Water Purification Tablets Ultimate Guide 2021

To survive in the environment, the only things you must require are oxygen and drinking water. But there is only 3% fresh water available in the entire world. That’s why the important thing you need to worry about is how you can keep yourself hydrated with potable water. In case, if you are unable to access the  safe drinking water, then the water purification tablets can help you to manage.

Drinking water from wild areas can directly be the reason for your death. That’s why it’s important to know the techniques in purifying water. It is the time when the purification tablets come into its use. You can use these even in tap water. By adding these kinds of tablets to the water, you can make sure you are drinking purified and hygienic water. Here we have listed the names of the top best water purification tablets. Let’s check out the list.

Best Water Purification Tablets:

1. Katadyn Micropur MP1

2. Potable Aqua with PA+Plus

3. Aquatabs

4. Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide

5. SteriPen Ultra

6. Expedition Research LLC TAC-H2O

7. Ef Chlor Portable

8. Rothco Chlor-Floc-

9. CamelBak Cleaning Tablets

10. Aquamira

 Best Water Purification Tablets for Everyday Use

Katadyn Micropur MP1

Description: These are effective against all micro organisms. By working against the bacteria, these medicines make all types of water drinkable. You can go for the 20- or 30-tablet pack. One tablet of Katadyn Micropur MP1 can treat up to one litre of water at a time.

The best thing about this medicine is that you will not feel any unpleasant taste of water after adding these pills. It fulfills all EPA microbiological water purifier test standards. But it can take at least 4 hours to treat 1-litre water.

Awesome Features: 

Reliability: This Katadyn Micropur MP1 medicine can remove the dirt from water easily. These can destroy every harmful particle that exists in the water. What makes it special is that it can remove Bacteria, Viruses, Protozoa, Cryptosporidium, and so on. But you need to put this tablet for at least four hours in the water to remove all the contamination. People who live in such areas where they are worried about viruses can use the tabs.

Ease of Use: You can use these Katadyn Micropur MP1 pills easily. Hence, you only need to take out the tabs from the package. Then, you need to drop a pill in one litre of water. And, wait for some time. In this case, you should always store the water in an opaque container. It will be better if you place the container in a dark place too.

Weight: The product weighs below an ounce. And it comes in a pack of thirty tabs that makes the product unbeatable in the market. You can use this one as an emergency preparedness kit also. It is beneficial when any disaster occurs and seems to lack a lack of purified water.

Speed: This Katadyn Micropur MP1 pill consumes more time to treat water. But you don’t need to wait too much time if Cryptosporidium is not a concerning matter to you. It is hard to know the water source that you use is either contaminated or clean.

Pros:

• Effective against microorganisms
• Ideal for carrying while travelling, camping, and so on.

Cons:

• It takes four hours to treat cold water.

Potable Aqua with PA+Plus 

Description: This Potable Aqua with PA+Plus is used across the globe by hikers, militaries, campers, emergency responders, and so on. These pills are mainly for short-term or limited emergency use.

It makes the water bacteriologically ideal for drinking. It is effective against Giardia Lamblia when you use it directly.

Awesome Features: 

Purification: Potable Aqua with PA+Plus come with the active component that is Tetraglycine Hydroperiodide (TGHP). The component weighs only 20 mg. When you add it into the water, it releases Hypoiodous acid (HIO) and Titratable Iodine of 8 milligrams (ppm). Each of these is known as germicidal compounds. Viruses, bacteria, and different types of cysts like Giardia Lamblia are examples of it. Hence, iodine penetrates every microorganisms’ cell wall. By doing it, these pills can kill them with ease. E-coli, Salmonella, Streptococcus Faecalis, Infectious hepatitis, Cholera, and Giardia lamblia are examples of microorganisms that the pill kills.

Build quality: It consists of 20 milligrams of Tetraglycine Hydroperiodide (TGHP). These tablets come with Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) that weighs only 45 mg. Potable Aqua with PA+Plus helps to remove both the odour and taste of iodine. To do it, the Potable Aqua with PA+Plus first convert these to colourless and odourless iodide. The tablets remove the colour and taste of iodine very fast. It can do it within three minutes.

