Traveling to new places is great. However, when we travel, we sometimes find ourselves in situations where we don’t have access to safe drinking water. Unfortunately, water is one thing the human body really can’t do without for long. Fortunately, there are now a wide range of water purification tablets available on the market. But how well do water purification tablets work? Do water purification tablets kill viruses? What are the best water purification tablets for backpacking? And how long do water purification tablets last?
In this post, we will give you the answers to all these questions and more. We will also give you the low down on the best water purification tablets for every need, taste, and budget to make choosing where to buy water purification tablets easy.
Table of Contents
- How to use water purification tablets
- How do water purification tablets work?
- What are the chemicals used in water purification?
- Where can I buy water purification tablets?
- Top 5 Water Purification tablets Reviews 2020
- #1 Best water purification tablets for traveling: Aquatabs – World’s Best Water Purification tablets
- #2 Best water purification tablets for emergency situations: Ef-Chlor’s Portable water purification tablets
- #3 Best water purification tablets with Iodine: Potable Aqua’s Germicidal Water Purification Tablets
- #4 Best Tasting Water Purification Tablets: Coghlan’s Drinking Water tablets
- #5 Best water purification tablets Reddit: Sawyer Products’ MINI Water Filtration System
- Are water purifying tablets safe?
- What are purification tablets unable to remove?
- What should I do if I accidentally swallowed a tablet?
- Other things to consider
- Buying Guide: What to look out for when purchasing best water purification tablets
- Conclusion
Our Top Picks
Best water purification tablets for traveling: Aquatabs – World’s Best Water Purification tablets
For a world-leading water purification tablet ideal for traveling around the globe, you can’t beat these Aquatabs that will have water safe to drink in just 30 minutes.
Best water purification tablets for emergency situations: Ef-Chlor’s Portable water purification tablets
For a chlorine-based purification and sterilizing water tablet, this option is ideal for people seeking water purification without an iodine base. Water is ready to drink within 35 minutes.
Best water purification tablets with Iodine: Potable Aqua’s Germicidal Water Purification Tablets
For a water purification tablet including chlorine and iodine for maximum purification, these tablets give you bacteriologically safe drinking water within just 35 minutes.
Best Tasting Water Purification Tablets: Coghlan’s Drinking Water tablets
For water purification that doesn’t leave a horrible flavor in your mouth, these two-step tablets for water purification are some of the best out there when it comes to tastelessness.
Best water purification tablets Reddit: Sawyer Products’ MINI Water Filtration System
For a water purification system raved about by Reddit readers, nothing compares to this Sawyer filtration device, albeit not technically tablets, this filter provides instant clean water as it trickles through.
How to use water purification tablets
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Using water tablets is easy. They are also great for traveling because they are highly portable, unlike a camping stove and pots and pans. All you need is a purification tablet and a container for some water. Typically, tablet s are designed for 1-2 liters of water but this can vary. It can be good to have some muslin or clean cloth to help filter out any larger particles found in dirtier water. Here are 5 steps to use water purification tablets:
- Pull the cloth or muslin over the opening in your vessel (eg. a plastic bottle).
- Dip the covered bottle into the water source until it is filled to an appropriate level for your water purification tablet, liquid, or powder.
- Remove the cloth filter and drop in your water purification tablet.
- Leave to stand for at least 30 minutes (or as long as stated on the water purification packaging or instructions).
- Drink your water (it might taste a bit funny).
How do water purification tablets work?
Water tablets are commonly found in backpackers’ bags, in outdoor enthusiasts’ first aid kits, or used by emergency aid providers. Water tablets use chemicals to kill pathogens that can be found in unfiltered water. They work by releasing chemicals designed to attack harmful pathogens quickly just as would happen in a municipal water treatment facility. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours.
What are the chemicals used in water purification?
There are a range of different water purification tablets on the market using different chemicals to purify water. There are some water tablets that purify water fast, whilst there are other water tablets that taste better. Typically, active ingredients will include chlorine, iodine, or chlorine dioxide. These chemicals are effective at deactivating things like bacteria, parasites, and viruses and making water safe (or safer) for human consumption.
Where can I buy water purification tablets?
Water purification tablets can be found in all good pharmacies, supermarkets, and online. Water purification tablets prices will vary, but usually fall between $10 and $35, making them a cheaper option than water filtration bottles.
