Water purification tablets are one of the best methods to purify water during emergency times.
Water Purification Tablets Comparison
| Name | image | effectiveness | shelf life | where to buy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Potable Aqua |  | 2 tablets 1liter | 4 years | Buy Amazon |
| 2 | Polar Pure Iodine |   | 2,000liters | Buy from Amazon | |
| 3 | Katadyn Micropur |  | 1tablets 1liter | 5years | buy Amazon |
| 4 | Aquamira |  | 30 gallons | 4 years | buy Amazon |
| 5 | Survivak kit online |  | 55 gallons | 5 years | buy Amazon |
| 6 | Quake Kare |  | 1 tablet-1 liter | buy Amazon | |
| 7 | Coghlan's Drinking Water Tablets |  | 1 tablet-1 quartz | buy Amazon |
Origin of water purification tablets
A long time ago, the military used a cloth to drain water impurities and then boil water for a few minutes.
The method was very effective, but it took more time for the army to get safe water for drinking.
Also, the method was hazardous because they were using firewood to boil water, which made it easy for an enemy to locate.
All those setbacks made researchers introduce another alternative, and a water purification tablet was born.
In this article, you will learn about the best water purification tablets that you can use to purify water.
What are water purification tablets?
Water purification tablets are chemicals put in water to kill microorganisms and other impurities found in water to make it safe for human use.
Where to use water purification tablets
For outdoor activities
The water purification tablets and portable water filters are the best fit for outdoor activities such as hiking. The reason is of it’s lightweight and doesn’t take up big space in your bag.
Emergency disaster
During times of flood, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other disasters water tablets are used to purify water.
The military, soldiers, and peacekeepers use water tablets to clean water for drinking.
It is also used by international travelers who visit countries with poor water treatment systems, don’t have safe water, or during emergency times.
How do water purification tablets work?
A water purification tablet is made up of different ingredients. Each requires a different quantity of water, water temperature, and time to take effect or work.
Most of them work the same way; you put water in the container, add the tablets, and wait for 30 minutes to dissolve and be effective.
Ingredients in water purification tablets
Chlorine-based tablets
The tablets contain an ingredient called halazone. It is used in areas with low hygiene and is best to remove E. coli bacteria from the water. The only disadvantage is that once opened, it must be used within a maximum of three days.
Chlorine bleach tablets
For the chlorine bleach tablets, you will wait for 30 minutes to one hour to have 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 is that, once used for a long time, it causes certain body tissues to change their standard color to gray. Also, you will have to wait up to four hours to get ready for water for drinking.
When stored in an airtight condition may be retained for years.
Iodine crystals tablets
The method works under different water conditions. If the water is cold, you allow it to stay 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 is that some cysts are not killed, and if you consume non-dissolved crystals, they 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 for killing parasites, pathogens, and protozoa in water. If the water is warm, cold, and dirty within 30 minutes, you have clean, safe drinking water. The only downside is that 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 complications, pregnancy, or iodine sensitivity.
Are the water purification tablets 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 safe, first, heat the water to raise the water temperature. This will allow the purifying tablets to work more quickly. When you raise the water temperature above 20 degrees, impurities that take a long time to neutralize, like cysts, can be killed within 30 minutes.
The water purification tablet does not remove physical particles like sediments and purifies 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 for treated water to stay for more than 30 hours, the 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.
Top pick
- Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets
- Potable Aqua Water Tablets
- Polar Pure Iodine Water Filter Purifier
- Katadyn Micropur Tablets
- Aquamira Chlorine Dioxide Water Treatment drop
- Survival kits online 55 Gallon Water Preserver Concentrate
- MSR Aquatabs Water Purification
- Quake Kare Water Purification Tablets
- Coghlan’s Drinking Water Tablets, 50 Tablets
- MIGHTIE Water Purification Tablets
- Ef-chlor Portable water purification tablets
Best Water Purification Tablets reviews
Iodine water purification tablets
Summary
- Quantity – 100 packs treat 200 quarts
- Ingredients – Troclosene Sodium
- Shelf life – 5 years
- Treatment time – 30 minutes
The product has been in use for emergencies such as tornados, 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 the color of the water.