Maintenance: If you don’t open the package, it can last up to four years. And even, it doesn’t lose its effectiveness. But it happens only when you store it in proper conditions. Try to store it between 60 to 86 °F. (15 to 30 °C)

Pros:

• Removes odour and taste of iodine
• Works very fast
• Lasts for a long time until the package remains unopened.

Cons:

• Doesn’t get mixed properly
• Instructions are not properly given.

Aquatabs

Description: NGOs and peacekeeping defence forces use these Aquatabs pills to make the water drinkable. NATO and many other military organisations also use these.

The tablets can kill the microorganisms in water. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and other waterborne illnesses. Aquatabs pill is ideal for disinfecting raw or pre-treated water. You can purify the water collected from rain, rivers, lakes, wells, cisterns by using this pill.

Awesome Features: 

Ease of Use: While using these pills, you need to make sure that you add the pills with right proportion of water. Hence, you need to measure out the water that you have taken.

Effectiveness: The Aquatabs consist of different marketing materials that make these effective against bacteria, viruses, etc. The tablets can kill 99.99% of bacteria with ease.

Active Ingredients: The Aquatabs consists of an active ingredient which is Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate.

Pros:

• Works very fast
• Perfect for emergency purpose usages

Cons:

• No instructions are given.

Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide

Description: These Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide pills can make the water clean and drinkable easily. Hikers, campers, militaries, emergency organisations mainly use this one while travelling. The tablets are effective against bacteria, viruses, and cysts such as Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium. The Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide tablets don’t leave any taste in the water.

You need to wait for four hours as soon as you add these tabs to one quart of contaminated water. The active ingredients of the pills combined react with water to produce chlorine dioxide. It is a strong disinfectant that meets all the EPA microbiological purifier standards.

Awesome Features: 

Useful and effective: The product uses the same proven technology used for water supplies in municipal areas. The Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide can remove bacteria, viruses, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, etc.

Treatment: It takes around four hours to treat water. Each Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide of the package comes with separate wrapping and sealing.

Temperature: You can store the Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide tablets between 60°F to 86°F. The effectiveness of the product remains for about four years. But be careful while using it as the pills is exposure to humidity, heat, air, and moisture. This kind of environment can make tabs less effective.

Pros:

• Perfect for using while hiking, camping, etc
• Meets EPA microbiological purifier standards
• Effective against bacteria, viruses

Cons:

• Leaves awful taste in water

SteriPen Ultra

Description: The product weighs very light. It can be fitted inside the conventional water bottles. However, you can choose the cheaper models as it helps to save money also.

The SteriPen Ultra product only weighs 4.94-ounce into water.It Purifies water with UV rays.  It work too fast. Therefore, you need to wait only for 90 seconds. It comes with an internal rechargeable battery that allows you to use it 8,000 times. You can treat 50 litres after charging it for one time. People with hypersensitivity to chlorine can use it.

Awesome Features: 

User-friendly: It comes with a High-contrast OLED display. This display is very user-friendly.

USB-rechargeable: You can charge it with the help of a computer, outlet, or portable solar panel. The 8,000-treatment lamp offers years of purification.

Additional accessories: This SteriPen Ultra product comes with a USB cord and a neoprene carrying case.

Dimensions: It weighs 140 g. And the dimension of the product is 7.3 x 1.6 x 1.3″ / 18.6 x 4.1 x 3.2 cm.

Pros:

• USB cord and Neoprene carrying base
• USB-rechargeable
• User-friendly

Cons:

• Light doesn’t work.
• Not long-lasting

Expedition Research LLC TAC-H2O

Description: This product contains an illustrated, tri-fold, and colour manual. The manual lets you know everything about the pill. Each tab weighs 49 mg. You can use it to treat up to 5 litres of water. In other words, a TAC-H2O pack can give you up to 500L of freshwater water.

The LLC TAC-H2O tablets are sealed in a 4-layer thick Mylar pouch. It has a size of 140-micron. The pouch comes with a resealable zip-lock. The LLC TAC-H2O product is both sunlight proof and waterproof. It comes in a matte black colour.

