Top 5 Best Water Purification Tablets

The best water purification tablets kill the pathogens in the water in order to make it safe for humans to consume. When you are out camping or backpacking through nature, you can use water purification tablets to replenish water supplies from freshwater sources, such as streams. Water purification tablets are a great tool for purifying water because they can also be used by international travelers and during emergency situations, such as hurricanes and floods, when the water supply may be unsafe or polluted. Read our water purification tablet reviews & ratings to find the best water purification tablets today.

The 5 Top Water Purification Tablets

When searching for the best water purification tablets, you want tablets that are going to be fast-acting, safe to use, and fight against as many microorganisms as possible. Many of the options are recommended by international health organizations to give you some extra confidence in their effectiveness, but which is the best option to choose? To help make your decision easier so you can stock up on your outdoor supplies, we found the five best water purification tablets so you can choose the best one for your needs.

* Ratings are determined using our specialized rating system.

Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets Deluxe 250-Count

With this deluxe pack of 250 of the best water purification tablets, the Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets Deluxe 250 Count are enough to purify 500 quarts of water. These tablets are good to have in emergency situations, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods. This is because the tablets are fast-acting and the water is ready for drinking in 30 minutes after using, making the tablets perfect for any situation. There is no unpleasant taste, meaning you can have great-tasting water consistently.

These iodine tablets kill microorganisms in the water to prevent typhoid, dysentery, and other waterborne diseases that may be present. The main ingredient is sodium chloride to kill a wide variety of bacteria and viruses. The packaging is easy to open but not as durable as some of the others. The tablets can be used for disinfecting raw or pretreated water. The sources of water that can be collected include rain, lakes, wells, rivers, or other similar sources, which comes in handy when you’re in the wilderness.

Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets Three-Pack

The Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets are individually sealed, lightweight, and cost-effective. I recently took these on a camping trip and they worked perfectly and were easy to use for purified water in no time and the individually sealed tablets are simple to pack. Each pill can purify .75 liters of contaminated water. The taste is good and there isn’t a foul chemical smell like you’d find with other options. These tablets have been trusted for over 20 years to use in emergency situations as well, including tornados and floods.

There have been over three billion gallons of water treated annually with Aquatabs. The lightweight packaging makes them easy to use no matter where you are. In addition to the tabs creating an odorless result, there is no color so you won’t have to worry about staining any plastic camping water bottles. All you need to do is wait 30 minutes before you can drink the water.

Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets With PA Plus

The Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets with PA Plus are used worldwide by hikers, campers, and members of the military because they are trusted when people need purified water the most. The tablets protect against Giardia lamblia, which is a parasite, when used as directed. The tablets are iodine-based and registered by the Environmental Protection Agency. As with other options, you won’t need to wait long for the tablets to work before you can drink the water.

It is important to know that there are two bottles in the package. One is designed to purify the water with the iodine tablet and the PA Plus is to remove the aftertaste of iodine. However, the tablets to neutralize the taste are harmless. They work to neutralize the effect of iodine and then render the chemical useless so you don’t have the taste. You should use the second tablets after 30 to 35 minutes so the solution works and can purify the water. The tablets are not supposed to be used on a regular basis but the water will be clean within 35 minutes and ready to drink.

Potable Aqua Germicidal Water Purification Tablets

The Portable Aqua Germicidal Water Purification Tablets make questionable water suitable to drink in just 35 minutes, which is great when you’re collecting water on a camping trip. There is protection against Giardia lamblia as well when used as directed. The water purification tablets can be used for camping, hiking, and international travel, as well as during natural disasters. These are also used by emergency organizations and militaries worldwide to help purify water for people in need.

Each tablet contains 20 mg of Tetraglycine Hydroperodide, and within 30 minutes, the iodine has penetrated the cell wall of the microorganisms, which renders them inactive and makes the water suitable to drink. These tablets are not meant for long-term use. The tablets can be used to help protect against recontamination in the container and your water remains suitable to drink at the point of use.

The tablets can be used in cold temperatures and are unaffected by the freeze-thaw process. The low price point and reliability make them a great backup for any camping water filter or purification device.

Katadyn Micropur MP1 Water Purification Tablets

The Katadyn Micropur MP1 Water Purification Tablets are much more effective when it comes to the amount of water that one tablet can purify. There is a shelf life of about one year, which is stated on the package so you know when they will expire. The purified water doesn’t have any odor or bad taste and it’s ready to drink within 30 minutes. The tablets are capable of removing impurities, which some others can’t. There aren’t side effects, such as stomach issues, with these tablets.

One of the only downsides of these tablets is that they can’t be used if the water is too dirty or murky since they won’t be effective. This could be an issue if you’re in a location where you are unsure of the base water quality. Bacteria can hide in the dirt particles, so you will need to filter or purify the water. If you don’t have a filtering system, you can use a cloth to remove impurities and then the tablets are safe to use. As long as you don’t have a lot of organic material in the water, the tablets will work as designed.

