogen, and protozoa in water. If water is warm, cold and dirtier within 30 minutes, you have clean, safe drinking water. The only downside it changes the taste of water and makes it less appealing but you can add vitamin c tablets to make water taste good or neutralize the bad taste.
Also, iodine tablets cannot be used for a longer time if you have thyroid complication, pregnant and iodine sensitivity.
Are water purification tablet safe?
I would say yes or no. When we use and store water purification tablets the right way, there are safe.
To make water purification tablets first heat the water to raise the water temperature, it will allow purifying tablets work quicker. Also, when you raise water temperature above 20 degrees, impurities that take long to neutralize like cysts can be killed within 30 minutes.
The water purification tablet does not remove physical particles like sediments and purify chemically contaminated water. Filter your water using a filtering system to remove physical particles.
Drop your tablet and wait for 30 minutes to make it effective and dissolve properly in water.
Drink the treated water within 24 hours. If you wait treated water to stay for more than 30 hours water may get contaminated again, and the bacteria may have a chance to reproduce. The above advice will make water purification tablets safe.
My no answer, if you are using iodine crystal tablets and consume non-dissolved crystals, can be deadly.
Do water purification tablets affect the taste of water?
Some of the tablets affect the taste of water. it’s not a big problem you can add vitamin c tablets, water sweeteners, water taste enhancers or other neutralizers to improve the taste.
Box Advantages and disadvantages of water purification tablets
Advantages of water purification tablets The water tablets are lightweight and do not occupy large space in your bag thus makes it portable. You require no special equipment when using it. You just need a container to put water and tablets. regionsregionsThere is no electricity required to make it effective thus makes it suitable for remote areas or regions with the power problem. Except for Some tablets that need water to be heated which can be done with firewood or other sources of fire. If stored properly in an airtight container can be used for the long-term to purify water. The water purification tablets are affordable and accessible. The tablets are available at most pharmacies and stores, and they cost an average of $3 for a packet containing 50 tablets. Disadvantages of water purification tabletsAdvantages and disadvantages of water purification tablets
Best brand of water purification tablets in the market
- Aquatabs
- Katadyn Micropur
- Aquamira
- Portable Aqua
- Polar Pure
What to consider when buying water purification tablets
There are so many different types of water purification tablet in the market and choosing the right product can be challenging but if you follow our buyers guide the process can be very much easy.
Ingredients in the water tablets – some tablets have ingredients that take longer to purify water, stains clothes, change skin color and changes smell and odor of water
Shelf life – water purification have different shelf life some when opened is supposed to be used for a maximum of three days other stays longer. Check the expiry date you don’t have to buy something that will expire before the next usage
Allergies – if you have an expectant mom, someone who is iodine allergies and thyroid condition this is not the right method of water purification.
Cost of water purification tablets and where to buy
Water purification tablets are affordable and available in pharmacies, online stores, and nearby stores. Most of them cost an average of $3 a packet of 5o tablets.
Here is review of Top 10 Best Water Purification Tablets
Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets The product has been in use for emergencies such as tornado, hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods for over 20 years. After mixing the tablets the water is ready after 30 minutes. The 100 packs treat up to 200 quarts of water. The tablet does not give an unpleasant taste or change color of the water. The source of water to be treated may be rainwater, river, well, lakes and cistern. Aquatabs is effective to kill microorganisms in water to prevent water-borne disease. An active ingredient of aqua tabs is Troclosene Sodium. It does not contain iodine thus makes it safe for a pregnant woman, a person with iodine allergies and thyroid conditions. Aquatabs is certified by different bodies such as NSF / ANSI 60, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), International Red Cross, Red Crescent Movement specification, UNICEF specification and NATO makes it safe for human use Read more facts about Aquatabs water purification tablets here Pro Cons Quantity – 100 packs treat 200 quarts Ingredients – Troclosene Sodium Shelf life – 5 years Treatment time – 30 minutes Water is ready within 35 minutes One bottle has 50 tablets that are enough to treat 20 quarts of water or 2 tablets one liter of water. The tablet is ideal for hiking, backpacking, and emergency preparedness It has Tetraglycine Hydroperiodide ingredients which liberate Titratable Iodine when released in water. The product is effective against Giardia Lamblia Pro Cons It is not proven effective against viruses and cysts such as cryptosporidium Summary Comparison table of other portable Aqua water purification tablets
Bonus video on how Portable Aqua works
Polar Pure Iodine Water Filter Purifier The product kills all virus and bacteria. Polar Pure is EPA certified and treats up to 2000 liters of water.
name destroys treatment time effectiveness where to buy
Potable Aqua Giardia Lamblia 35 minutes 50 tablets 25 quarts where to buy
Potable Aqua PA+ Giardia Lamblia 35 minutes 2 tablets 1 quarts Buy here
potable Aqua chlorine dioxide Giardia Lamblia, virus, cysts such as cryptospoidium 4 hours 30 tablets 30 quarts Buy here
potable Aqua pure Giardia Lamblia, virus, cysts such as cryptospoidium 35 minutes for bacteria and viruses where to buy
The tablets are effective against all microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, giardia, and cryptosporidium One tablet treats one liter of water The product doesn’t produce an unpleasant taste Micropur tablets is a chlorine dioxide tablets It takes 30 minutes to treat water but if the water contains Cryptosporidium takes up to four hours to process. Pro It is effective against viruses, bacteria, giardia, and cryptosporidium. Cons The item is seasonal and not available all year season Summary: Aquamira – Chlorine Dioxide Water Treatment Two Part Liquid – 1 oz Bottles with Dropper Lid- The Aquamira water treatment unlocks the power of chlorine dioxide to kill bacteria and enhance the taste of treated water. It has a four-year shelf life from manufacturing date and can treat up to 30 gallons. 55 Gallon Water Preserver Concentrate The survival kits online water treatment safely treats your water and allows it to be stored for an emergency for five years. The product is tested, proven, recognized and licensed by U.S. and state EPA’s Proprietary formula and strict laboratory analysis insures potency. This product is a proprietary formula of stabilized and ph-balanced sodium hypochlorite with highly effective residual action that kills bacteria, viruses, mole, and fungus. MSR Aquatabs Water Purification The MSR water purification is US EPA approved to remove viruses, bacteria, and Giardia cysts effectively but it is not useful against Cryptosporidium. Each package has 30 tablets that treat up to 60 liters in 30 minutes. Quake Kare Water Purification Tablets The Quake Kare Water Purification Tablets is great for emergencies and outdoors. One tablet purifies one liter of water. Coghlan’s Drinking Water Tablets, 50 Tablets The water tablet that is great to have on hand while hiking or camping. One tablet treats one quart of water. Mightie Company Worlds #1 Water Purification Tablets – Aquatabs The Mightie Company Worlds purification tablet cleans drinking water in 30 minutes and effectively kills microorganisms in water to prevent cholera, typhoid, dysentery and other water-borne diseases. Each package has 100 sealed tablets with up to five years shelf life. It is certified by NSF/ANSI and approved the formula for routine use by the World Health Organization (WHO) Ef chlor Portable water purification tablets The package has ten tablets that purify a total of 50 gallons (one tablet use to disinfect five gallons) and let stand for 30 minutes. It is effective against BACTERIA, VIRUSES, FUNGI, and PROTOZOA. The stable tablet with a shelf life of 2-3 years and resistant to organic spoilage.
Water purification tablets are one of the best methods to purify water during emergency times but make sure you read information, usage instruction, and direction on the packaging. Also, read the review of our Top 10 Best Water Purification Tablets and what to consider before buying to make your journey of buying easier and buy the right tablets to purify your water.
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