Awesome Features: 

Protected: As soon as you make the strips out of the specialized TAC-H20 packet, you need to keep it dry. And you also need to keep it out of direct sunlight for a long time.

Waterborne illness: The LLC TAC-H2O tablets can kill microorganisms in water. And it can prevent typhoid, cholera, dysentery, and other waterborne illnesses.

Fast process: LLC TAC-H2O can make the water ready to drink within 30 minutes. The US EPA approves it.

Pros:

• Each tablet can treat about 5L of water.
• Prevent waterborne diseases
• Makes the water ready to drink within 30 minutes

Cons:

• Leaves a faint chlorine smell

Ef Chlor Portable Water Purification Tablets

Description: This one is a wide spectrum of fast-acting sanitiser and water steriliser. Ef Chlor Portable Water Purification Tablets can remove bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. These tablets are effective against hydrophilic viruses; fungi mould, gram-positive & gram-negative bacteria, yeast, mycoplasmas, protozoa, etc.

These are beneficial for emergency usage, disaster travel, camping, and household usages.

It is effortless to store and use. The Ef Chlor Tablets  can be dissolved quickly and make the water ready to drink. It comes with a 3-year shelf life.

Awesome Features: 

Safe: It contains 60% Chlorine and an Effervescent Additive. Additionally, it helps to remove the Chlorine taste.

Effective: The tablets can kill 100% Of Bacteria and most of the viruses that remain in the water.

Uses: People engaged in Disaster Relief Agencies can use the Ef Chlor tablets. The World Health Organization approves it.

Pros:

• Three years of manufacturing warranty
• Effective against most viruses

Cons:

• Leaves bad smell in the water

Rothco Chlor-Floc- US Military Water Purification Tablets

Description: The US Military uses these Rothco Chlor-Floc pills. It can remove Giardia, Bacteria, Viruses, and sediments. You need to add here one to two tabs to get 1 Quart or 1 L of Water. It relies on water temperature. The dimensions of the product are 5 x 2.5 x 1.2 inches. And the weight of the package is 0.05 Pounds.

As soon as you put these into the water, it will help bring all the sediments to the bottom part of the bottle. Hence, the Chlorine helps to kill most of the pathogens with ease. These tablets are beneficial for those who need to drink murky water due to the circumstances. Each packet contains 30 sachets.

These are enough to purify water around 8 gallons. Every packet can treat one-litre water. What makes these Rothco Chlor-Floc pills very special is that these can work very fast. After adding it to water, you need to stir it for seven minutes. Then, your job is to let it sit for fifteen minutes. Finally, you will get hygienic and purified water. According to the manufacturers, the product can kill Giardia, bacteria, and viruses effortlessly. The weight of each container is only 0.8 ounces. Besides, each package has a camouflaged pouch.

Awesome Features: 

Used by Military: The US Military currently uses this Rothco Chlor-Floc product.

Prevents microorganisms: These can remove giardia, bacteria, viruses, and so on.

Treat water: To get one litre of water, you need to add merely one to two tabs.

Pros:

• Prevents bacteria, viruses, etc.
• Needs one to two tabs to get one litre of purified water.

Cons:

• Short shelf-life

CamelBak Cleaning Tablets

Description: These CamelBak Cleaning Tablets consist of Chlorine Dioxide. It comes in Blue colour. The tablets offer periodic cleaning that keeps both the reservoir and tube free from odour.

These CamelBak Cleaning Tablets can work in only five minutes. The product comes in 1 x 1 x 1 cm dimensions. It weighs only 18 Grams.

Awesome Features: 

Decrease odour: The self-dissolving tablets can help you to decrease residual taste and odour.

Design: The product is designed mainly for CamelBak reservoirs and water bottles.

No odour: These CamelBak Cleaning Tablets don’t leave any odour or residue. Besides, it is free from chlorine, phosphate, preservatives, fragrances, etc.

Reservoir & Bladder Cleaning Kit: It is an all-in-one kit that helps quick purifying, and cleaning.