The source of water to be treated may be rainwater, river, wells, lakes, and cisterns.
Aquatabs are effective at killing microorganisms in the water to prevent water-borne diseases.
An active ingredient of aqua tabs is troclosene sodium. It does not contain iodine, thus making it safe for a pregnant woman, a person with iodine allergies, and people with 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
- The tablet does not leave the water with an unpleasant taste or change color.
- It does not contain iodine so suitable for a person with iodine allergies
- Different worldwide body certifies the product makes it safe for human consumption
Cons
- The product is not effective against cyst cryptosporidium. If you suspect Cryptosporidium in your water source use an alternative water filtration method
Summary
- Effectiveness – 50 Tablets 10 quarts of water.
- Active substance – Tetraglycine Hydroperiodide, when released in water, produces Titratable Iodine.
- Shelf life – 4 years when stored properly.
- Treatment time – 35 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
- It is lightweight
- Proven effective against Giardia Lamblia
- Improves the taste of water
Cons
It is not proven effective against viruses and cysts such as cryptosporidium
Potable Aqua water purification tablets comparison
| 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 |
A bonus video on how Portable Aqua works
The product kills all viruses and bacteria.
Polar Pure is EPA certified and treats up to 2000 liters of water.
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Summary:
- Effectiveness – one tablet treats 1 liter of water.
- Ingredients – Chlorine Dioxide.
- Shelf life – 5 years
- Treatment time – From 30 minutes takes up to 4 hours if the water contains Cryptosporidium
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 are 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.
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 the manufacturing date and can treat up to 30 gallons.
The survival kit 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 the U.S. and state EPA’s Proprietary formula and strict laboratory analysis insure potency.
This product is a proprietary formula of stabilized and ph-balanced sodium hypochlorite with highly effective residual action that kills bacteria, viruses, molds, and fungus.
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.
The Quake Kare Water Purification Tablets are great for emergencies and outdoors.
One tablet purifies one liter of water.
The water tablet is great to have on hand while hiking or camping.
One tablet treats one quart of water.
The Mightie Company Worlds’ purification tablet cleans drinking water in 30 minutes and effectively kills microorganisms in the water to prevent cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and other water-borne diseases.
Each package has 100 sealed tablets with up to five years of shelf life.
It is certified by NSF/ANSI and approved for routine use by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The package has ten tablets that purify a total of 50 gallons (one tablet is used to disinfect five gallons) then 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 is resistant to organic spoilage.
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Before using water purification tablets, make sure you read the information, usage instructions, and directions on the packaging.
Advantages of water purification tablets
The water tablets are lightweight and do not occupy a large space in your bag, thus making them portable.
You require no special equipment when using it. You just need a container to put the water and tablets in.
There is no electricity required to make it effective, thus making it suitable for remote areas or regions with a power problem. Some tablets 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 tablets
- It is not advisable for expectant women, the person who has iodine allergies and thyroid condition.
- The tablets do not remove all impurities such as particulate (sediment& silt) and chemically contaminated water
- When using iodine crystals tablets and consuming non-dissolved crystals can be deadly.
- It is not advisable to use water tablets on a long-term basis. Use it mostly for emergencies and when you are desperate to clean your drinking water, and there is no alternative.
Best brand of water purification tablets on 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 tablets in the market and choosing the right product can be challenging but if you follow our buyer’s 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 the smell and odor of water
- Shelf life
Water purification has different shelf life some when opened is supposed to be used for a maximum of three days others 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.
Do water purification tablet works?
Water purification tablets are effective against impurities such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, pathogens, protozoa, and cysts
Do water purification tablets kill viruses?
Water purification tablets is effective in killing viruses, bacteria, and cysts
What is water purification tablets made of?
Made purification tablets are made of the following ingredients chlorine-based tablets, Chlorine bleach tablets, Iodine crystals tablets, and Iodine tablets
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Luxy
Luxy is a content writer who enjoys writing about water filtration technologies. She knows that water is a crucial part of our lives and it is important to make sure that we are drinking clean and healthy water. She developed this site in an effort to educate readers on the fundamentals of water treatment at home, at work, and when traveling. Also, the importance of clean, healthy drinking water for people in his community. When she's not working, she likes to spend time with her family and listen to music.