Top 5 Water Purification tablets Reviews 2020
So now you know a bit about how water purification tablets clean water it’s time to look at a few of our favorites. These have all passed water purification tablets tests and there will be a suitable water purification tablet on this for everyone’s needs no matter their budget or where they are headed.
#1 Best water purification tablets for traveling: Aquatabs – World’s Best Water Purification tablets
Whether you are looking to find the best water purification tablets for Nepal or the best water purification tablets for Africa, or anywhere else, these are probably it. These tablets are designed to kill pretty much everything, including the usual suspects of bacteria and viruses, and even giardia cysts. Ready in just 30 minutes these tablets get you quick access to potable water whenever and wherever you need it.
Other pros of these water purification tabs are that: each tablet is designed to be dissolved in 2 quarts of water meaning you don’t have to keep making lots of small batches safe to drink; you get 100 tablets split into 10 by 10 strips making them incredibly portable and easy to access; they have a 5-year shelf life; they are less cumbersome to carry than filtration options, and; they are a great price. The downside of these tablets is that they don’t taste great.
#Aqua_Tablets #traveling_Water_Purification_Tablets #Purification_Tablets #Potable #Water
#2 Best water purification tablets for emergency situations: Ef-Chlor’s Portable water purification tablets
If you are looking for a chlorine-based water purification tablet, then these tablets are a good option. Designed to attack viruses, fungi, protozoa, bacteria, and more, these tablets get to work fats with water ready to drink within 35 minutes. Every tablet can turn 5 gallons of unsafe water into water safe to drink, making these a popular choice for people working in emergency settings or at risk of finding themselves in one.
Other good things about these particular tablets for water purification are that: they have a 5 year shelf life, giving you longer to get through them over multiple travels; they can also be used for sterilization purposes; they are highly effective against the most common water borne viruses and diseases, and; they are good value for money. The downside of these tablets is the large amount of water you need to be able to purify with each tablet.
#Clean_Water #Clean_Drinking_Water #Purify_Water #Chlorine_Water_Purification_Tabs
#3 Best water purification tablets with Iodine: Potable Aqua’s Germicidal Water Purification Tablets
If you want a water purification tablet with both chlorine and iodine in its ingredients list, then you’ll have found your match in this pot of 50 tablets. Designed to purify in 35 minutes and protect against bacteria and Giardia Cysts found in all types of water, these tablets have been used by the military and emergency aid providers alike. However, they are also a fine choice if you’re heading out camping in the wild for a few days.
Other positives about these water purifying tablets are that: they come in a handy portable pot that fits easily in your pockets or overnight bags; they are easy to use; a single tablet will purify half a liter making these a good choice for people preferring to purify smaller amounts at a time, and; they have a 4-year shelf life. The downside of these tablets is that iodine is not suitable for some people and they aren’t so good for big batch purification.
#Iodine #Iodine_Tablets #Iodine_Water_Purification #Potable_Aqua #Clean_Water_Tabs
#4 Best Tasting Water Purification Tablets: Coghlan’s Drinking Water tablets
If you have tried water purification tablets before, then no doubt the first thing you think of is the slightly horrible flavor they leave in the water. These germicidal tablets do a pretty fine job of leaving a minimal flavor whilst still turning unsafe water into water safe for your consumption. This is thanks to the two-step process of purification plus neutralization which gets rid of the iodine flavor everyone hates.
Other pros of these two-step drinking water purification tablets are that: they are suitable for use on 25 quarts of water; they have been proven to be effective resisting Giardia and other bacteria and disease; they are no more expensive than a one step tablet pack; it filters water ot 0.1 micron level, and; they are an affordable option. The downside of these tablets is that you have to wait longer for both processes to be complete.
#Two_Step_Water_Purification #Iodine_Purification #Tasteless_Water_Cleansing #Purity #Water_Purity
#5 Best water purification tablets Reddit: Sawyer Products’ MINI Water Filtration System
Not technically tablets, this water filtration device is raved about on Reddit. A well -seen site on Himalayan treks in Nepal, these miniature but powerful filter fits neatly in pockets, bags, and backpacks alike. The high performing filter actually lets through just 0.1 microns, removing 99.99999% of everything bad and 100% of micro-plastics that would not be stopped by water tablets.
Other benefits of choosing a water filtration system over tablets is that: it is designed to attach to standard plastic bottles and filters water immediately without any need to wait around; it removes larger particles as well as bacteria, viruses, and disease from the water, and; it can filter a whopping 100,00 gallons making it an even cheaper option than tablets. The downside of this system is it sucks air out of bottles until they crumple and you cannot easily filter a large batch of water in one go.