Additional accessories: It comes with two cleaning tablets, reservoir brush, smaller tube cleaning brush, hanger to dry reservoir, water bottle cleaning kit, bottle brush, bottle cleaner, straw brush, straw cleaner, and so on. Besides, it includes a bottle cleaning Brush & Kit. This kit makes cleaning easier. It is because the brushes are designed in such a way so that it can reach each corner of the bottle. This one also comes with a water bottle cleaning tablet, hydration pack cleaning tablets, bladder cleaning tablets, cleaning tab, and so on.

Ready for adventure:  The water bottle cleaning kit helps keep the reservoir and water bottles free from odour. Now, you can get ready for the next trip. Each of these provides 8 cleaning tablets. The product includes a reservoir, Camelbak reservoir, water pack, water bladder, hanger, reservoir hanger, and a bladder hanger.

Pros:

• Reservoir & Bladder Cleaning Kit
• Leaves no odour
• Designed for cleaning each corner of water bottles

Cons:

• Leaves bleachy taste in water

Aquamira

Description: Aquamira comes in the form of drops that is a two-part liquid. Part A and Part B kill all the odour-causing bacteria. It increases the taste of the stored potable water. You can use it to treat up to 60 gallons of water. It makes the product easy to use and highly efficient.

Aquamira helps to control the build-up of slime. And this product assists in killing the bacteria. This two-part liquid treatment is perfect for treating water within an RV’s storage tank.

Awesome Features: 

Lifespan: This one can last up to 4 years on a shelf.

Easy to use: Aquamira can treat water up to 30 gallons. And it doesn’t leave any taste in water.

Water Quality: The drops can remove viruses, bacteria, etc., easily. But this one is unable to filter out the dirt from water. It can effortlessly kill the harmful things that can increase water quality. However, when it comes to removing the particulate matter, it can’t deliver the same result that a good filtration system can offer.

Weight: It comes with two single-ounce bottles. The weight of the entire system is 3.15 ounces, including the mixing caps.

Ease to Set-up: You need to pre-filter the water if you live in such a place where you are not getting clean water. Hence, you can use a handkerchief or a thin cloth also. And thereafter, you need to pour it through the material. It helps to pre-filter the particulates. When the process is completed, go for the treatment method. If you get clear water, then the process is over.

Pros:

• Treats up to 60 gallons of water
• Kills bacteria effectively

Cons:

• The liquid bottles get damaged only after a few usages.

What is a Water Purification Tablet and Drops?

The water purification tablets consist of components such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, or iodine. The tablets kills bacteria, viruses as well as parasitic protozoans with the help of the chemicals. It makes the water clean, purified, and hygienic.

To Whom It Meant for?

The main reason for its manufacturing is to help those people who cannot get clean and hygienic water.

For Travelers: People living in remote areas or travellers usually use mechanical filters. For example, they use water filter pitchers or filtered water bottles. However, most people prefer to use water purification tablets. It is beneficial for farmers, mechanics, or those who use on-foot transportation of goods.

For the Victims of Disaster: Water always needs to be purified after a disaster occurs. Only filtering the water doesn’t make this job done. These tablet helps to remove all the viruses spread by human waste. Hence, the normal filters and filtration processes are unable to do it. Moreover, the NGOs that operate abroad supply these tablets to the nations.

For Remote Villagers: Plenty of villages in the world don’t have any essential infrastructure for water treatment. These tablets are advantageous in most of the harsh climatic conditions. These come with the helpful benefits of chlorine/iodine. These pills will help them to improve the health of those and reduce the risk of diseases. Clean water helps to boost the life expectancy of people in those areas.

For Defense Forces, Peacekeeping, and More: People engaged in defence forces, peacekeeping forces use these pills when required. Even these are used in marine vessels and aeroplanes. It helps the military people when they get stuck in remote areas.

How Water Purifiers Protect Against?

Human activities are the main reason for degrading water quality throughout the world. And due to these, today we are facing several waterborne diseases. Sediments, biological organisms, toxins, viruses, bacteria, cysts, and protozoa like Giardia and Cryptosporidium are reasons for such diseases.

