Water purification tablets

[heracles26]

Where do you buy yours from? And is there any difference I brands etc or are all tablets pretty much the same?


Thanks

[GPSGuided]

Huge price difference out there. At the end of the day, they are all iodine. I suggest buy Kathmandu on this, way cheaper than another US brand that was 5x the price. Otherwise, a tube of Betadine can work too.

[makinbacon]

Definitely not all iodine, Chlorine Dioxide or other Chlorides are the most popular active ingredient in water purification tablets. They leave very little lingering taste, compared to iodine which is very strong.

[Gadgetgeek]

be sure to look into the expiry dates on your tablets, they don't last forever. You can also get micropur drops if you do large amounts of water.

For iodine based solutions, a little vit C can help neutralize the taste (after you've let the water sit and do its thing)

[perfectlydark]

I bought mine off ebay. Cost next to nothing but you have to watch the expiry date.
As a general rule i try to only drink water that would be good enough without purification so the tabs are just assurance really. No issues so far

[Fr3d]

I currently use Katadyn micropur tablets. They are slightly more expensive than the Kathmandu ones ($35 for 100 tabs). Don't notice any taste difference. Only differences between the Aquatabs sold at Kathmandu & the Katadyn tabs are the use of silver ions to help perserve the water (not an issue for me, only carry as much as I need and use it asap), and that it can destroy Cryptosporidium cysts.

[Travis22]

I currently use Katadyn micropur tablets. They are slightly more expensive than the Kathmandu ones ($35 for 100 tabs). Don't notice any taste difference. Only differences between the Aquatabs sold at Kathmandu & the Katadyn tabs are the use of silver ions to help perserve the water (not an issue for me, only carry as much as I need and use it asap), and that it can destroy Cryptosporidium cysts.

I used the Katadyn micropur 100tabs ones too. Purchased from Wild Earth online.

I found if you had the time and could let your water bottle sit with the lid off while the tabled dissolved the taste was reduced then if you put the tabet into the water bottle, sealed it and continued on.

Travis.

[Drummo62]

Has anyone used these Aquatabs? $8.39 at Chemist Warehouse online but I presume you can buy them at local stores.

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[McGinnis]

For iodine based solutions, a little vit C can help neutralize the taste (after you've let the water sit and do its thing)

Indeed, just to reiterate, only add after it's done its thing - as the Vit C (ascorbic acid) neutralises the taste by neutralising the iodine, thus preventing any further oxidation of bacteria.

[RonK]

On numerous Nepal treks the taste of iodine gave me assurance that I hadn't forgotten to treat my water.
But locally I'm confident that Micropur tabs are sufficient.

[keithy]

Has anyone used these Aquatabs? $8.39 at Chemist Warehouse online but I presume you can buy them at local stores.

I think they're using an older picture of the packaging. I bought my aquatabs from the local chemist warehouse for around $8 for a 50pack, and it was blue and white packaging. I think it has been the blue pack for a while now (at least 2 years). I think Kathmandu were selling the Aquatab ones as well, but more expensive than chemist warehouse. As said above, the aquatabs work ok but micropur has the silver ions to preserve the water for 6 months.

The other thing to remember, is when you use them, read the instructions - there is a sitting time that you need to leave it in the water (half an hour from memory), and if the water isn't clear, you probably need to increase the dosage.

The newer tabs are much nicer than the iodine based solutions. When I went to Nepal for a month, I took my Steripen and had the aquatabs as a backup. The steripen worked nicely as you could drink the water immediately after treatment and not have to wait half an hour, so I gave the unused aquatabs away.

[Orion]

I tried one of the chlorine based tablets (Aquatabs) and found I didn't like the taste.
It reminded me of swimming pool water.

I went back to using iodine and vitamin C.

[keithy]

I tried one of the chlorine based tablets (Aquatabs) and found I didn't like the taste.
It reminded me of swimming pool water.

I've not experienced that with Aquatabs or other tablets with NaDCC.

I do remember the chlorine taste from Chlorine Dioxide tablets though - those ones I remember as having a strong chlorine taste/smell. But I remember that the Chlorine Dioxide ones also took ages to treat water something like 4 hours, so haven't used them for over a decade.

I don't think the tablets are good for Cryptosporidium though, which is another reason I opted for the Steripen when I went to Nepal as well. But when I went, about two thirds of our group used either a tablet or liquid purification method, and only one person had stomach issues.

[Orion]

I've not experienced that with Aquatabs or other tablets with NaDCC.

I was actually expecting a neutral taste. From reading various reports the off taste is a less common experience, but not unheard of. I wonder if the water makes a difference?

I don't think they are any faster or more effective than iodine. The cost comparison is harder to calculate for reasons I won't get into. Safety isn't an issue with either. So, for me, it came down to taste.

[Big Foot]

Only use water purification tabs for 3 days max or they will hurt your kidneys. Get a Lifestraw they are reusable and not too heavy

[GPSGuided]

Only use water purification tabs for 3 days max or they will hurt your kidneys.

Whilst I don't like the idea of chemical treatments when other options are available, I think the above statement needs a proper reference or qualification to stand.

[Gadgetgeek]

I can understand not wanting to live on iodine water for long stretches, but not all solutions are the same, or all people.
One thing I've heard to help with chorine taste is using a pre-filter to remove as much organic material from the water as you can, as the organics create some of the more pungent choride compounds. dissolved minerals can affect the flavor, as can your pre-disposition to tastes, super-tasters, and the like.
I can also see that poor tasting water might lead someone to drink less than they should. while its much more common in kids, I've met adults who can't just drink water.

[Orion]

Yes, that right. Big Foot's assertion is nonsense.

[heracles26]

Thanks everyone

I went to my local chemist warehouse to get some aqua tabs only to be told they don't stock them anymore