#Water_Filter #Sawyer #Nepal_Water_Filter #Himalayas #Filtration_System
Are water purifying tablets safe?
Drinking untreated water that may contain pathogens, diseases, and viruses is not safe. This can cause anything from mild symptoms of nausea to whole-scale vomiting and diarrhea or even things like hepatitis, cholera, and death. Fortunately, water purification tablets can remove these contaminants from water to a safer level. However, the level will depend on factors such as the H level of the water, temperature, water cloudiness, and time. Ultimately, water is much safer to drink as water purification tablets tend to remove up to 99.9% of harmful organisms.
What are purification tablets unable to remove?
Water purification tablets are not usually designed to remove any sediment, soil, or chemical pollutants that may be in your available water source. Whilst there are tablets capable of removing sediment from water this often takes longer and requires a higher concentration of chemicals to do this. They are typically unable to remove cryptosporidium, a parasite that causes diarrhea.
What should I do if I accidentally swallowed a tablet?
If you swallow a water purification tablet it can be beneficial to drink a lot of milk or safe drinking water. You should also seek medical help as soon as possible. Although water purification tablets, liquids, and powder are not toxic they can be very irritating to your insides. You may notice a sensation of burning, nausea or vomiting if you swallow a lot. The best thing to do is contact a medical professional immediately, drink safe liquids, and try not to worry.
Other things to consider
There are also some water purification tablets side effects to be aware of and other things to consider. For example, people with thyroid conditions should steer clear of iodine tablets. Some people are also allergic to iodine so should choose a chlorine-based option. If you are pregnant iodine solutions should definitely be avoided and ideally potable or boiled water should be drunk. You also need to drink the water within a certain time frame, with no more than 24 hours usually safe. Follow the instructions on the packaging carefully as different products will vary.
Buying Guide: What to look out for when purchasing best water purification tablets
Picking the right purification tablets doesn’t have to be a challenge. With the tips listed in this buying guide, you’ll be able to make the right call and keep the perfect product on hand for whatever situation might come your way.
#1 Consider your budget
Budgeting is always an important step when choosing any product. Some of these pills are more expensive than others, so it’s always a good idea to remember how much you can spend before you go shopping. However, keep in mind that more expensive options are sometimes better quality, so be sure to do your research.
#2 Think about how often you hike or camp
If you only take one or two big trips during the course of the year, you might want to go with a pill that’s available in a smaller quantity. You might not need more than 10 or 20 tablets to get you through your hiking season, and you wouldn’t want to buy something that will expire before your next trip.
#3 Consider your disaster kits
Do you live in a place where hurricanes, floods, or tornados are common? If so, be sure to keep your disaster kit filled with tablets that have a long shelf life. You can use the same ones for your hiking trip and save money by buying in bulk.
#4 Think about your allergies
Some people are allergic to iodine. If you have a shellfish allergy, you’re likely allergic to iodine too, so choose another type of tablet. If you have a sensitive throat or sinuses, try to stay away from pure chlorine tabs.
#5 Look at reviews
Popular products will have a lot more reviews than unpopular ones. You can usually tell which brand names are the most trusted in the industry by seeing how many reviews have been left. Don’t be afraid to try new products that might not have a lot of feedback built up yet, though.
Conclusion
Water purification tablets are a great way to ensure you can always have access to safe drinking water. They are an ideal solution for traveling due to their affordability, effectiveness, and portability. Compared to boiled water or potable drinking water, they are not as good, not least because of the flavor. However, the options above are safe to use and can give you access to safer water anywhere you are in the world.
thank you for this information. It was helpful. I would say, however, that you should check the polar pure review. It says in the beginning part that it won’t tak up much space but below that it mentions that it might take up space… 🙂
Edited. Thanks.
Thanks Nelson for such useful reviews. I have used Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets with PA Plus several times for camping and backpacking. It works great from first hand experience, I’ve never gotten sick from the water I’ve treated with this. It may have a little chalky taste to it but at least you don’t have to worry about getting sick out on trail. I also keep a bottle of these in my emergency kit too.
Sir,
I had no idea that bottled water was so harmful. I am amazed! Thanks for offering so much advice.
Thank you.
Will these , or are there brands of purification tablets that remove harmful minerals in water, such as arsenic?
Hello there,
Do you if the above tables can be found in the UK?. I try amazon but no luck. Here they only sell a brand call Oasis.
Thank you very much for your help.