Sediment: The word sediment refers to dirt, sand, silt, debris, plant, and animal matter. You can mitigate sediment with the help of a simple cloth filter. For example, you can use a cotton or wool t-shirt.

Algae: Usually, Green, brown-coloured slime grows in still water. The reason for their growth is due to climate change and industrial waste. Besides, the chlorine-based products help to kill the algae. Or you can kill it by boiling, UV light, reverse osmosis, distillation, etc.

Bacteria: E. coli, salmonella, cholera, shigella, coliform, etc. are some examples. You can kill it with ease. UV light, distillation, reverse Osmosis, chlorine and iodine compounds, and conventional boiling help kill bacterias.

Protozoa: These are larger than bacteria. Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and Cyclospora are a few examples of it. You can use Iodine to kill Giardia.

Cysts: Cysts are the dormant forms of bacteria and protozoa. It becomes active when it enters inside your body.

Viruses: These cause Hepatitis A, SARS, polio, and HFMD. Norovirus and rotavirus are examples of it. Chemicals like iodine are helpful in this case, as iodine can work against viruses.

Chemicals, heavy metals, & society’s waste: Oil, pesticides, cleaning agents, acid rain, industrial runoff, paint, etc. are some examples of countless contaminants. It also contains heavy metals like lead and mercury. You can remove these only by reverse osmosis, distillation, and flocculants. But in this case, you are unable to dissolve metals. Flocculants are beneficial in removing lead, chromium, arsenic, DDT, and humic acid.

Types of Portable Water Purification Tablet

The primary kinds of three main agents are as follows:-

• Chlorine
• Iodine
• Chlorine Dioxide

Chlorine and Iodine— Each of these two can effortlessly kill the Giardia lamblia parasite. And the third one— chlorine dioxide— can kill cysts, bacteria, viruses, cryptosporidium, and so on.

Chlorine-Based Tablets: The main reason for using these pills is getting hygienic and clear water. But these come with a disadvantage. When you store water for a long period, it will become contaminated. That’s why you need to let the bottle be opened for continuing the evaporation procedure.

Iodine-Based Tablets:  The iodine-based tablets can give you effective results when you use them in warm water.

Always remember that these pills also leave an aftertaste. But if you don’t want to wait for it to evaporate, then use vitamin C. It helps to remove the smell when the process is completed. If you are a thyroid patient, and undergoing treatment then you must avoid using these pills.

Chlorine Dioxide-Based Tablets: We know Chlorine Dioxide is a very efficient agent for its compound property. The tabs kills plenty of microorganisms. Besides, people living in cities use these for purification. From viruses, bacteria, to cryptosporidium, can be eliminated using these tablets. But the it need a long period for the treatment process. The tablets takes up to four hours to purify the water.

How do Purification Chemicals Work?

Chemical treatments usually depend on iodine and chlorine. The  elements in the tablets can boost shelf life that makes them better compared to other natural elements. Hence, Iodine and chlorine attack first the proteins, amino acids, etc. Then, these kill the microorganisms. Chlorine and Iodine even destroy the metabolic function of microorganisms.

Sodium Hypochlorite, Chlorine Dioxide, Sodium Chlorite, and sodium Dichloroisocyanurate are examples of chlorine compounds. And among these, Sodium Hypochlorite is the most common one that most people prefer to use.

Is Using Iodine a Best Solution?

No, iodine is not a best solution. But, is one of a solution for purifying water. The thyroid patients, as well as the pregnant women, should not take iodine in any form. However, iodine helps to clean water. Besides, it also makes water free from bacteria, viruses, and Giardia within only thirty-five minutes. But the only drawback is that it becomes ineffective when there are cysts and Cryptosporidium in the water.

Iodine can be found in both liquid and crystal form. There are some iodine tablets, also known as Tetraglycine-Hydroperiodide. These tablets enable you to use it till you open the package. But it will lose its working ability within three months after the opening of a package. You can face difficulties to purify water in cold temperatures by using iodine. It is because Iodine is very sensitive to cold temperatures.