Important Water Purification Tablet Features to Consider

Beyond just finding water purification tablets that work, there are features to look for when searching for the best water purification tablets.

Time to Purify: A four-hour wait time may not be ideal in certain situations, especially if you’re in a disaster situation or find yourself in need of water when camping. If you aren’t able to wait that long, there are some that purify water in less than an hour.

Weight: Most tablets are lightweight, but there are some that have more durable packaging than others. The more durable tablets can be hard to open without a camping knife, but the packaging keeps your tablets intact.

Smell and Taste: How much of a chemical smell and taste are you able to handle in your water? I personally prefer tasteless and odorless water.

Microorganisms the Tablets Kill: Not every tablet will kill against cryptosporidium. You want to choose a brand that will kill the microorganisms you could encounter on your trip.

Benefits of Water Purification Tablets

There are a number of different benefits you get by using the best water purification tablets.

Convenience

The number one benefit to the best water purification tablets is that they are convenient and easy to use. Many are packaged in small, portable bottles that can be carried in a pocket or backpack when you’re on the go. They can all be used the same way by dropping the tablets in the appropriate amount of water and waiting for the time specified.

Protection From Viruses And Bacteria

The best water purification tablets are used to kill microbiological contaminants, such as parasites, viruses, and bacteria. These microorganisms will be invisible to the human eye, but can cause health problems if ingested. These tablets are needed to eradicate common bacteria, such as E. coli and salmonella, which can cause illnesses.

Lightweight

These tablets are designed to be easy to carry and transport. Since the tablets are lightweight, they can be used to purify water when you are visiting places with a known water problem or are on vacation and don’t know about the condition of the water and want to take precautions.

Inexpensive

The best water purification tablets are inexpensive and, if stored properly, can last for years. This helps reduce any long-term costs you may face. They don’t require any sources of energy or other input to use, making them cost less than other methods.

Useful in Disaster Relief Operations and Emergency Situations

Water purification tablets can be used in case of emergencies. In a natural disaster, the water supply and electricity are most likely affected, so there is no filtration or water purification process. Purification tablets can be the only solution to this problem and are necessary for any survival kit. Drinking water is important for survival in the case of any emergency. When consumable water is not readily available, the tablets can be crucial for increasing the chances of survival.

How Do Water Purification Tablets Work?

The active ingredient in water purification tablets is iodine, chlorine, or chlorine dioxide. These chemicals deactivate the viruses and bacteria to render them harmless and make the water safe for consumption. Many of the contaminants, if not removed from the water, can cause serious illness or death.

There are different types of tablets on the market and each requires a specific type of usage in order to work effectively. Usually, one or more tablets are dissolved in a water storage container. The container is closed and sits for 30 minutes, so if you can, plan in advance so you have water when you need it. Some tablets can leave behind an unpleasant taste, but neutralizer tablets can be used to remove the iodine flavor. A chlorine taste can be removed if you allow the water to sit, so the chlorine can evaporate.

Even the best water purification tablets don’t remove any chemical pollutants or sediment. In order to chemically purify water that has sediment, you need to allow for additional time and a higher concentration of chemicals. It’s best to filter the sediment out of the water before you use purification tablets. Some chemicals are more effective at killing certain types of microorganisms.

What Are the Alternatives to Water Purification Tablets?

Without the best water purification tablets, the other ways to get clean water are by boiling it in a camping pot or camping kettle to kill all the microorganisms or to use a gravity water filter or UV water purifier. These can be viable options if you can’t use chemical water purification tablets tablets for health reasons.

If you’re like me and enjoy spending time outdoors, you want to make sure you have enough gear to be prepared for any situation. It is important to note that boiling doesn’t remove pollutants or sediment. Ultraviolet light radiation systems claims to be effective, however they are less effective than boiling.

Not all chemicals are going to be effective against all microorganisms, and some chemicals can lose effectiveness over time if they aren’t stored correctly. If they are not used properly, chemical treatments won’t be able to purify the water you need. In cases where chemical water purifiers aren’t effective, it can be valuable to use other camping water purifiers instead. To supplement your water purification methods, also consider a camping water filter, water filter straw, water filter pitcher, or water filter bottle to filter out particle contaminates in the water.

Conclusion

The top pick for the best water purification tablets is the Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets Deluxe 250 Count. Since these are iodine-free they can be used long-term and are safe for both adults and children. Even pregnant women can drink the water purified by these tablets. You don’t have to wait that long to drink the water and the tablets go to work in just about 30 minutes. There is no odor or taste, unlike other iodine-based tablets. These tablets can treat large quantities of water, making them perfect for use in just about any situation. As long as tablets are stored properly, they can be used for the recommended shelf life.

These tablets grant tremendous peace of mind when it comes to staying hydrated drinking water gathered outdoors. Buy the best water purification tablets today and bring them on your next camping trip!

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