What about Using Silver  as Purification Chemical?

Silver usually comes with antimicrobial properties. People prefer to use those filters bonded with silver. The silver-based drops work technically. And that’s why it enables you to use it without any difficulties. But the drawback is that the drops are not safe for your cells, as this is harmful in your body if exposed over a long period. And this is the reason why people prefer to use chlorine-type solutions.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using Water Purification Tablets

These pills are handy for getting fresh as well as clean water. But nowadays, we won’t get pure water from the bottled water available in convenience stores. The bottled water is not as purified as the company says. The reason is that the amount of drinking water is only 3%.

Advantages of Using Water Purification Tablets:

Exaggerated Pathogens:

Waterborne diseases, for instance, salmonella, dysentery, cholera are caused by harmful viruses. These water purification tablets remove viruses from water, and by doing so, these make the water drinkable. These can help to clean the water by removing viruses, pathogens, bacteria, etc.

For instance, if you want to neutralise Giardia, E. coli Bacteria, Cryptosporidium, etc., Chlorine and Iodine are perfect. These tablets can keep the water clean for longer periods. It is because the active substances of these pills prevent the growth of microorganisms.

Portable and Highly Mobile:

These pills allow you to carry these from one place to another with ease. You can use these anywhere you want. Hence, you don’t need any extra tools, ingredients, or anything else. What you have to do is to just simply add a pill to water. Then, you have to shake the bottle well. After that, let the bottle sit. Always try to carry the pills along with you. By doing that, you can make sure that you can get purified water whenever you want.

Hassle-Free:

You only require a container of full contaminated water along with the pills. Adding these tablets to water can do the rest of the job. Therefore, you can get fresh and purified water within thirty minutes. Besides, you can also start to purify water before time if you have planned already. Like, you can begin purifying water thirty minutes before while planning for a hiking trip. Some of the pills take too much time for treating water even. If it happens, then let it sit for the whole night. Thus, you can get pure water and enjoy fresh coffee in the morning. Now, you don’t need to do boiling or filtering the water.

Emergency Disaster Relief Operations:

After a disaster, it is always hard to supply drinking water to any area. And it relies on the severity of the disaster also. That’s why you should know how you can use these tabs in those situations. These can turn dirty water into a pure water source.

Portable:

These are very easy to carry in your bag. You can use these for a long time while storing them properly. And hence, you don’t need to take the help of any other equipment. Even if you don’t require any electricity, fire, or fuel.

Disadvantages of Purification Tablets: 

1. You have to wait for the reaction for about 30 minutes. A few pills are there that take up to 4 hours for killing contaminants like Cryptosporidium.

2. These are unable to remove chemicals and sediments properly after the treatment process.

3. After adding these tablets, the water becomes foul-tasting.

4. Thyroid patients should not use these tablets. If they use these, it can cause hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis. You must not use these while you have an iodine allergy.

5. Pregnant women should not use these.

6. These can lose their effectiveness when you don’t store them in the right manner. Go through the information provided by the manufacturers and follow the instructions properly.

How to Choose the Best Water Purification Tablets for Your Needs

Here, we have given some vital facts that you should know before buying. Let’s check out these.

Ease to prepare: If you cannot complete your work on schedule, you can’t wait for 4 hours. In that case, select the Aquatabs or Potable Aqua with PA+Plus. These can help you to deliver pure water within sixty minutes.

Weight: This is also an essential factor to consider if you need to carry it in your bag. Usually, the packages weigh below an ounce. But a few pills are there which have more activity than others. Potable Aqua products are perfect for them looking for lightweight ones. People who prefer the long-term usable ones can go for the Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide and Aquamira.

Taste & Smell: It is also an essential factor to consider. In this case, go for the Potable Aqua PA+Plus. The reason is that this one can neutralise the taste of iodine. On the other hand, pee-yew, and the Aquamira Water Purifier are the perfect options for those who like a strong chemical smell.

Microorganisms the Tabs Are Effective Against If you use them correctly, they can kill both bacteria and viruses properly. But not all of these tablets can kill Cryptosporidium. That’s why ensure that you are choosing the right pill that can kill most of the microorganisms.

Alternatives to these Tablets: Two alternative ways are there that you can use to treat water.

The first one is a backpacking water filter. It is a very effective process that both hikers and backpackers prefer to use.

You can use a backpacking or camping stove also to boil water. It is always better to carry essential supplies while boiling water.

How Does Water Purifiers Work?

To know how do water purification tablets work, check out the below points:

1. After adding the tablets, these get dissolved into water. After that, these kills and remove all the viruses and bacteria. Let’s know the details of it.

2. As we know already, iodine and Chlorine are very effective agents for this treatment process.

3. As fast as these go into the water, the agents deactivate all the protozoa, viruses, and bacteria.

4. But you should remove the debris of large size present in water. Then, add the tablets to start the treatment process.

5. Next, put the tablets into water. These can dissolve into the water very quickly.

6. Then, your job is to shake the mixture for approx ten minutes when these dissolve completely. But do it before letting it sit.

7. The reason is that Chlorine and iodine can spread easily in the water.

8. Besides, ensure that you have opened the cap a bit. It helps to clean both the lid of the bottle and cap while shaking. Thus, you can eliminate the bacteria and viruses that existed in the lid and the cap.

9. Next, you need to let the container sit. Thus, these can kill viruses as well as bacteria. Then, all the impurities will go down the bottom part of the bottle. All credit goes to chlorine and iodine, which helps to purify, and clean water has easily done.

Water Purification Tablets & Drops Buying Guide

Here are the factors that you have to consider before buying any water purification tablets. Let’s check out these.

Chemicals:

These pills contain multiple chemicals, i.e. iodine, chlorine, and chlorine dioxide. To fight against the Giardia Lamblia Parasite, you need to select Chlorine and iodine. But the two agents are unable to remove Cryptosporidium. But chlorine dioxide is very effective as it can quickly remove Viruses, Bacterias, cysts, Cryptosporidium, etc.

Again, people who prefer smell can use chlorine and iodine. However, if you don’t like the smell, then chlorine dioxide is the best option here. The reason for not having a smell is maybe it’s long action time. This agent consumes up to four hours to treat water. As a result, the odour evaporates.

Perfect for Any Kind of Adventure:

The level of water contamination relies on where you are. As a result, you don’t need to worry about microorganisms like cysts, viruses, bacteria, etc. People mainly use these pills when they camp or hike. However, a few tablets are there that you should use in hazardous situations only. For example, when the water is muddy, and there is plenty of sediment in the water, you can use those pills.

Storage Tips:

These come with a five-year shelf life. But it happens while you don’t open the package. As soon as you open the bottle or package, it will lose its working ability for an extended period. It needs the right protection. If you don’t do it, these can lose effectiveness. Before buying these, always choose such containers that have tight seals. Moreover, the container you will buy must protect against light, high temperature, air, and humidity. Besides, you have to use these within a year after opening them.

Right Way to Use:

These consist of three active chemicals. Whether you use these in the right manner, these can represent a practical solution. People who are pregnant or have a thyroid must not buy the iodine-based tabs. And the main thing you should remember is that you can use these pills for up to six months. In case you use these for longer periods, then your body will become full of iodine. These can cause thyroid problems.

However, this can’t make the water clean and purified.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Do water purification tablets really work?

Most of these pills usually remove chlorine as well as the harmful elements that remain in the water. There are only a few pills available in the market that can remove lead. In fact, there are merely two pitchers that can help to filter out lead. However, a water pitcher filter can’t solve this issue if the water contains serious contaminants.

Q. Are water purification tablets bad for health?

If you use these chemicals as per the instructions, then these are safe. If you use these in tablet form, there exists some risk. For example, people can take these like candy, medications, and vitamins, etc.

Q. What are the best water purification tablets?

The best water purification tablets are as follows:-

Katadyn Micropur MP1: Top Pick

Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide: Runner-up

Potable Aqua with PA+Plus: Best taste

Aquatabs: Best value

Aquamira Water Purifier Tablets

Q. How many water purification tablets do I need?

You can add one pill in every one-liter of water. Thus, twenty tablets are sufficient to purify 20 litres of water. Micropur tablets by Katadyn are the perfect choices hence. This one has a lightweight container and a 5-year shelf-life.

Q. Do Purification tablets kill viruses?

Most of the tablets can remove all microorganisms like viruses, bacteria, etc., including Cryptosporidium. But the Aquatabs can eliminate merely viruses and bacteria.

Q. How long do water purification tablets take to work?

Usually, these take near about thirty minutes. Most people prefer to use them for on-the-go disinfection. It is because these are portable enough and easy to use. Hence, you only need to filter the cloudy/turbid water using a cloth or any filter. Then, you have to drop a tablet in 1-2 litres of water. Now, you need to wait for thirty minutes. At last, you will get hygienic water.

Q. What is the Purification tablets side effect?

The water purifying chemicals can cause harmful effects. For example, if you use these in the wrong way or swallow this whole, it can instantly cause mouth, throat, and stomach irritation. The symptoms of this irritation are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, etc.

Q. Chlorine vs Iodine – Which One Is Better?

Usually, chlorine dioxide can remove Cryptosporidium from water, but these are not helpful to treat typhoid and cholera. Even these consume a lot of time to treat water. On the other side, iodine can do it. Here, we discuss details about Iodine and Chlorine.

The Two Chemicals:

Usually, these tabs come with two primary chemicals – iodine or chlorine. People use these two because of their lightweight, and simplicity. Besides, both of these are affordable. But the difference is related to their effectiveness and how these can damage your health while using irresponsibly.

Iodine:

This one can eliminate viruses, bacteria, and protozoa with ease. Again, iodine consumes more time to purify water due to cold weather. Moreover, Iodine can absorb the dirt as well as debris found in water. You should use Iodine for short-term purposes only. Extreme use of iodine can cause thyroid issues which can damage health for longer periods. A lot of people don’t prefer the taste of iodine. It is also a reason why people prefer to use chlorine.

Chlorine:

Chlorine bleach is the second chemical purifier. It helps to settle the debris to the bottom of the container by the chlorination process. Therefore, you can get clear water with ease.

The unscented household bleach can be used hence—this bleach contains5.25% of sodium Hypochlorite. The Red cross here indicates that you need to add 16 drops of bleach to each gallon of water. After adding the drops, you need to stir it. Thereafter, keep the recipient standing for half an hour. Next, repeat the dosages when the odour of bleach is unable to be accompanied by the water. Then, you need to let the container stand for another fifteen minutes.

But it has a few drawbacks. For example, it can cause harmful effects when it is more than six months old. On the other hand, we know Chlorine as a highly poisonous chemical. Hence, if you add an extra amount of chlorine to the water, it can cause diseases and internal organ damage. Even, it can cause death.

Which one is better:

That’s why people prefer to use chlorine dioxide. It is used as an alternative. Iodine is not suitable for pregnant women. However, water treated with Chlorine is also not ideal. Therefore, you need to settle in for a 4-hour long purification method. Thus, the risk can be reduced at some point.

Q. What are Cryptosporidium And Giardia?

These are examples of parasites that can be found in rivers and lakes. These can cause intestinal diseases. Cryptosporidium is one type of parasitic protozoan that has a complicated life cycle.

Q. Why buy water purification tablets when I can boil water?

Boiling water makes you sure that most microorganisms are being killed. And therefore, the water becomes safe to drink. However, always remember that you may require a recipient who can resist fire and fuel for boiling water. Boiling water can cost more compared to the tablets. The cooled boiled water can be re-contaminated easily.

Q. What should I do if I accidentally swallowed a tablet?

You need to drink plenty of milk when you swallow these accidentally. In addition, You can take water also if you don’t get any milk to drink. How ever, You should take medical advice also as fast as you can. Usually, these are not toxic and won’t cause any harmful effects to your health. However, you should consult with a doctor.